Community

Community | Generosity & Impact

$115,000 in Grants Awarded from Personally Endowed Legacy Funds to Organizations Serving the Fergus Falls, Perham, and Dent Communities
BySarah Casey May 3, 2024

West Central Initiative awarded 57 grants totaling almost $115,000 to organizations serving the Fergus Falls, Perham, and Dent communities from three personally endowed legacy funds. “The Deloris Barnack Kenner, Floyd and Harriet Miller, and Inga M. Johnson Funds were established to create lasting impacts by generously supporting the namesake’s favorite causes and organizations in our…

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Community | Environment

17 Rooms Event Set to Spark Conversation and Collaboration in West Central Minnesota
BySarah Casey April 26, 2024

Participants from the region and beyond will gather to drive progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals, forge partnerships, and build communities of practice On June 12, 2024, West Central Initiative, the University of Minnesota Morris, and the City of Morris will host the first 17 Rooms event in Minnesota. This dynamic, day-long gathering at the…

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Community | Generosity & Impact

Otto Bremer Trust Selects West Central Initiative as Philanthropic Intermediary Partner for New Community Responsive Fund
BySarah Casey March 13, 2024March 3, 2026

West Central Initiative will administer and distribute $350,000 in grants of up to $75,000 to local nonprofits; Application opens March 18 West Central Initiative has been selected by the Otto Bremer Trust as a philanthropic intermediary partner to administer and distribute funds through its new Community Responsive Fund. Under the new partnership, West Central Initiative…

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Community

West Central Initiative Expands Team with Hires Specializing in Loans, Grants, and Climate Action
BySarah Casey February 26, 2024March 3, 2026

West Central Initiative welcomed four experienced professionals to its growing team, including Philip Hintz as Loan Officer, Amanda Quam as Grants Officer, and April Rog and Cedar Walters as Climate Officers. “We’re committed to local action that improves the lives of people in our region, all 237,000 of them,” said West Central Initiative President Anna…

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Community | Economy

Nutcracker Café & Bakery: A Year-Round Christmas Wonderland in Starbuck
ByAshley Quam February 9, 2024March 3, 2026

Do you wish it could be Christmas all year round? At Nutcracker Café & Bakery in Starbuck, it is! Stepping into Nutcracker Café & Bakery transports you to the North Pole. Christmas music plays over the speakers, the TV displays a continuous loop of holiday movies, and fireplaces crackle over every booth. The longer you…

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Community | Economy | Generosity & Impact

West Central Initiative Awards $21,000 to Local Fire Departments
BySarah Casey February 6, 2024March 3, 2026

West Central Initiative awarded $1,000 grants to 21 fire departments in west central Minnesota. Most of the grant funds came from the Philanthropic Preparedness, Resiliency and Emergency Partnership (PPREP) Community Foundation Disaster Response Fund, a project of The Funders Network, to help communities prepare for and recover from disaster.   “For the second year, we’re distributing…

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Belonging | Community | Economy

Enjoying the Simple Things at Heavenly Haven
ByAshley Quam January 30, 2024

When it comes to making a living, Hannah Middleton believes, “If you can help people, it will just come naturally.” She’s a teacher, Early Childhood Learning Center Founder, adult foster care provider, and new owner of Heavenly Haven group homes in Detroit Lakes. A Passion for People Starts Early It all started when Hannah and…

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Community | Economy

Beyond Essentials: Market on Main in Osakis Reopens to Serve the Community
ByAshley Quam January 24, 2024

“I just love this little community. Food brings people together, and the grocery store can be the heart of that,” said the new owner of Market on Main, Twyla Myrin. A small-town grocery store, like Market on Main, can be the cornerstone of the community. Beyond serving as a source to buy essentials, grocery stores are…

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Community

Perham’s Iconic Community Auditorium gets Local Love
BySarah Casey January 23, 2024

All it takes is an idea. That was the case last summer when some Perham friends felt that their beloved community auditorium was in dire need of a significant facelift. Indeed, while the venue hosts performances year-round, there were signs of neglect. Repairs and upgrades were needed on stage, backstage, and the seating area. Lights…

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