NW MN Foundation seeks proposals to bolster early childhood workforce

BEMIDJI — The Northwest Minnesota Foundation is seeking proposals from community partners interested in creating or expanding programs to support the early childhood education workforce.

Proposals supporting youth recruitment into early childhood education careers, adult workforce development and initiatives enhancing program quality and resilience are among the projects that will be considered.

The foundation allocated up to $273,000 in contract funding to support this initiative, which aims to build a career pathway for educators while supporting providers, parents and caregivers across the 12-county region.

To apply, email submissions to program officer Katie Gunderson, katieg@nwmf.org.

The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2. If needed, interviews will be the week of Nov. 10. Contracts would be approved by Nov. 21.

Projects should focus on two to three of the following areas:

• Promoting early childhood education careers to high school students and recent graduates;
• Engaging adults transitioning into or advancing within early childhood education careers through coaching, credentialing and training;
• Delivering workshops, certifications, internships or paid placements with outcome tracking;
• Providing professional development for providers and caregivers while supporting inclusive, developmentally appropriate programming; and
• Documenting partnerships and lessons learned to inform advocacy and policy efforts.

Eligible applicants include nonprofits, public agencies and tribal organizations in the foundation's service area, which consists of the Red Lake Nation and White Earth Nation, as well as the counties of Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake and Roseau.

Projects are expected to begin Jan. 1, and expected to be completed by June 30, 2027.