Minnesota Science and Technology Grants

The North Central Region SARE (NCR-SARE) Partnership Grant Program is seeking applications to provide funding of $10,000 to $100,000 for projects that foster cooperation between agriculture professionals and small groups of farmers and ranchers, aiming to catalyze on-farm research, demonstration, and education activities related to sustainable agriculture.

The New American in the Long-Term Care Workforce grant, administered by the Department of Human Services (DHS) in Minnesota through its Grants, Equity, Access, and Research (GEAR) Division, aims to support New Americans in obtaining, maintaining, and growing within the long-term care (LTC) workforce. This initiative directly aligns with the broader mission of strengthening the LTC sector by addressing workforce shortages and promoting diversity and inclusion. The grant is designed to provide specialized services and supports to New Americans, fostering their professional development and contributing to the stability and quality of LTC organizations across all counties in Minnesota. The primary target beneficiaries of this grant are New Americans seeking to enter or advance in the LTC workforce. The program's impact goals include increasing the number of New Americans in LTC, enhancing their skills and career pathways, and ultimately improving the capacity and cultural competency of LTC organizations. By focusing on this specific demographic, the grant seeks to create a more inclusive and robust workforce, which is a critical component of ensuring high-quality care for residents. The grant prioritizes several key areas to achieve its objectives. These include offering onsite Occupational English classes and training, establishing in-house mentorship programs, providing cultural competency and humility training for LTC employers and staff, and offering hiring bonuses and incentives. Furthermore, the program emphasizes digital skills training, developing mentorship and career-pathways programs for employee retention, career navigation and education, financial literacy coaching, and training stipends or tuition reimbursement. Crucially, it also provides wraparound support services such as mental health assistance, medical career education, childcare, and transportation, recognizing the holistic needs of New American workers. Expected outcomes and measurable results include an increase in the number of New Americans successfully placed and retained in LTC positions, improved career progression and skill development among participants, and enhanced cultural competence within LTC facilities. The grant anticipates awarding up to $12 million in the first round of applicants, indicating a significant investment in these outcomes. The grant period from August 1, 2024, through July 31, 2026, allows for a two-year window to implement and measure the effectiveness of these programs, with an emphasis on creating sustainable pathways for New Americans in the LTC sector. Eligible applicants for this grant include nonprofit organizations, community-based agencies, educational institutions, LTC employers, and government entities that demonstrate a strong commitment to serving New Americans. This broad eligibility ensures that a diverse range of organizations can contribute to the grant's goals. The strategic priorities of DHS, as evidenced by this grant, include fostering equity and access within critical sectors like long-term care, leveraging grant contracts to achieve workforce development goals, and supporting underserved populations. The theory of change behind this program is that by providing targeted support, training, and resources to New Americans, the state can simultaneously empower individuals, strengthen the LTC workforce, and enhance the quality of care provided to its residents.

The McKnight Fellowship for Ceramic Artists, administered by the Northern Clay Center, is designed to support outstanding mid-career ceramic artists in Minnesota. This fellowship aligns with the broader mission of recognizing and fostering artistic excellence and sustained accomplishment within the state's vibrant arts community. The program aims to empower artists, regardless of their specific methodology—be it functional, sculptural, or relational—by providing resources that enable growth and innovation in their craft. The primary beneficiaries of this program are mid-career Minnesota ceramic artists who demonstrate a consistent level of commitment and artistic excellence. The program's impact goals include providing significant financial support, encouraging experimentation with new techniques and materials, facilitating collaborations, and offering opportunities for education, exhibition, or travel. By investing in these artists, the fellowship seeks to strengthen the ceramic arts landscape in Minnesota and contribute to the artists' long-term career development. The fellowship prioritizes artists who have maintained Minnesota residency for at least one year prior to application and for the duration of the fellowship year. It focuses on supporting those who have not received a McKnight Artist & Culture Bearer Fellowship in any artistic discipline within the last five years, ensuring equitable distribution of support. Furthermore, the program looks for artists who can demonstrate ongoing artistic growth and development since any previous McKnight fellowship. Expected outcomes include the creation of new works, the acquisition of new skills or materials, successful collaborations, and participation in educational or exhibition opportunities, all contributing to the artists' continued artistic advancement. The measurable results are the two $25,000 grants awarded annually, directly supporting the selected artists in achieving these outcomes. This investment reflects a strategic priority to cultivate a thriving artistic community in Minnesota by directly supporting the careers of accomplished artists and fostering innovation within the ceramic arts.

