CCMI Receives Grants to Support Disadvantaged Youth
Contact:
Melissa Cuff
Conservation Corps
651/209-9900, ext. 26
Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa receives grants to support disadvantaged youth
St. Paul, Minn., October 12, 2017 – Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa has received several grants to support Youth Outdoors, a program that engages disadvantaged youth in service-learning and civic leadership, equipping them with critical workforce skills. Support from the following organizations has made Youth Outdoors possible in 2017:
· Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) – $20,000
· McNeely Foundation- $20,000
· Otto Bremer Foundation- $30,000
· Wells Fargo Foundation- $9,880
· The North Face Explore Fund- $10,000
The unemployment rate for Minnesota teens is nearly 3 times higher than for the general working-age population, and the unemployment rate is even more disparate for youth of color. These grant investments will ensure that more diverse young people have access to the Youth Outdoors program, offering teens the opportunity to gain valuable work experience while exposing them to potential career and education pathways in the natural resources management field.
“Grant investment in Conservation Corps makes it possible to provide high quality workforce development experiences for young people living in Minnesota who will benefit the most from increased opportunities. We appreciate the support and partnership of these generous foundations and organizations.”
– Hollis Emery, Program Director for Youth and Individual Placements
About Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa: A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa provides hands-on environmental stewardship and service-learning opportunities for youth and young adults. They perform conservation, natural resource management and emergency response work throughout Minnesota, Iowa and surrounding states. www.conservationcorps.org
About DEED: The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is the state’s principal economic development agency. DEED programs promote business recruitment, expansion, and retention; international trade; workforce development; and community development.
About McNeely Foundation: The McNeely Foundation leverages human and financial resources to foster a thriving East Side of St. Paul, Minnesota where the McNeely business developed.
About Otto Bremer Foundation: The Otto Bremer Trust is a unique organization spanning banking, investments and philanthropy. Each serves a specific purpose and they all work together to deliver impact for the communities we serve. One hundred percent of our assets are put to work for our mission – and have been since 1944.
About Wells Fargo Foundation: We know that our long-term success is directly linked to th success of our customers and the communities we serve. Through a combination of strategic relationships with local and national nonprofits, grants, volunteer activities and other community investments, we’re creating solutions that help strengthen the communities in which we operate and grow local economies around the world.
About the North Face Explore Fun: The North Face Explore Fund provides $500,000 annually in grants to nonprofit organizations working in powerful and creative ways to encourage participants to experience outdoor activities and develop an enduring appreciation of the outdoors. Since its founding in 2010, the Explore Fund has provided nearly 500 grants to nonprofits that serve thousands of people in communities around the country. The Explore Fund reflects our commitment to introduce more people to the joy of exploring the outdoors and the natural world.