SMIF Awards $200,000 in Small Town Grants

OWATONNA, MN, Nov. 18, 2025 – Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) recently approved 23 grants totaling $200,000 to support small towns of 10,000 or less in SMIF’s 20-county region. Each grant seeks to impact the culture, education, economy and/or social aspects of a town by investing in collaborative initiatives that help make the community more welcoming.

The Small Town Grant program was launched in 2017 to support smaller communities which can benefit from additional financial resources to help them grow and address challenges. The recent approval of 23 grants has pushed the total of Small Town Grants awarded to 161 projects since the program began. Through this program, SMIF has invested $1,372,490 in the small towns of our region.

The Small Town Grant program is supported, in part, by a generous donation in memory of Paul O. Johnson who wanted southern Minnesota’s smallest communities to thrive. Paul’s legacy is being continued by his family, Amy De Jong, Paula Rehder and Scott Johnson.

The 2025 Small Town Grant award recipients are:

• $8,338 to Blue Earth Economic Development Authority to launch Experience Blue Earth, a collection of people-first stories about business owners to help people connect.
• $8,000 to City of Cannon Falls to create Flavor of the Falls Welcome Baskets for new residents with multilingual resources.
• $3,929 to City of Darfur to enhance the library entrance with a new book drop and restored school bell, fostering community pride.
• $10,000 to City of Elmore to install a sport equipment locker system so anyone can check out sports equipment for free, ensuring inclusive access to park amenities.
• $10,000 to City of Eyota to launch “Hello Eyota,” a welcome experience for new residents with inclusive resources and ways to get involved.
• $10,000 to City of Green Isle to host the Heritage Festival 2026, to help the community come together for a positive experience in order to overcome the collective trauma after the assassination and shootings of Minnesota lawmakers.
• $10,000 to City of Kenyon to improve Depot Park with accessible shelters and inclusive recreational upgrades.
• $10,000 to City of Le Sueur to support TreeHouse Le Sueur, a youth empowerment program offering inclusive resources and support for youth and families facing unexcused absences at school.
• $10,000 to City of Pine Island to create a community mural celebrating local history and diversity at the town’s main entrance.
• $6,000 to City of Saint Charles to launch a Seed Library with inclusive gardening workshops and multilingual outreach to strengthen the library’s role as a welcoming space.
• $3,179 to City of Taopi to restore prairie land at the city entrance and bike trail, highlighting historical landscapes and engaging volunteers.
• $10,000 to City of West Concord to implement a Community Health Initiative offering free trainings on life saving techniques to residents in order to help address rural health inequities.
• $10,000 to Community Partners of Faribault County in Bricelyn to expand the Beautification Project, a veterans memorial which will include a community garden to address food insecurity.
• $10,000 to Front and Center Ministries Inc to host Winterfest in Dover, Eyota and Viola, engaging diverse community groups in community celebrations.
• $10,000 to Giants of the Earth Heritage Center in Spring Grove to launch a community newspaper, broadening the circle of belonging by providing a platform where all voices are welcome and visible.
• $10,000 to Harmony Area Historical Society to restore the McMichael Grain Elevator as an inclusive historical interpretive site.
• $7,054 to La Crescent Area Healthy Community Partnership to expand Neighbors in Action services helping seniors remain in their homes through snow plowing and lawn mowing support.
• $10,000 to Martin County West Schools to build the Maverick Prairie Path and Outdoor Classroom, accessible to all community members.
• $10,000 to Minnesota Songwriter Sanctuary in Henderson to provide a mobile stage for songwriters and musicians to use for community events and performances.
• $10,000 to Minnesota Warriors Volleyball in Winnebago to host inclusive game nights and adaptive sports days for all residents.
• $10,000 to Wabasha Main Street to launch the Big Jo Presenter Series, creating a sense of place through programs that will bring arts, education, performance, theater, music and storytelling to the community.
• $7,500 to Waseca Area Neighborhood Service Center to create the Balanced Bites Club, a program to provide supplemental nutrition to reduce food insecurity in households through cost-effective, nutritious foods and tips/recipes.
• $6,000 to Waseca Rotary Club to create a Wellness Walk and Garden at Farmamerica, fostering connection and reflection for all visitors.

“Small towns across our region are proving that community spirit and inclusivity go hand in hand in building welcoming places for all,” shared Alissa Oeltjenbruns, vice president of philanthropy & community vitality. “We are continuously grateful for the generosity of Paul Johnson’s family for continuing his legacy of supporting small towns.”

“We are honored to continue our father’s legacy by supporting small towns in the region of Minnesota where we were raised,” said Paula Rehder. “We are seeing the potential of his gift realized through the amazing projects that these small communities have proposed that will make a difference in the part of the country that was near and dear to our father’s heart,” said Amy De Jong.

For more information about the Small Town Grant Program, visit smifoundation.org/smalltowngrant or contact Sarah Scheffert, communications & community vitality specialist, at 507-214-7015 or sarahs@smifoundation.org.