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Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) recently approved $248,275 for 24 Early Childhood projects that will support early care and education services. These projects will impact more than 5,884 young children in the foundation’s 20-county region.

Funding for these projects will help the organizations cover supports that range from social, emotional and physical health needs, training and development to operate and address the needs of young children and other activities that prioritize the needs of underserved groups.

This year’s Early Care and Education Grant award recipients are:

• $20,000 to Austin Aspires
• $11,749 to Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota in Mankato
• $20,000 to Exchange Club Center for Family Unity in Owatonna
• $20,000 to Faribault Public Schools
• $10,000 to Jeremiah Program in Rochester
• $12,000 to New Prague Area Early Childhood Initiative
• $20,000 to New Ulm ECFE
• $15,000 to Northfield Public Schools Community Education
• $15,561 to Sleepy Eye Early Childhood Family Education

An additional 15 projects were approved for a total of $103,965 to support early care and education.