Valspar and Northland Foundations Award 548 Gallons of Paint Products

Communities will sparkle with fresh paint and pizzazz this summer thanks to the hard work of community groups, and the Northland and Valspar Foundations. For the thirteenth year in a row, Northland has partnered with Valspar to provide free paint and coating products for community restoration and beautification. More than 6,500 gallons have been awarded to nearly 170 projects over the years. The grant is available to nonprofit and community organizations in the seven-county Arrowhead Region.

Projects are selected based on visual impact, public benefit, volunteer participation and support, intended use, and benefit to the needy. Projects that qualify include historic buildings, senior citizen centers, community centers, public buildings and parks, murals, or other visual impact projects. This year, the following grants were awarded.

• Lutheran Social Services, Duluth and Virginia, to paint the interiors and exteriors of the Family Resource Center, Bethany Crisis Shelter, and Renaissance House.
• City of Buhl, to paint the outside of the Buhl-Kinney Senior and Community Center.
• Lake County Historical Society, Two Harbors, to paint the historical Agate Bay Light Station buildings.
• Fairbanks Township, Brimson, to paint the interior at Petrell Hall.
• Grand Marais Arts Colony, to refresh the exterior of the historic Art Colony building which serves as a community space for classes, dances, and more.
• Ecumen/Lakeshore, Duluth, to paint the interior spaces that will house Little Treasures, a nonprofit child care and family center.
• Friends of the Finland Commmunity, Finland, to create exterior and interior murals at the community building.
• Minnesota Museum of Mining, Chisholm, to restore with paint the exterior of an historic truck and trailer to reflect its last operating days in 1970s.
• Spirit Valley Citizens Neighborhood Development Association, Duluth, to refresh the interior and exterior of the Children’s Barn at the Lake Superior Zoo.
• Cook County Historical Society, to paint the outside of Grand Marais' last remaining Chippewa City historical building.
• City of Palisade, to paint the interior and exterior of the historical City Hall, which will celebrate its 75th year in 2011.
• Lutheran Social Services, Carlton, to paint interior rooms and the garage at the Carlton Youth Shelter.
• Neighborhood Housing Services, Duluth, to refresh the exterior of a low-income property in the Morgan Park neighborhood.
• Virginia Community Foundation, to prime and paint an exterior historical mural in Britt that will honor local Veterans.
• City of International Falls, to create an exterior mural to represent the borderland history and the importance of community pride.
• Barnum Community Education and Youth Center, to paint the exterior and interior of the Livestock Pavilion at the Carlton County Fairgrounds located in Barnum.
• Chisholm Beautification Association, to refresh an existing external storage unit, paint the exterior of an low income family home, and paint community park benches and picnic tables.