SAINT PAUL — A private charitable trust based in St. Paul recently announced grant awards that will affect the Austin area. The grants are within $12,655,528 that the Otto Bremer Trust has awarded in its most recent grantmaking cycle.

Mower County Seniors, Inc., which operates the Mower County Senior Center in Austin, was awarded $50,000 for general operations to support.

The Hayfield Fire Department was awarded $49,604 to assist the volunteer department with the purchase of equipment.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Winona was awarded $85,250 to provide services to area seniors to support their ability to live in their own homes. Austin’s Catholic parishes are in this diocese

A Chance to Grow, Inc. in Minneapolis was given $75,000 to support the expansion of a program for pre-K through grade 3 students in southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin. It is called SMART, which stands for  Stimulating Maturity Through Accelerated Readiness Training.

The Minnesota Civil Liberties Union Foundation was awarded $50,000 to provide outreach, education  and advocacy to protect the civil liberties of immigrants and refugees in southern Minnesota.