The Crookston Area Community Fund (CACF), under the umbrella of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation, offers grants to support charitable, educational, and public purpose projects. These projects are specifically designed to enhance or improve the quality of life for both residents and visitors within the Crookston area. This grant program aligns directly with the foundation's mission to foster community well-being and development in Northwest Minnesota. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are nonprofit organizations and public agencies operating in the Crookston area. The program aims to support projects that address key community needs and contribute to a better quality of life. Impact goals include fostering improvements in education, stimulating economic development, bolstering healthcare services, protecting the environment, enhancing recreational opportunities, and supporting cultural and community service initiatives. The CACF prioritizes projects that fall under specific topics: education, economic development, healthcare, environment and recreation, and cultural and community service. These focus areas represent critical sectors where strategic investment can lead to significant community benefits. The selection process considers how effectively proposed projects address these areas and their potential for positive, tangible outcomes. Expected outcomes include measurable improvements in the quality of life across the Crookston area. Projects should demonstrate clear objectives and the potential for a positive impact on the community. While specific measurable results are not detailed in the provided text, the emphasis on enhancing and improving quality of life suggests that successful projects will lead to concrete benefits, such as improved access to educational resources, new economic opportunities, better health outcomes, or increased engagement in cultural and recreational activities. The program plans to award a total of $25,000 in this grant round, with individual grants ranging from $500 to $10,000.

The North Central Region SARE (NCR-SARE) Research and Education (R&E) Grant Program is a competitive funding opportunity offering $100,000 to $500,000 for up to 3 years to researchers, educators, and organizations exploring sustainable agriculture, with the aim of improving economic viability, environmental quality, and quality of life in the North Central Region's agricultural sector.

This grant option, part of the Minnesota Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Research Grant Program, aims to support early-stage research into innovative treatments and rehabilitative techniques for spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries. The Tier 1 Pilot Project Grant does not require preliminary data but encourages it, reflecting early investment as researchers prepare to seek larger grants. The funding amount can reach up to $125,000 for a project duration of two years with an additional one-year no-cost extension.

This grant provides funding for organizations in Minnesota and Wisconsin to implement impactful water quality improvement projects and promote environmental stewardship within their communities.

This program provides funding to eligible public transit agencies in designated urban areas to improve security and resilience against terrorism and other threats through various protective measures and enhancements.

This funding is designed to support non-profit organizations in Hubbard County, Minnesota, that implement community-based programs and outreach initiatives aimed at preventing child abuse and promoting family well-being.

This funding program provides financial support to community-based organizations that empower youth aged 12 to 20 through established, youth-led urban greening initiatives focused on social and environmental justice in select states.

This program provides financial support to licensed childcare providers to improve the quality of their services through equipment upgrades, technology investments, and facility enhancements.

This funding opportunity supports Minnesota-based organizations and individuals conducting applied crop research to improve agricultural practices and outcomes for local farmers and rural communities.

Arts Midwest is offering Cultural Sustainability: Equity-Based Operating Grants of up to $67,000 to small arts and culture organizations rooted in communities of color, providing general operating support for those with annual expenses up to $500,000 in selected states.

The Patricia Ann Emberg Charitable Trust offers grants to tax-exempt, nonprofit, and governmental vocational, technical, and trade school programs situated in northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. The foundation's mission is aligned with workforce development, specifically targeting the enhancement of skills and opportunities in prominent regional industries. Through these grants, the Trust aims to strengthen educational infrastructures that prepare individuals for successful careers in critical sectors, thereby contributing to the economic vitality of the specified regions. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are vocational, technical, and trade schools in northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin, along with the students who enroll in their programs. The impact goal is to create a skilled workforce that meets the demands of regional industries. By supporting these educational institutions, the Trust seeks to foster a pipeline of qualified candidates, addressing labor shortages and promoting economic stability within the community. The grants are designed to support programs that directly contribute to the employability of graduates in high-demand fields. A key priority for the Patricia Ann Emberg Charitable Trust is to give preference to programs of study that have the potential to provide qualified candidates for the workforce in prominent regional industries. Specifically, the Trust highlights areas such as forestry and aircraft maintenance, indicating a strategic focus on sectors vital to the local economy. This targeted approach ensures that the grant funding directly addresses specific industry needs and contributes to the growth and sustainability of these critical sectors. The expected outcomes of the grant program include an increased number of graduates equipped with the necessary skills for prominent regional industries, a more robust local workforce, and ultimately, enhanced economic development in northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. While specific measurable results are not detailed in the provided information, the focus on workforce readiness in key industries suggests that success would be measured by job placement rates in these fields and the overall positive impact on regional employment statistics. The Trust's strategic priority is to invest in education that directly translates into employment opportunities, reflecting a theory of change where targeted vocational training leads to improved economic well-being for individuals and communities.

