CHISHOLM—The Chisholm Community Foundation recently announced seven grant awards, totaling $43,697.50 for the first cycle of 2024.
To date, the CCF has awarded over $1.8 million to various organizations in and around Chisholm, according to a news release.
The Chisholm Community Foundation’s mission, as stated on its website is, “to steward funds for innovative and creative projects, which are responsive to community and economic development.”
The CCF offers grants that enhance Chisholm’s arts/culture, community revitalization, economic development, education, historic and environmental preservation, public health & safety.
In order to be eligible, the recipient must be a 501 C 3 public charity, or a government agency.
The St. Petersburg Clearwater Film Society is a new recipient this year and was awarded a $7,500 grant to help fund a film festival, Sunscreen Film Festival North-Film Festival.
Robert Enriquez, Sunscreen Film Festival-North Director, said he’s excited about the grant, and the opportunity to pitch the film festival to the CCF Board of Directors.
“I’m a big fan of film festivals,” Enriquez said, while noting the educational programs involved with the film festival as an avenue to grow the local film industry.
“They’re a great way to develop, not just youngsters, but anyone in the industry as people come in,” he said.
Details of the Sunscreen Film Festival North-Film Festival still need to be locked in, but Enriquez said his goal is for the weekend of October 25.
Enriquez said the Sunscreen Film Festival in St. Petersburg is 19 years old, and for the past 10 years he’s set up the Sunscreen Film Festival West in Los Angeles, California.
It was at a film festival in Los Angeles that Enriquez said he learned about film incentives available in Minnesota, which led him to connect with the Upper Midwest Film Office.
In Minnesota, Enriquez said he fell in love with the town of Chisholm, purchased property there and that’s what led him to plan a film festival there.
Back in 2022 Enriquez and Deborah Puette co-directed a movie called “Cash for Gold.” The movie which debuted in Los Angeles last week was filmed at Tommy’s Bar in Chisholm and other locations.
Looking forward to this summer Enriquez said he has two film projects planned—the first anticipated to start in July—is a psychological thriller mainly being filmed in Chisholm.
Listed below are the grant recipients:
• AEOA/Chisholm Food Shelf—$8,000. Chisholm Food Shelf Support.
• Angel Fund—$6,000. Angels for Chisholm & Balkan.
• Chisholm Public Schools—$10,350. New Tuba for CHS Band.
• City of Chisholm/Ambulance Service—$2,847.50. New Trailer for EMS Side-by-Side.
• Northern Lights Music Festival—$4,000. Musical Events in Chisholm.
• United Way of Northeastern Minnesota—$5,000. United for Veterans Oral History Project—Operation Soldier Stories.
The CCF relies on the support of the community and its investors to help perpetuate a foundation with the ability to give back for years to come.
The CCF will be holding a second grant cycle in 2024. Deadline for second cycle grant applications is September 30, 2024.
More information is available on the CCF website at chisholmcommunityfoundation.com.
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