Community
Verna Toenyan Named 2026 Good Neighbor Honoree
For decades, Verna Toenyan has helped turn community needs into practical solutions—bringing people together, finding resources and keeping projects moving to improve life for older… Read More
Rural Voice Returns to St. Joseph, Focuses on Belonging
Five years after the Rural Voice town hall series first visited St. Joseph, the community conversation returns this September to explore how Central Minnesota towns… Read More
3 Communities Join Rural Entrepreneurship Program
The Initiative Foundation has selected teams representing Remer, Crosby and the Isanti area to participate in Rural Entrepreneurial Venture (REV), a new program that helps… Read More
$67,000 Awarded for Energy, Resiliency Planning
The Initiative Foundation has awarded $67,100 through its Energy & Community Resiliency Planning Grant program to help six organizations prepare for the future through energy… Read More
CAER’s Heather Kliewer Named 2026 Good Neighbor Honoree
For years, Heather Kliewer has quietly helped ensure that families facing hunger in the Elk River area are met with dignity and support. That steady… Read More
Communities Invited to Apply for Thriving Communities Cohort
The Initiative Foundation is inviting small Central Minnesota communities to apply for the next cohort of its Thriving Communities program. The application is now open. Read More