Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) recently announced an award of $9000 to the Leading Entrepreneurs in New Directions (LEND) project. The grant was awarded is one of SMIF's Community Growth Initiatives (CGI) aimed at capitalizing on the assets of a community.

The project focuses on teaching business and technical skills to local immigrant entrepreneur students through a hands-on training program. Students will complete a business course at Riverland Community College, where they will identify and work on real problems and issues affecting the community.

"We are pleased to support Owatonna's efforts to assist the immigrant workforce," said Tim Penny, SMIF President and CEO. "Through our Community Growth Initiative, we encourage communities and organizations to draw on their own assets to create change rather than looking to 'outside experts' for answers and assistance."

Current operating minority entrepreneurs can be tapped for education input on issues they overcame, or they have the opportunity to enroll in the training program to enhance their business and technical skills to improve their operations and profitability.

The CGI grant provides an opportunity to explore, leverage, and align existing community assets to support immigrant workforce efforts and minority-owned businesses. Now 23 communities across southern Minnesota are involved in a Community Growth Initiative. With SMIF's support, they are identifying and achieving goals, learning about and leveraging their assets, developing volunteer leaders, and increasing citizen involvement.

For information about LEND, contact Peggy Young at 507-433-0602.