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Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) is currently accepting applications for its Early Care and Education Grant program. This program will help fund early care and education services for children birth to age five. Organizations that work with these children in SMIF’s 20-county region are eligible to apply. Requests of up to $20,000 will be considered.

Funding from this grant can help cover social, emotional, physical and mental health supports, training and development to operate and address the needs of young children and other activities necessary to maintain the services in early care and education. Applicants must serve children birth to age five. Projects are encouraged to support diverse and traditionally underserved populations.

“The services that organizations provide in our region for young children and their families are often critical for their overall well-being,” said Rae Jean Hansen, vice president of early childhood. “We are pleased to be able to, once again, offer this grant to support these essential services.”

Applications are due to SMIF before 2 p.m. Oct. 24.

For the application and guidelines, visit smifoundation.org/earlycaregrant or contact Heidi Coulter, early childhood project manager, at heidic@smifoundation.org or 507-214-7016 or Margaret Radel, early childhood project and grants coordinator, at margaretr@smifoundation.org or 507-214-7017.