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No matter what line of work you are in, seeking out professional development often means traveling to the Twin Cities or even out of state. Costs can add up quickly when factoring in travel and lodging. At Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF), we are proud to offer a range of high-quality, affordable training opportunities right here in our 20-county region.

We provide convenient, accessible education close to home for entrepreneurs, early childhood professionals and Community Foundation board members. We’re excited to offer valuable opportunities to enhance skills and knowledge across our region this fall.

For the tenth year in a row, SMIF is looking forward to hosting the Entrepreneurial Bridge event, a celebration of entrepreneurial innovation in the region held on Sept. 24 in Albert Lea. Equal parts training, networking and inspiration, there will be a variety of dynamic speakers who will share stories and practical advice for businesses throughout this full day event. Topics include evolving your value proposition, scaling your business and living your passion. Registration is currently open at smifoundation.org/bridge.

Some of SMIF’s business financing opportunities come with training perks. Thanks to a partnership with the Small Business Administration (SBA), our Small Enterprise Loan recipients are eligible for free or partially paid technical assistance. This means that we plug them into a network of consultants who can help them with their most pressing training needs – including how to market and how to use QuickBooks. To learn more about SMIF’s business financing options visit smifoundation.org/businessfinancing.

SMIF’s fall events will continue with a fall Early Childhood Training series that launches on Sept. 17 and runs through Nov. 12.

Topics cover a wide range of issues that are prominent in the Early Childhood field, including encouraging curiosity in young children, promoting self-control and attention skills, finding joy in caring for children and managing challenging behaviors.

We know that in order to deliver quality trainings to early childhood professionals, it is critical to accommodate their schedules. Therefore, in addition to holding these sessions in the evenings, these are also held in different parts of the region – in Kasson, Dundas, New Prague, Lake Crystal and Faribault.

A meal is provided for free at these classes. One major benefit is that all these trainings are “Develop-approved,” so attendees will receive credit for participating, further aiding them in reaching their professional goals. Registration for all of these classes is currently open at smifoundation.org/ectrainings.

Finally, SMIF will be hosting a fall training for the board members of our 32 Community Foundations. This year we are pleased to have Ben Winchester from the University of Minnesota-Extension present on the importance of capturing the enormous transfer of wealth that will be happening in Greater Minnesota in the coming years. These trainings are important professional development opportunities for these volunteer-led organizations which offer incredible support to their local communities. It is also an opportunity for them to socialize and learn from one another. This training can be what jumpstarts a new grant program or helps create a stronger professional structure for these foundations.

SMIF’s continuing education opportunities have trained thousands of people in southern Minnesota over the years. We know that providing high-quality, affordable trainings close to home is critical for the growth of our region – ensuring that southern Minnesota professionals and volunteers remain at the forefront of industry trends and best practices.

As always, I welcome your comments and questions. You can reach me at timp@smifoundation.org or 507-455-3215.