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. Learn more.

Thriving Communities is a locally led program designed to help towns with fewer than 5,000 residents strengthen leadership, build connections and turn community ideas into action. Through community listening, visioning and practical action planning, residents identify shared priorities and move forward together.

Recent participants in the Thriving Communities program include Braham, Motley, Sebeka, Staples and Taylors Falls.

“Thriving Communities is about creating space for people to come together, listen and lead,” said Amy Trombley, vice president for community at the Initiative Foundation. “When communities take ownership of their future and work across varying perspectives, momentum builds in ways that last. We’re excited to welcome the next group of towns ready to do this work together.”

With support from the Thriving Communities program, the Taylors Falls team is advancing development of the area’s trail system. In Staples, the local team strengthened and promoted its annual Polar Express holiday gathering, drawing 500 additional visitors. In Braham, local leaders hosted community and youth listening sessions. That work led the mayor and City Council to create and fund a Commission on Engagement and Collaboration, helping turn resident input into sustained local action.

“One of the major things the adults wanted, and—go figure—the youth wanted it too, was some type of a community education program,” said Dr. Suzanne Begin, chair of the Braham Thriving Communities team.

The recruitment effort is supported in part by a recent $150,000 Rural Collaboration Project grant from Compeer Financial, awarded through its Compeer Giving program.

“As a rural lending cooperative, Compeer Financial understands the importance of empowering rural communities to be active, strong and economically vibrant,” said Karen Schieler, manager of Compeer Giving at Compeer Financial. “[The Rural Collaboration Project] allows us to collaborate with foundations that best understand the needs within their communities and disperse funds where they will make the greatest impact.”

More information and application details are on the Thriving Communities page. The deadline to apply is June 5.