Through partnerships, early childhood education and small business in southern Minnesota can continue to improve.

That’s the message Tim Penny, president of the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, wants to send and the same message he delivered Thursday at The Hormel Institute.

“We know that this is a challenge that is bigger than the resources our foundation can bring to early childhood education,” Penny said about SMIF trying to bring more educational resources to 20 counties it serves in southeastern Minnesota.

Penny, a former U.S. Congressman and state senator, said SMIF is able to directly offer about $4.5 million toward both sectors. According to him, that’s not much. However, SMIF’s presence and ability to partner with organizations like IBM, book publishing companies and others continues to those 20 counties in a big way, such as the Ready 4 K program in Austin.

“SMIF is very supportive of our community,” said Amy Baskin, director of community education in Austin. “We’ve been an early childhood initiative, so our community is very proactive.”

At the meeting, two local early childhood educators explained how those initiatives funded by SMIF and its partners have directly and positively affected young students.

“It comes down to partnerships, folks,” said Shannon Hart, local Early Childhood Initiative Coordinator.

According to Hart, $5,000 from SMIF coupled with another $5,000 from United Way kick started a scholarship program for pre-kindergarten students in Austin. Now, children from low-income families have found ways to afford educational programs and even bus transportation to and from facilities within Austin.

Jennifer McMahon, an AmeriCorps member and Blooming Prairie early childhood educator, explained how she is employing one specific program that can improve social and emotional readiness in kids.

That readiness is exactly where SMIF and its partners are focusing their attention. Penny mentioned that SMIF has helped all 20 counties receive thousands of books, computers and other educational resources.

“We bring additional resources that can be beneficial to these early childhood sites,” Penny said.

In its 25-plus year history, SMIF has given more than $600,000 for grant support in the education and health sector. Another $600,000-plus in loans has assisted local businesses, including places like the Style Lounge, Hormel Institute, Riverland Community College, Welcome Center, Morning Grind and a masonry shop to open in Lyle. In that 25-year period, it has also helped with more than $80 million in funding across its 20-county area.

After its community meeting at The Hormel Institute on Thursday, SMIF and community officials also toured Akkerman Inc. and IBI Data for more possible grants and loans.

SMIF is one of six Minnesota regional foundations established by the Minneapolis-based McKnight Foundation and regional citizens in 1986. SMIF holds a meeting, like Thursday’s, in one of its 20 counties each year.