Here is an opportunity from Minnesota Rural Partners to show off your local community pride. My not-so-secret hope is that some communities opt to share stories of how they have used broadband to tackle their economic challenges…

Showcase Your Community Pride!

The Minnesota Community Pride Showcase is back and we’d like to invite you to participate once again! The 2011 Minnesota Community Pride Showcase builds off the successful “Reinventing Minnesota-Minnesota Community Pride Competition” that has taken place the past two years under the direction of the Minnesota Rural Partners. This year, the Minnesota Community Pride Showcase is co-sponsored by the Minnesota State Fair, MinnPost.com, and InCommons.

As in previous years, the Showcase will recognize communities statewide for their efforts to move beyond current economic challenges with creative and proactive community and economic development innovations. The Showcase is designed to reward, inspire, showcase and share the collaborative work already going on in Minnesota towns and neighborhoods to improve quality of life.

Tell us about your work to improve Minnesota towns and neighborhoods and be eligible to win $500 and present at Minnesota Community Pride Day.

Beginning June 14th, nonprofit organizations, community groups and schools can enter to win the Minnesota Community Pride Showcase by going here. Thirty entrants will be selected to display their work in-person at Minnesota Community Pride Day at the Minnesota State Fair on September 3rd. Minnesota Community Pride Day will feature conversations about ways fellow Minnesotans are working to improve community life, great live music performances, and opportunities to hear from and engage with state newsmakers.

How It Works

• Entry to the Minnesota Community Pride Showcase is open to nonprofit organizations, community groups, and schools that meet the guidelines. For more information about eligibility please visit here.
• A panel of judges, representing communities across the state of Minnesota, will review and select 30 Showcase winners.
• The 30 Showcase winners will be invited to display their work in-person at Minnesota Community Pride Day, and plaques and $500 cash awards will be distributed to them by the Minnesota State Fair. All entrants who meet the guidelines and eligibility criteria will be invited to attend Minnesota Community Pride Day at the State Fair.

For full entry guidelines and more information about the 2011 Minnesota Community Pride Showcase, go to this site.