OWATONNA, MN, February 6 - Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) recently received a $50,000 allocation from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) through the State’s new Emerging Entrepreneurs Loan Program (EELP). The money will be used to provide loans to businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, persons with disabilities … [Read more...]
A View From the Woods ~ Insidious pesticide use harms pollinators
I don’t often mix the personal reflections of this column with my professional life. However, I recently worked on a project that revealed a huge environmental problem that is little known, even to the people who are involved in it. I behooves me to share what I have learned. Many are aware of declining monarch butterfly populations, because we so rarely see them … [Read more...]
World Water Day is March 22: Why waste water?
Submitted by the Fillmore SWCD in celebration of our 75th Anniversary The United Nations (UN) has designated the 22nd of March each year as World Water Day. The 2017 theme is “Why Waste Water?” which is about reducing and reusing wastewater. All of us have learned about the water cycle, so we know that water is recycled over and over again. All the water that was on … [Read more...]
SEMAC announces April 1 grant application deadline
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts & Cultural Heritage fund. The Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council announces a call for proposals in three categories: Arts & Cultural Heritage, Presenter/Production Assistance, and Small Towns/Rural Areas. … [Read more...]
Summer internships Harmony’s golden opportunity
By Julie Little “What’s the difference between a job and an internship?” was the opening question posed by Jan Bigalk, member of the Harmony Area Chamber of Commerce and coordinator of this summer’s new internship program. She addressed several Harmony business owners with an interest in providing internships at a “Teach and Learn” session on March 7. “With a job,” she … [Read more...]
Government this week
Monday, March 20 Rushford-Peterson School Board, Rushford Biology Room, 5:30 p.m. Preston City Council, Council Chambers, 6 p.m. Kingsland School Board, District Conference Room, 6:30 p.m. Chatfield School Board, High School Media Center, 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 21 Mabel-Canton School Board, Media Center, 7 p.m. Rushford Village City Council, Village … [Read more...]
Tom Stolz presents The Gospel According to St. Mark at Bethlehem Lutheran Church
A performance of Tom Stolz’s The Gospel According to St. Mark is coming to southeast Minnesota in April. This moving one-person recitation has been presented in churches, colleges, art centers, prisons and theaters in Canada, Switzerland, Jerusalem and across the United States. Originally performed at the Old Log Theater in 1984, Tom’s work has become an ongoing Lenten … [Read more...]
DEED awards $500,000 in Child Care Grants
ST. PAUL, MN – Grants totaling $500,000 were awarded to eight groups that will work to increase the number of child care providers in their Greater Minnesota communities. The funding was awarded under the Greater Minnesota Childcare Grants Program, which was created by the Minnesota Legislature last year to increase child care services in order to support regional economic … [Read more...]
Harmony Area Community Foundation receives grant for Harmony Area Historical Society’s “Historic Walking Tour”
OWATONNA, MN – Harmony Area Community Foundation (HACF) is pleased to announce the award of a $10,000 grant from Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) to the Harmony Area Historical Society (HAHS). The grant is supported through a special 30th Anniversary Community Collaboration grant round and will fund the Society’s “Historical Walking Tour” project. The Historic … [Read more...]
IRS recaps “Dirty Dozen” list of tax scams for 2017
Each year, the Internal Revenue Service issues a list of the top 12 tax-related scams it sees throughout the year. The IRS “Dirty Dozen” highlights various schemes that taxpayers may encounter anytime, many of which peak during tax-filing season. Taxpayers need to guard against ploys that steal their personal information, scam them out of money or talk them into engaging in … [Read more...]