Northwest Blog

People around the world can identify the Mississippi River on a map. Many of us drive past or over it every day. School children can actually spell it. So, if the Mighty Mississippi starts right here in Minnesota, why doesn't it float on our minds more often? Partnering with foundations across the state, this special statewide issue of IQ Magazine examines the past, present and future of the Mississippi River and its tributaries. Fall-IQ-Magazine--CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

In the midst of a struggling statewide economy, the community of Thief River Falls has a problem other Minnesota cities might wish they had. Read more here from the Grand Forks Herald

NMF recently awarded a grant for $15,000 for the “Active Hubbard County” Project.   The Headwaters Regional Development Commission (HRDC) will be leading a new “Active Living Campaign” that will include all of Hubbard County.   The HRDC envisions its entire region, including Hubbard County, as a place where all modes of transportation are respected, the area is recognized as being safe and healthy, physical activity is common and accessible, travel corridors have strong connection points, and home to school routes are safe for all children.   To help this vision become a reality, the HRDC will lead a planning process that will include a wide variety of partners from throughout Hubbard County, building upon the successes already achieved through the Healthy Park Rapids Area 2020 project.   Specific work program items will include:   developing a strong partnership from all communities in the County; maintaining and sustaining the partnership; developing and prior...

Thief River Falls, Minn.-based Digi-Key Corp. was hit with a wave of new orders shortly after the deadly tsunami hit the Japanese coast in March. Anticipated shortages of the electronic components that Digi-Key distributes worldwide led to a big spike in orders for the local company as international customers, worried about the availability of electronic components manufactured in Japan, stockpiled supplies. Read more http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/215911/

Check out this link - Crookston Times Editor Mike Christopherson covered the NMF meeting to kick off the Sustaining Community Success program.

“Beyond the Senior Annual Check-Up” Program The Northwest Minnesota Foundation Board of Directors recently awarded a grant for $24,000 to support Community Resource Connections (CRC) in developing and piloting a screening and follow-up tool with senior citizens struggling to navigate the services and complications of Medicare systems. CRC is planning to conduct a limited pilot project in the Blackduck area during the next year.   Following development of the various screening assessments, the Blackduck Service Center will work with about 30 seniors/couples to screen for services, provide case management services, make referrals, and conduct follow up with both clients and service providers.   CRC believes that having this type of screening available will reduce the demands upon local service providers to determine eligibility for services, and free up more time to actually provide and organize the services, thus saving time and money.   CRC Executive Director Ruth She...

 It's been several years since members of the Crookston community were invited to sit down together and try to hash out a path for the town's future that most people think is a wise one, so the timing would seem to be especially appropriate for the "Community Stewardship Initiative" to launch.