Double Your Gift to Lakes & Prairies CAP on Giving Hearts Day, Feb. 11
Posted By Sheri Holm,
Friday, February 05, 2010
Updated: Friday, February 05, 2010
Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership has been selected to participate in the Dakota Medical Foundation's (DMF) Giving Hearts Day, a 24-hour online fundraising event! Giving Hearts Day will be held on February 11, between 12:00 am and 11:59 pm.
Dakota Medical Foundation will match online donations of $10 or more made to Giving Hearts Day nonprofits through the Impact GiveBack website. All donations must be made online. DMF will provide up to $4,000 in match funding to each Giving Hearts Day nonprofit.
Great idea of the week: the Caring for Kids Place store
Posted By Sheri Holm,
Friday, February 05, 2010
Updated: Friday, February 05, 2010
Members of the White Early Childhood Initiative on the White Earth Reservation have come up with a great way to increase parent and provider participation in children's activities that will enhance their kids' well being and readiness for school. Oh, and it brings generations together as well!
The Caring for Kids Place is a store were parents and caregivers can redeem points they've received by actively participating in their child's child care, health care, safety and education. Head Start, Early Childhood Family Education, doctor and dentist offices and many more participating organizations provide the points that parents and caregivers can then use at the store for such things as snow pants, mittens, books, toys, towels, sheets, cleaning items, dishes and more.
Local senior citizens volunteer to work in the store and to keep inventory.
Employers in west central Minnesota now have a new way to better identify and hire qualified workers. The Fergus Falls and Detroit Lakes Workforce Centers, through a grant from West Central Initiative, have launched a new workforce develpment tool that will be on display at the Fergus Falls Business & Community Expo on Feb. 24 at the Bigwood Event Center.
Work Keys is a nationally recognized system used in 33 other states for assessing and enhancing the skills needed for today's workforce. The internet-based system assesses an individual's current skill levels and ranks them on a scale of required skills necessary to perform a specific job.
But it doesn't stop there. Because WorkKeys identifies skill gaps and improvement areas in potential workers, users then enroll in WorkKeys' individualized KeyTrain lessons to bring their competencies up to industry standards. Once the lessons are completed, there is a final test to determine the level of career readiness. Obtaining a nationally recognized Career Readiness Certificate is the final product.
"I think this is an exciting opportunity for us to have a competitive edge, to prove that the skills that are necessary for jobs are available in our region," said Julie Sachs, Rural MN CEP regional manager. "Our challenge is to educate employers on the value of Career Readiness Certificates in evaluating potential employees."
Many workforce centers, businesses, school-to-work consortiums and individuals are recognizing the value of this system to employers and the workforce, Sachs said, noting that North Dakota is one state that recognizes WorkKeys.
"The certificate provides reassurance that firms are hiring the candidate with the best skills match for the job," Sachs said. "This tool is available to the public and we welcome job seekers adn employers to stop by or call."
The Workforce Center in Fergus Falls (218-739-7675) or Detroit Lakes (218-846-7377) can be contacted for additional information and the product will be featured at the Business Expo.
Check out these grants and programs that promote energy savings
Posted By Sheri Holm,
Monday, February 01, 2010
Updated: Monday, February 01, 2010
Here are some new grants and programs that can help save energy and make a difference in our region.
The New Era Rural Technology Competitive Grants Programis for community colleges and advanced technical centers located in rural areas that are interested in aiding rural communities in technology development, applied research and training in renewable energy. Grants awarded range from $10,000 to $300,000. Applications are due April 14, 2010.
The Office of Energy Security offers several incentives for individuals, businesses and nonprofits interested in making energy-saving modifications at home and at the workplace.
Do you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit? The EITC could put up more than $5,000 into the pockets of eligible taxpayers! This is money taxpayers can use to make their lives a little easier now or money they can put away for a rainy day.
What are the issues that are affecting our county’s growth and prosperity? Where do we stand in comparison to the rest of the state? Is there anything we can do to tackle the concerns that hold us back from becoming a thriving, progressive region?
These are questions you may have heard in your community—maybe you’ve asked them yourself. Now the answers to these and many other questions are just a click away at Minnesota Compass (
This new Web site builds on the success of Twin Cities Compass, a similar project for the seven-county metro region. It provides unbiased, credible information, tracks trends and measures progress on issues that affect our quality of life, in such topics as economy, health, housing and a dozen others. Minnesota Compass points to additional resources and strategies for action. It includes information for cities, counties, regions, such as west central Minnesota, and the state as a whole. Check out your county data.
Led by Wilder Research, Minnesota Compass is funded by nine foundations: The Blandin Foundation, Bush Foundation, Initiative Foundation, The McKnight Foundation, Northland Foundation, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, Southwest Initiative Foundation and West Central Initiative. Funding for development of the database was provided by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation.
"A dashboard of indicators that is consistent for all regions of the state is something we’ve wanted for a long time," said Nancy Straw, president of West Central Initiative. "Minnesota Compass brings together the data, the research and ideas at work to help counties and communities make informed, far-reaching decisions for the future prosperity of their residents."
Are you looking for a way to spruce up your community, neighborhood or park? West Central Initiative (WCI) may have a solution, thanks to Valspar’s Minnesota Beautiful program. Through a continued collaborative effort with the Valspar Corporation, paint and coatings will be available in 2010 to communities and public organizations located in the west central Minnesota counties of Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse and Wilkin to complete a rehabilitation or restoration project.
Paint and other products, including stain and sealant, will be awarded for interior or exterior restoration or beautification projects that best meet the eligibility criteria. Selection will be based on the visual impact of the project, public benefit to the community, local volunteer participation and support, intended use of the building and benefit to the needy.
Projects that qualify include, but are not limited to, historic buildings, senior citizen or handicapped facilities, community centers, public buildings and murals. Projects that are ineligible for the Minnesota Beautiful program include denominational churches, schools, city maintenance or privately owned facilities. Projects outside of WCI’s nine-county service area do not qualify.
Applications are due March 5, 2010 and approved projects will be announced on or after March 29, 2010. The application may be downloaded at http://www.wcif.org/?Minnesota_Beautiful.
For more information on the Minnesota Beautiful program, please call Greg Wagner at 1-800-735-2239 or email him at
Posted By Sheri Holm,
Monday, January 18, 2010
Updated: Monday, January 25, 2010
In communities across the country during January, designated nonprofit and governmental agencies are promoting the positive effects of mentoring young people - and the need for more mentors - with National Mentoring Month (NMM) events and activities.
To highlight NMM, on January 21, "Thank Your Mentor Day," Americans are asked to honor those who have affected their lives by thanking their mentors, passing on the virtue of mentoring by becoming a mentor to a local young person, and writing a tribute to their mentor and posting it on WhoMentoredYou.org.
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What are the issues that are affecting our county’s growth and prosperity? Where do we stand in comparison to the rest of the state? Is there anything we can do to tackle the concerns that hold us back from becoming a thriving, progressive region?
Are you looking for a way to spruce up your community, neighborhood or park? West Central Initiative (WCI) may have a solution, thanks to Valspar’s Minnesota Beautiful program. Through a continued collaborative effort with the Valspar Corporation, paint and coatings will be available in 2010 to communities and public organizations located in the west central Minnesota counties of Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse and Wilkin to complete a rehabilitation or restoration project.