Northern Minnesota social entrepreneurs can begin applying for a fellowship to help build their business on Thursday, May 1.
The Initiators Fellowship is a two-year program that supports emerging entrepreneurs whose business ideas include socially beneficial outcomes with a $30,000 annual stipend, training, business coaching and mentorship.
"Entrepreneurs who care about their communities are important to communities, but they are not the same as social entrepreneurs," the fellowship website states.
"A coffee shop that donates to community causes is of value to the community, but it is not a social enterprise. A coffee shop that supports unhoused youth with a job, career exploration and training is a social enterprise."
The fellowship is a program of the Little Falls-based Initiative Foundation, partnered with the Northwest Minnesota Foundation, the Southwest Minnesota Initiative Foundation and West Central Initiative.
Of the nine current fellows, three are in Northern Minnesota: Ben Cahill, LGBTQ2S+ resources, Bemidji; Shannon Murray, youth development, Bemidji; and Lisa Finck, head coverings for epileptics, Verndale.
Applications for the 2026-27 cohort close June 16. Ventures must be in the fellowship region, which includes the north-central counties of Cass, Crow Wing and Wadena and northwestern Minnesota.
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