The Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) has announced the launch of four community resource events this spring.

In an effort to expose more people to the many resources that the foundation has to offer, SMIF is hosting “Sprout!” events where the public is invited to meet with program staff and network with SMIF grant recipients, loan clients and program participants.

SMIF’s resources include support for business financing and training, minority entrepreneurship support, quality training for child care providers, early childhood programming, a variety of grant programs, community foundation development, farmland retention program and more.

Events will be held at the following locations:

• April 23: Cannon River Winery, Cannon Falls
• April 25: Four Daughters Vineyard and Winery, Spring Valley
• April 30: Chankaska Creek Ranch and Winery, Kasota
• May 2: Red Rock Center for the Arts, Fairmont

Sprout! events are free and will be held from 4:30-6:30 p.m. with a short program at 5:15 p.m. Light hors d’oeurves will be served. Please join us and learn about the resources and impact SMIF has on your community.

SMIF is a donor-supported foundation that invests for economic growth in the 20 counties of south central and southeastern Minnesota. The Foundation has provided more than $111 million in grants, loans and programming within the region since 1986 in the areas of economic and early childhood development and community vitality.