McKnight Announces $7.2 Million for SWIF

The McKnight Foundation announced another grant of up to $7.2 million to the Southwest Initiative Foundation to support its programs, administration, and fundraising through 2011.  This latest pledge brings McKnight's total investment in the Southwest Initiative Foundation to $40.9 million to date.

A New Name and a New Home

The Foundation completed construction and moved into its new office building in June of 2006.  The building is located at the gateway to southwest Minnesota on the corner of highways 15 and 7 in Hutchinson and promises to be a wonderful permanent resource for the Foundation and the people of southwest Minnesota.  The Foundation also announced a new name, the Southwest Initiative Foundation, and added the tag line, "A rural Minnesota community foundation." 

Regional Conference on Early Childhood

In February of 2006, the Southwest Initiative Foundation hosted "Seize the Opportunity: Invest in our Youngest Children," a regional early childhood conference about the importance of early childhood and the strategies that can be employed locally to ensure that young children thrive and have the best possible start in life.

Three New Early Childhood Initiative Coalitions

Litchfield, Mountain Lake, and Windom were selected to participate in the statewide Minnesota Early Childhood Initiative, bringing the total number of community coalitions in southwest Minnesota to eleven.

Renewable Energy Marketplace™ Exhibit at BIO 2006 Convention

The Foundation hosted a Renewable Energy Marketplace™ exhibit as part of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development's "Positively Minnesota" pavilion at the Biotechnology Industry Organization's (BIO) annual international convention in Chicago.  The exhibit featured information about the region's growing wind, biofuels, and biomass industries.  Over 19,000 people from 35 countries and 42 states attended the conference.

SWIF Grant for Exhibit at 2006 Minnesota State Fair

In its ongoing endeavor to promote southwest Minnesota as the Renewable Energy Marketplace™, the Southwest Initiative Foundation awarded a $10,000 grant to Windustry™ for a wind energy exhibit in the “Eco-Experience” building at the 2006 Minnesota State Fair. 

New Component Funds

Eleven new component funds were established through the Southwest Initiative Foundation, including:

• Buffalo Lake-Hector Public School Foundation Fund
• Cottonwood County Historical Society Endowment Fund
• Cottonwood County Historical Society Remick Gallery Endowment Fund
• Edgerton Public School Foundation Fund
• Freese Family Endowment Fund
• Galen Hanson Memorial Education Endowment Fund
• Jennie-O Turkey Store Crisis Assistance Relief Effort (CARE) Fund
• Litchfield Public School Foundation Fund
• Minnesota Educators of the Gifted and Talented (MEGT) Fund
• Murray County Early Childhood Fund
• Prairie Ecology Bus Center Fund

Advanced Intergenerational Dialogue Training

The Foundation hosted an "Advanced Intergenerational Dialogue Training" on March 16, 2006, in Granite Falls.  The training was facilitated by Dr. James Gambone as part of a "Train the Trainer" series to educate local leaders about how to conduct intergenerational dialogues.

A Roaring 20th Anniversary Celebration

The Foundation celebrated its 20th Anniversary with about 450 people at Jackpot Junction in Morton on April 27, 2006.  The Foundation announced 20-Year Anniversary Awards to honor 20 individuals, groups, organizations, or businesses for significant contributions to the SWIF.  Recipients included:

• Mark Lofthus, St. Paul – founding board member.
• Ron Erpelding, Willmar – former trustee.
• Dr. Robert Carothers, Kingston, RI – founding board member and first board chairperson.
• Wilt Croonquist, Willmar – former loan program advisor.
• Mary Lou Ludeman, Tracy – first Paul & Alma Schwan Aging Trust Fund committee member.
• Greg Raymo, Worthington – former loan program advisor.
• Kent Gustafson, St. Paul – founding board member and former board chairperson.
• Lyle Weismantel, Marshall/Spicer – former trustee.
• Elroy Burgeson, Granite Falls – founding board member.
• Terry Anderson, Litchfield – former trustee and building committee member.
• Alicia Johnson, Minnetonka – former board member and former board chairperson.
• Jack Anderson, Montevideo – former auditor and building committee member.
• Tom Keaveny, St. Cloud – first executive director.
• Jonticraft, Wabasso – former loan recipient.
• Karen Nieuwbeerta, Granite Falls – former administrative assistant.
• SMI & Hydraulics, Porter – former loan recipient.
• Sister Magdalen – former grant recipient - “We Care” Project.
• Project Respect, Granite Falls – former grant recipient.
• Impact Innovations, Maynard/Clara City – former loan recipient.
• David Leckey, Eagen – former executive director.

