SMIF awards 508 gallons of paint to beautify the region 17 projects supported by Paint the Town Grants

Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) awarded 508 gallons of paint for 17 projects across its 20-county region through its Paint the Town Grant Program. This program is designed to engage volunteers and build collaborative efforts that beautify communities through painting community murals, community welcome signs, historic structures or public art.

This year, the Paint the Town Grant was open to all communities within SMIF’s region and was awarded to projects that have a visual impact, provide a public benefit to the community and involve volunteer participation.

The 2026 Paint the Town Grant award recipients are:

• 23 gallons to the City of Elmore to brighten their small town with volunteer-painted panels that will be displayed on city buildings.
• 20 gallons to the City of Eyota to restore community murals to improve curb appeal and reinforce a sense of belonging for residents.
• 20 gallons to the City of Kilkenny to update the paint in their public library and paint shamrocks on the street for their Halfway to St. Patty’s Day celebration.
• 8 gallons to the City of Lanesboro to make the children’s room in their library more inviting with a colorful mural.
• 12 gallons to the City of Nerstrand to restore the ceiling of their city hall.
• 17 gallons to the City of Peterson to welcome city park visitors with a gnome mural and an informational sign.
• 24 gallons to the City of Spring Grove to repaint and refresh the log cabin in Viking Park.
• 90 gallons to the City of Spring Valley to enhance their park by adding art to the parking lot surface, a mural to the exterior of the pool building and a sign to the concession stand.
• 10 gallons to Environmental Initiative for Chatfield Elementary to paint native Minnesota plants on the blacktop of their play area, teaching students about the impact of the plants on clean water.
• 50 gallons to Fillmore County Agricultural Society in Preston to refresh and help preserve their historic World War I fairgrounds entrance, poultry barn and refreshments and gathering center.
• 8 gallons to Friendship House in Faribault to paint a Garden Park mural on the side of their clubhouse that serves adults with lived experience with mental illness.
• 64 gallons to Henderson Pride Inc to spruce up their park and public art turkey for the community’s 175th anniversary.
• 22 gallons toLyle Public School to paint a nature-inspired mural on a shipping container that houses fishing club equipment to reflect students and community members enjoying the outdoors.
• 6 gallons to Mankato Area Public Schools to transform the Jefferson Elementary gymnasium with a Minnesota biomes mural, designed with the help of students and guided by local Indigenous leaders to reflect themes of land, stewardship and belonging.
• 42 gallons to MN Agricultural Interpretive Center in Waseca to refresh Farmamerica’s historic 1930s farmhouse, white livestock fence and one-room schoolhouse.
• 12 gallons to Montgomery Arts and Heritage Center to bring more wing murals to life, celebrating the community and the buildings they will live on.
• 80 gallons to Zumbro Valley Medical Society Foundation in Rochester to integrate people with direct experience of homelessness into the downtown area through a mural.

“I am inspired to see the collaboration focus of these projects,” said Alissa Oeltjenbruns, vice president of philanthropy and community vitality. “Paint can surely beautify a town, but it is working together that creates vibrant communities.”

Since 1997, SMIF has helped distribute more than 11,822 gallons of paint to 354 projects in the region through various programs. The Paint the Town Grant program was officially launched in 2015.

For more information on SMIF’s grant programs, visit smifoundation.org/grants.