Brainerd selected for grant for Healthy Community Partnership

Brainerd is one of four cities selected to receive a $10,000 grant and one year of leadership team training as part of the Initiative Foundation's Healthy Communities Partnership program.

Since 1999 the program has helped more than 80 central Minnesota communities combine local assets, talents and ideas to create a shared community vision and plan for the future.

The Initiative Foundation will begin training the Brainerd volunteer leadership team in March 2010. The team will include 20 residents who represent the area's social, economic and professional diversity.

Leaders are trained to assist with community discussions and a public visioning session, where everyone answers the same question: "If you could imagine the best possible future for this community, what would it look like?" When residents arrive at a collective answer, partnership leaders will turn that vision into a simple plan of action, which can earn additional foundation support.

Brainerd residents are encouraged to watch for further announcements about the partnership program and an opportunity to become involved in the process.

If you are interested to learn more about the program, contact Brainerd City Planner Mark Ostgarden at 828-2309.