Nearly $500,000 awarded for community projects

Nearly $500,000 awarded for community projects

Equipment for floating classroom and a butterfly garden are among funded projects

DULUTH—Microscopes for a floating classroom, a butterfly garden and an indigenous music festival are among the projects that the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation will make possible with nearly $500,000 in grants announced today.

The foundation awarded the grants from dozens of proposals submitted by nonprofits throughout northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin, and tribal nations. Each year, the foundation provides more than $1 million to support nonprofit work in education, human services, the arts, the environment and economic development.

In all through this grant round, the foundation will support 127 projects worth $495,280 with the awards announced today. All projects will start later this year. They include:

• Microscopes and equipment to outfit a new research vessel under construction for UW-Superior, designed to promote greater understanding of Lake Superior and hands-on learning for all ages.
• A butterfly garden to create habitat and learning opportunities at the Duluth Children’s Museum.
• The inaugural presentation of Moningwaane’akaaning, an Indigenous Music Festival that takes place in the Town of La Pointe, WI, July 6-9.

“These projects improve the quality of life for people across our region,” foundation Director of Community Impact Michelle Morris said. “We appreciate the work invested by all applicants and our volunteer review committees, which had to make some difficult decisions.”

A full list of grant awards and recipients, and the geographic distribution, is available on the foundation’s website.

The next deadline for grant applications is October 3. The application form will be available September 1 on the foundation’s website. Nonprofits with ideas for projects or questions can email [email protected] for more information