Gustavo Estrada Contracted as Hispanic Business Consultant

The SWIF contracted with Gustavo Estrada of Marshall, MN, to assist Hispanic people interested in starting or expanding a business. Estrada works together with the SWIF and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to help connect people with financial and business planning resources.

New Trustees

Appointed two outstanding regional leaders to the Board of Trustees.  They included:

	Rick Ellingworth Superintendent of Schools - Redwood Falls School District Redwood Falls, MN
	H. Cris Remucal, M.D.  Surgeon - Hutchinson Area Health Care and Hutchinson Medical Center Hutchinson, MN

New Staff

Hired new staff to help the Foundation carry out its mission, including:

	David Paskach Vice President
	Patti Rutledge Receptionist

Secured Phase V Challenge from McKnight

The McKnight Foundation's Phase V challenge to the Southwest Initiative Foundation began on July 1, 2001, and ended June 30, 2006.  The SWIF secured the full $3 million in matching funds from McKnight for its general endowment, which supports the Foundation and its work in the 18 counties of southwest Minnesota.

Two New Community Fund Partnerships

The communities of Jackson and Renville established partnerships with the Southwest Initiative Foundation through its Community Foundation Program in Fiscal Year 2006.

New Five-Year Strategic Plan

In Fiscal Year 2006, the Foundation's board and staff engaged in a rigorous strategic planning process to create a new five-year strategic plan that will guide its work through Fiscal Year 2011.  The plan, which is based on a regional survey, demographic research, trend studies and needs analysis, will refine the Foundation's focus into three primary areas.  They include:

• Economic Advancement, focusing initially on renewable energy.
• Leadership and community development.
• Regional capacity.

In addition, the Foundation will continue to deliver many of its successful programs, such as the Early Childhood Initiative, community and component fund programs, opportunities for productive aging through the Paul and Alma Schwan Aging Trust Fund, and much more.

Growing Home Circle Effort Successful

The Foundation completed the charter phase of its Growing Home Circle campaign in Fiscal Year 2006.  Charter members of the Growing Home Circle are those individuals and businesses that gave $1,000 or more to the Foundation’s general endowment between July 1, 2004, and June 30, 2006.  The charter phase raised over $267,000 through 107 memberships, and those gifts were matched dollar-for-dollar by The McKnight Foundation.  Through the success of the charter phase, the SWIF general endowment now provides over $1 million per year for programs and projects in the 18 counties of southwest Minnesota.

Board Effectiveness and Community Outreach Seminar

The Foundation presented a "Board Effectiveness and Community Outreach" seminar in Redwood Falls on November 15, 2006.  This seminar was geared toward nonprofit organizations and explored how to create a more effective board of directors and how to increase the success rate of community outreach efforts.

Parish Nurse Luncheons

The Foundation hosted parish nurse luncheons in Marshall, Willmar, Benson, and Worthington to educate the regional community about parish nursing.

Southwest Initiative Foundation Award

The Southwest Initiative Foundation Award was presented to Berdette Schoep of Clarkfield for his outstanding contributions to southwest Minnesota and the SWIF.  Schoep served as a board member for the Foundation and also as interim executive director.  He received $2,000 to be awarded to the project or program of his choice serving southwest Minnesota and a framed photograph by Jim Brandenburg.

Southwest Minnesota Blandin Community Leadership Award

The partnership of the Blandin Community Leadership Program (BCLP) and the Southwest Initiative Foundation presented the Southwest Minnesota Blandin Community Leadership Award to Gary Geiger of Willmar.  The award honors an alum or alumni team from southwest Minnesota for significant contributions in community leadership.  Geiger received $2,000 to be awarded to the project or program of his choice serving southwest Minnesota and an inscribed pottery platter from Clay Coyote in Hutchinson.

Life Connections

The Foundation co-sponsored the Life Connections event in Willmar for the sixth year.  The event is held to help adults explore lifestyle and resource options for a positive and productive future.

Bank Partnership Program

The Foundation established a pilot partnership program with several banks in the region to further a mutual goal of helping business owners access financing to start or expand a business.  Through the bank partnership program, banks commit to informing small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs about the SWIF's Micro-Enterprise Loan Program and assisting them with the application process.

Funding for Early Childhood Initiative

The Foundation received over $300,600 in grants and major contributions for its Early Childhood Initiative in Fiscal Year 2006.  Contributors included:

• Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation
• Mardag Foundation
• The McKnight Foundation
• Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi LLP Foundation
• The Robert and Helen Remick Charitable Foundation Trust
• The Schwan Food Company
• The Sheltering Arms Foundation