Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) is seeking applications for the second round of its Rural Entrepreneurial Venture (REV) program which supports long-term economic growth. Three communities will be selected for this three-year program. Communities with populations of 5,000 or less in SMIF’s 20-county region are eligible to apply.
The REV program helps rural communities create more vibrant economies by finding and supporting local entrepreneurs — from business startups to existing businesses that want to grow. Each community will develop a leadership team and be matched with a coach to guide them through goal setting and action steps. They will also participate in cohort learning with other REV communities.
“SMIF recognizes the need and opportunity to approach economic development from a systems-perspective so that even our smallest communities can be resilient in the face of inevitable challenges,” said Pam Bishop, vice president of economic development at SMIF. “We look forward to supporting three new small towns in this innovative way.”
The inaugural REV program launched in 2018 and supported the communities of Blue Earth, Lake City, Lanesboro, Le Sueur, Spring Grove and Spring Valley. A variety of approaches to economic growth have been implemented in these communities, including business succession programs and youth retention initiatives.
The REV model is based on the e2 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems framework which is hosted by NetWork Kansas, formerly the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship. The framework has a proven track record of accelerating entrepreneurial activity in rural communities. SMIF also partners with Region Nine Development Commission and University of Minnesota Extension for coaching support. This program is made possible by support from Blandin Foundation.
SMIF invites all interested communities to join them for an informational webinar at noon on July 21. Applications are due on September 1. The three REV communities will be announced in November 2020 and will begin work in January 2021.
For more information on SMIF’s Rural Entrepreneurship Venture Program, visit smifoundation.org/rev or contact Pam Bishop at pamb@smifoundation.org or (507) 214-7013.
About Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF), a donor-supported foundation, invests for economic growth in the 20 counties of south central and southeastern Minnesota. The Foundation has provided more than $114 million in grants, loans and programming within the region during the past 34 years. SMIF’s key interests include early childhood, community and economic development. To learn more about our work and mission, visit www.smifoundation.org.