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Northwest Area Foundation Grants $1.825 Million for Small Business, Jobs, Civic Engagement and Leadership

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ST. PAUL, Minn. (August 15, 2011) – Starting and growing a business in recession-battered North Minneapolis became more challenging after the ravages of a May tornado. Northwest Area Foundation’s $75,000 grant to the Northside Economic Opportunity Network (NEON) providing assistance, training, and loans to fledgling businesses is one of 31 awards totaling $1.825 million in the second quarter of 2011. The grant comes as many storm-damaged enterprises confront the financial setback of rebuilding, relocating, or reopening. It is an example of the Foundation’s strategy to build assets and wealth among low-income people through grants to nonprofit organizations that bolster small business and workforce development.

“Small businesses are often the engines driving jobs creation. Investing in nonprofits that help them is an important strategy during a time of roller coaster unemployment and unexpected hardships,” said Kevin Walker, president and CEO of the Northwest Area Foundation. “The grants are intended to open paths to prosperity for low-income families through workforce development, public policy initiatives, and leadership development.”

The Foundation also made entrepreneurship and workforce development grants to the following organizations for entrepreneur and job training, access to loans, and small business assistance:

• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) of Duluth, Minn. received $100,000 to expand Duluth at Work, a partnership with the city to boost pay and small business opportunities for low-income workers. Grant dollars will fund green jobs, financial training and efforts to overcome barriers to employment. Since 2008, Duluth at Work has provided job training that propelled 175 people into new employment, many whose wages increased by at least 25 percent.
• Neighborhood Development Center (NDC) of St. Paul, Minn. received $100,000 for the Entrepreneur Programs and National Model, a model that will be shared with regional and national organizations.
• Portland Development Commission of Portland, Ore. received $100,000 to support the Metropolitan Contractors Improvement Project (MCIP) and a green careers scholarship fund. MCIP works with low-income, minority, and disadvantaged contractors to increase their ability to bid on green construction jobs and weatherization jobs through Clean Energy Works Oregon.
• Immigrant Development Center of Moorhead, Minn. received $50,000 to strengthen small, immigrant-owned businesses that may have opportunity to operate out of the International Marketplace Plaza currently under development in Fargo, N.D.
• Rural Dynamics, Inc. of Great Falls, Mont. received $100,000 for the Mobilizing Rural Communities initiative, aimed at strengthening the ability of community organizers and asset-builders to develop action plans to reduce poverty.

In addition, the Foundation made grants to improve public policy that impacts low-income families.  A total of $260,000 will support statewide coalitions and the work of the State Fiscal Analysis Initiative (SFAI).  A network of organizations that analyze tax and budget policies, SFAI affiliates focus on needs of low- and moderate- income families. Grant dollars will fund coalition building, research, analysis, training, strategic planning, and advocacy meetings. The following nonprofits received grants:

• Washington State Budget & Policy Center of Seattle, Wash.
• Children’s Alliance of Seattle, Wash.
• Neighborhood Partnerships of Portland, Ore.
• Consensus Council, Inc. on behalf of North Dakota Economic Security & Prosperity Alliance of Bismarck, N.D.
• Montana Budget & Policy Center of Helena, Mont.
• Minnesota Council of Nonprofits of St. Paul, Minn.
  
  

The Foundation granted a total of $325,000 to four nonprofit organizations to promote civic engagement, community organizing, and advocacy for public policies that increase assets and wealth. The following organizations will work in the Foundation’s region of Minnesota, Iowa, North and South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon:

• Center for Community Change of Washington, D.C. received $125,000.
• Demos of New York, N.Y. received $75,000.
• National Congress of American Indians of Washington, D.C. received $75,000.
• Western Organization Resource Councils Education Project of Billings, Mont. received $50,000.

The Foundation made grants to strengthen the leadership and organizational ability of asset- and wealth-building nonprofits, including:

• National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB) of San Antonio, Texas received $250,000 to expand regional partnerships for workforce and leadership development, and small business strategies. NALCAB will provide business training, professional development, and access to grants and loans that strengthen asset-building organizations in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon.
• Native American Community Development Institute of Minneapolis, Minn. received $150,000 for the American Indian Community Blueprint and the American Indian Cultural Corridor plan that fosters community development and cultural identity.
• Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation of Porcupine, S.D. received $70,000 for the Capacity, Leadership and Asset Development project. The grant will fund a capital campaign, strategic planning, and construction of a new building.
• Native American Community Development Corporation of Browning, Mont. received $50,000 to expand youth financial training to three additional schools on the Blackfeet reservation and to introduce in schools on the Rocky Boys and Fort Belknap reservations.

For a complete list of Northwest Area Foundation’s second quarter grants, visit www.nwaf.org/content/secondqgrants.

The Northwest Area Foundation is dedicated to supporting efforts by people, organizations and communities to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable prosperity. The Foundation’s service region includes urban, rural and American Indian reservation communities in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon. The Great Northern Railway, founded by James J. Hill, served these states. Hill’s son, Louis W. Hill, established the Foundation in 1934. For more information, please visit www.nwaf.org.        

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