The Blandin Foundation, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, awarded nearly $1.9 million in grants at its recent board meeting, including six grants totaling $753,000 to strengthen, improve, and diversify the state's forest-based economy.

The six Vital Forests/Vital Communities grants included $179,000 to the University of Minnesota College of Natural Resources to develop a framework to promote third-party certification of small private forest holdings; $444,000 for three programs designed to improve professional development for forest managers and loggers, to the University of Minnesota Sustainable Forest Education Cooperative, the Minnesota Logger Education Program, and Itasca and Vermillion community colleges; and $100,000 to the MN Wood Campaign to help area producers increase employment in the local wood products industry. "These grants demonstrate our commitment to the strength, stability, and sustainability of our forests that are so vital to our community, our region, and our state," said foundation president Jim Hoolihan.

More than $1.4 million, or 61 percent, of all the grants were dedicated to the Grand Rapids area and Itasca County. Significant Grand Rapids area grants include $310,000 for major snow grooming and snowmaking improvements at the Mount Itasca Winter Sports Complex; $280,000 over two years to the Reif Arts Council for operations; $135,000 in two grants to Second Harvest North Central Food Bank for its warehouse and caf�; and $33,750 to the Grand Rapids Economic Development Authority to commission a downtown plan for the city.