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CIF History:
Communities
Investing in Families began as a task force consortium
responding to national welfare reforms in 1997. Originally funded by
the McKnight Foundation, CIF incorporated as a 501(c) (3) nonprofit
organization in December 2002. The mission of CIF is “to help
communities promote and sustain economic self-sufficiency for
families in Mille Lacs, Isanti, Pine, Chisago, and Kanabec
Counties.” The agency addresses rural communities’ roles in
ensuring that low-income families in Greater Minnesota have
equitable access to education, counseling, transportation, and
employment opportunities that provide livable wages. CIF coordinates
these efforts through several regional advisory committees. Together
these committees identify regional needs and develop programs to
eliminate barriers to economic self-sufficiency.
The organization,
led by Executive Director Stefanie Leibel, is governed by a board of
trustees representing various sectors of local government,
non-profit agencies, businesses, and educational organizations
located throughout East Central Minnesota. The ten-member board of
trustees meets monthly (first Friday of the month) and is
responsible for decisions regarding policy, supervision of the
executive director, funding strategies, evaluation, and budget
monitoring. The agency employs 3 full time staff, 2 part-time staff,
and has approximately 5 FTE in volunteer service capacity.
CIF’s service
area includes two North Metro counties (Isanti and Chisago), and
three rural counties (Pine, Kanabec, and Mille Lacs). Together these
counties are known as Economic Development Region 7-E. |
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About CIF
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