Funds Help Improve Community Vision, Neighborhood Development
Willmar, Minn. – The Willmar Area Community Foundation announced today the awarding of $77,155 in grants to support eight key programs focused on improving the health and vitality of the region. The Community Foundation awarded an additional $4,029 to local arts projects.
One of the largest grants of $20,000 in the latest round supports the community’s visioning initiative known as Vision 2040. The seed funds from WACF for this project will help better position the Greater Willmar Lakes Area as a better place to live, work and play. This community initiative, led by WACF and other community partners, is focused on four key goals: Attracting and keeping newcomers, strengthening the region’s occupational options, developing and enabling more “things to do” in the community, and developing Next Gen leaders.
Another $20,000 grant supports the Bethesda redevelopment to help introduce a new kind of enhanced continuing care retirement community centered on active lifestyles. This project includes 12 new neighborhoods, a town center, a wellness center, walking paths, café, chapel and other amenities. The housing will include a mix of independent living, assisted living and memory care.
“Both of these projects demonstrate our community’s forward-thinking and ability to make the Willmar area a community that others look to as an example,” said Sara Carlson, executive director of the Willmar Area Community Foundation. “We’re delighted that we can support important local projects that are making us even more proud to call this community home.”
Other grants recently awarded include:
- $10,400 to Family Promise of Kandiyohi County to increase access to safe shelter and secure permanent housing for homeless individuals.
- $10,000 to Centennial Park, a hub of community recreation in Atwater, for the replacement of the playground.
- $5,000 to United Way of West Central Minnesota for the Growmobile and Imagination Library programs focused on reaching out to the community’s rapidly growing immigrant population. These projects help the youngest community member learn essential literacy and language skills and prepare for kindergarten.
- $5,000 to Lutheran Social Services for a senior nutrition program designed to enable keep seniors healthy, eating well and in their own homes for as long as possible. This project focuses on providing a community dining experience for Somali residents at Bihi Restaurant.
- $4,255 to Faith Lutheran Church for the Link, a program focused on helping individuals with budget planning, advocacy and assistance to divert a crisis as well as employment and education assistance.
- $2,500 to Willmar Child Guide Program to help at-risk students improve their academic and social skills. These students come from families who are struggling with poverty, diversity and single-parenting.
The largest art grant of $1,500 supports the Willmar Area Art Council’s 2015 Studio Hop, a self-guided tour of local art studios, and Celebrate Art! Celebrate Coffee!, a fall fine art festival. Other grants supported the establishment of a Willmar Senior High Art Club, the Prairie Winds Concert Band 2014-15 Concert Season, and strengthening the music library for the Willmar Area Symphonic Orchestra.
WACF has awarded about $3.5 million in grants to help regional organizations and individuals give back to their communities since its inception in 1998. The latest grants were awarded from WACF’s general grants fund. Donate to the fund by visiting CommunityGiving.org/Willmar, clicking “Donate” at the top of the page and choosing the fund from the dropdown menu.
The Willmar Area Community Foundation is a $14.5-million organization governed by a 15-member volunteer board representing communities throughout Kandiyohi County. WACF is part of the Central Minnesota Community, a public charity that administers over 600 charitable funds totaling more than $100 million for the benefit of local residents. CMCF has been engaging people and connecting resources to build a better community since 1985. Learn more at CommunityGiving.org/Willmar.