Blandin Foundation public policy inititiatives bring research, people and organizations together to address opportunities to strengthen rural Minnesota. The focus is on encouraging informed citizen action to assure that rural perspectives are well represented in public discourse.

In particular, the Foundation focuses resources on three critically important rural Minnesota policy issues: forest resources, inclusiveness and broadband technology. In particular, the Foundation focuses resources on three critically important rural Minnesota policy issues: forest resources, inclusiveness and broadband technology. Broadband and forest resources work has earned acclaim statewide -- and the Vital Forests/Vital Communities initiative received the 2006 Paul Ylvisaker Award for excellence in public affairs.

The Foundation also partners with others to advance a number of other public policy issues important to the future of rural Minnesota, including early childhood and youth readiness, economic development, and ending poverty.