Paint the Town Grants
SMIF’s Paint the Town Grant Program is designed to build community collaboration with a unique and hands-on approach. SMIF donates up to 100 gallons of paint per project, with the goal of fostering inclusion through volunteer engagement, promotion of creativity, celebration of local pride and to enhance the beauty and interest of a space through community collaboration.
Free paint and coating products are available for community mural, community welcome sign, historic structure or public art/creative placemaking projects and to refresh public spaces in preparation for significant community milestone celebrations. This year, projects that lift up marginalized community members will be prioritized and the grant is open to all communities within SMIF’s 20-county region.
This grant will open in 2027.
Timeline
Applications due: by March 3, 2026
Award notifications: by April 15, 2026
Questions?
Sarah Scheffert, Communications & Community Vitality Specialist
Phone: 507-214-7015
Email: sarahs@smifoundation.org
Examples of Public Art/Creative Placemaking projects
New this year is the opportunity to apply for paint for use in public art projects, including in creative placemaking initiatives which incorporate the arts to create a place-based asset in a community. Examples may include painting a piano on a public, outdoor staircase, painting board games on public picnic tables, painting a pop-up park in an alleyway downtown, or using paint on temporary or permanent art installations that enhance the vibrancy of a community.
Paint the Town Stories
SMIF awards 508 gallons of paint to beautify the region
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation awards 508 gallons of paint through Paint the Town Grant to beautify the region.
Alissa Oeltjenbruns – Paint the Town road trip
Spring is the perfect time of year to take a road trip around the region to check out SMIF's Paint the Town Grant projects.
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation offers free paint for community projects
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation offers free paint for community projects. All communities are welcome to apply by March 3.
A fresh coat of paint welcomes presidential turkeys to Farmamerica
Peach and Blossom, the turkeys pardoned by the U.S. president this year, have arrived at their forever home at Farmamerica in Waseca. Thanks to a fresh coat of paint from SMIF's Paint the Town Grant, visitors will get to see the turkeys in a beautifully-painted 1930s building.
Small Town Grant Spotlight: City of Winnebago
In 2022, the City of Winnebago was awarded a $2,940 Small Town Grant from SMIF to create a promotional video that will be added to the City website, highlighting why people should move to Winnebago.
Weaving together resources for long-term impact
The town of Spring Grove in Houston County has taken full advantage of SMIF’s grants and programming over the years. Courtney Bergey Swanson and Rebecca Charles, both CEDA employees, shared how support from SMIF has made a difference in the community vitality and economic growth of the small town.
Paint the Town Grant Spotlight: Spring Valley unveils Spring Valley Creek Mural
There is a colorful new addition welcoming people to downtown Spring Valley! The City of Spring Valley unveiled its new Spring Valley Creek Mural earlier this summer thanks to support from SMIF's Paint the Town Grant.
Paint the Town Grant Spotlight: Fairmont
In 2021, SMIF awarded 20 gallons of paint for a unique mural in Fairmont through the Paint the Town Grant program. Alex Young-Williams, a Lead for Minnesota Community Activator serving in Fairmont with Project 1590, shares some of the highlights of creating the mural.
Paint the Town Grant Spotlight: Rushford Area Historical Society
In 2021, SMIF awarded 20 gallons of paint to the Rushford Area Historical Society (RAHS) to help restore the historic Grinde School House. Terri Benson, president of RAHS, shares some of the highlights of how this project took shape with the help of many volunteers.
Paint the Town Grant Spotlight: Caledonia
In 2021, SMIF provided 13 gallons of paint for the Caledonia Street Scapes project through the Paint the Town Grant program. The mural, which depicts a woodland scene, is located in the downtown Pocket Park and is visible from the only set of stoplights in town.
