Gift of paint helps make fairgrounds "Minnesota Beautiful"

It’s amazing what a gallon of paint can do to spruce up a room. Now imagine what 584 gallons can do for a region. That’s how much paint Minnesota-based Valspar Corporation is giving this year to west central Minnesota as part of its Minnesota Beautiful program.

Locally, the Douglas County Agricultural Association was awarded 25 gallons to repaint the north exterior wall of the Douglas County Fairgrounds grandstand.

“The Douglas County Agricultural Association is very thankful for the donation of paint that will be used to coat the historic Douglas County Fairgrounds grandstand in Alexandria,” said Dale Buchholz, secretary/manager of the Douglas County Agricultural Association. “We are pleased that the Minnesota Beautiful program along with Valspar Corporation and West Central Initiative are willing and able to provide the products that allow us to maintain an attractive building. Thanks to all who are involved in providing this assistance.”

Thirteen organizations throughout the nine-county region will receive paints, coatings and sealants from Valspar this year.

The 2012 grantees were selected based on the visual impact of the project, public benefit to the community, local volunteer participation and support, intended use of the building and benefit to the needy. Projects that normally qualify include, but are not limited to, historic buildings, senior citizen or handicapped facilities, community centers, public buildings and murals.

Minnesota Beautiful is administered regionally by West Central Initiative, Fergus Falls. To see a list of all the 2012 grantees, visit the West Central Blogger on WCI’s website, www.wcif.org.

West Central Initiative is a regional community foundation serving the nine west central Minnesota counties of Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse and Wilkin. WCI invests resources in communities for regional success, using the tools of economic development and community development, and by promoting philanthropy.

Tags: local news, minnesota beautiful, news, paint, fairgrounds