We envision a southwest Minnesota where all people thrive. We bring people together to find solutions that benefit the entire region because we believe we’re better together. To do good work together, we recently awarded nearly $60,000 in grant funding to 17 partners across the region who help create belonging by: providing a strong foundation for youth to develop essential skills and resilience; fostering thriving communities by empowering them to prioritize mental wellness; and creating a sense of belonging through collaborative projects that bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Stories
Meet our 2024 Growing Local Emerging Leaders
This year’s Growing Local: Emerging Leaders cohort participants represent nine different communities across southwest Minnesota. Growing Local: Emerging Leaders is designed to help up-and-coming leaders discover and build on their unique strengths so they can make a difference through local boards, commissions and elected positions. It’s facilitated by SWIF in partnership with University of Minnesota Extension.
Celebrating our outgoing board members
Board members Kathy Wehking, Abdirizak Mahboub and Patricia Dols volunteered a combined 23 years on our board, and we want to share our gratitude as they end their terms of service. Together with fellow board members, they guided us through a president/CEO leadership transition and the challenges of weathering the COVID-19 pandemic. During their service, we accelerated our investments to support access to quality, affordable child care; launched Welcoming Week and the Growing Local: Emerging Leaders Program; and leveraged our connections and expertise to ensure relief and recovery funding flowed into our region’s businesses and communities. Southwest Initiative Foundation and southwest Minnesota are better because of their service!
Flood relief funds opened at Southwest Initiative Foundation
To address needs resulting from severe flooding in southwest Minnesota, Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF) has established the Windom Flood Relief Fund in partnership with its community affiliate, the Windom Area Foundation, the Jackson Flood Relief Fund in partnership its community affiliate, the Jackson Area Community Foundation, and the Southwest Minnesota Flood Relief Fund. These emergency funds will help those affected by the high water with financial assistance related to long-term recovery in Windom, Jackson and the foundation’s southwest Minnesota region. Individuals who want to contribute to these relief efforts can give in several ways, and donations to the fund are tax deductible.
Listening sessions for draft licensing standards for child care providers
Southwest Minnesota child care providers and child care champions are invited to attend a listening session to provide feedback, ideas and concerns regarding the draft licensing standards for family child care and child care centers published by the Department of Human Services as part of the Child Care Regulation Modernization Projects. One of SWIF’s priorities is supporting the growth and retention of child care programs in the region because we know access to quality child care is critical to community vitality and economic mobility. We are seeking the engagement and participation of child care providers and child care champions across the region to ensure the perspectives of southwest Minnesota are represented.
Tortilleria El Maná opens in Worthington
Fresh tortillas are now available in Worthington thanks to Maynor Lopez. He recently opened Tortilleria El Maná on Oxford Street with help from Southwest Initiative Foundation’s Business Finance Loan Program. A tortilleria is essentially a tortilla bakery. Tortillerias are common in Mexico and Central America and usually sell corn tortillas by weight. While Maynor is new to business ownership, he has plenty of experience making tortillas in his home country of Guatemala. Now he makes 80 pounds of them every day at Tortilleria El Maná.