This grant program, offered by the Minnesota Department of Education, aims to support the Minnesota's LSTA Five-Year Plan (2023-2027) by funding projects that align with Goals A, B, and C. The overarching mission is to reduce barriers to access, promote equity, showcase libraries' contributions to the community, and empower Minnesota's library workforce. This aligns with the state's broader strategic priorities of closing racial and economic achievement gaps and supporting the goals of the World's Best Workforce, as highlighted in Goal C. The target beneficiaries of this grant are legally established public libraries, library cooperatives or consortia, libraries in Minnesota’s public schools or public colleges and universities, and special libraries operated by Minnesota registered 501(c)(3) organizations. The impact goals are centered around increasing collective impact through coalition building (Goal A), reimagining access through partnerships (Goal B), and changing the narrative to better showcase libraries' vital contributions to thriving communities (Goal C). The program prioritizes and focuses on new projects that can serve as models or pilots. However, it also considers new phases of existing projects or ongoing projects that reach new audiences, incorporate new methods, or significantly expand their reach. Collaboration and partnerships with community-based organizations are highly encouraged, reflecting a strategic priority to leverage collective efforts for greater impact, though not a strict requirement for application. Expected outcomes and measurable results are tied to the achievement of the LSTA Five-Year Plan's goals, particularly in areas like reducing access barriers and promoting equity. While specific metrics are not detailed in the provided text, the focus on "changing the narrative" and "increasing collective impact" suggests qualitative and quantitative improvements in community engagement, library service utilization, and workforce development. The grant period from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025, provides a timeframe for achieving these outcomes, with grant awards ranging from $10,000 to $75,000 to support these initiatives.

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) is seeking applications from Minnesota educational cooperative service units with prior experience in statewide leadership and technical assistance to ensure a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for students with low incidence disabilities. This grant aims to sustain and increase the capacity of Minnesota's special education workforce, aligning with the MDE's mission to support all students, particularly those with low incidence disabilities who comprise less than 10 percent of all students receiving special education services or require intensive support in specific categorical areas. The grant opportunity estimates $875,000 per year is available, with an initial grant period from October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are educational professionals who provide education to students with low incidence disabilities in Minnesota, as well as the students themselves. The impact goals include enhancing the skills of educators and other educational professionals, addressing staff shortages, and improving early identification and support for students with low incidence disabilities. This initiative seeks to build a competent workforce capable of delivering high-quality special education services across the state. The program prioritizes providing aligned, requested, and anticipated technical assistance, including purposeful and sustained collaborative opportunities. This will involve a multi-tiered support framework for technical assistance (MTS-TA) to foster skill-building for educators. A key focus is coordination and partnership with local districts, coops, and other educational agencies, as well as collaboration with institutions of higher education to address workforce development and staff shortages. The categorical areas for necessary supports are outlined in the specific program expectations for grant-funded partners. Expected outcomes include a more robust and skilled special education workforce in Minnesota, improved technical assistance for educators, and enhanced educational outcomes for students with low incidence disabilities. Measurable results will likely involve metrics related to the number of professionals trained, the types of technical assistance provided, and improvements in early identification and support practices. The ultimate goal is to ensure that all students, especially those with low incidence disabilities, receive the necessary supports to achieve a free and appropriate public education.

The Forecast Public Art’s Midwest Memory Grant, ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, is open to non-profit organizations in rural Midwest communities, aiming to elevate and preserve the stories of BIPOC communities through monuments, with a focus on addressing systemic inequities and advancing racial justice.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska that focus on improving financial literacy and employment readiness to help individuals achieve financial stability.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for community-based projects in Goodhue County that aim to prevent opioid misuse and promote healthy lifestyles.