SHIP-Funded Projects
The following is a partial list of projects which have been funded by the Rice County Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP):
Project Fit Kids 
8-week long comprehensive nutrition education program for children ages 8 and older and their family members. Local nutrition and health experts lead classes on nutrition basics topics such as food journaling, portion control, healthy snacks, label reading, MyPlate, meal planning, budgeting, eating out, and emotional eating.
For more information about Project Fit Kids, or to find out when the next series of classes is being held, contact Natalie Ginter at Rice County Public Health.
Healthy Rice County: Achieving Wellness in the Workplace 
Creating policies, systems, and environmental changes in worksites to support employee health
A Coalition has been established with 21 employers participating – Mini grants are available for employers who are active in creating new worksite wellness initiatives, policies, and environmental changes
Rice County Walking/Biking Initiative 
Create an interactive website utilizing GIS technology and increase signage on trails and bike routes in Rice County
Please visit gosoutheastmn.com - Your source to finding parks, trails, bike routes, farmers markets, and other resources to help you live a healthful life in Southeast Minnesota! Click HERE to watch a video about the project!
Updated Master Plan for Rice County Parks, Trails, and Open Spaces
Rice County SHIP funding was used to help the Rice County Parks & Facilities and Environmental Services Departments collaborate, along with several other local government agencies, conduct a comprehensive assessment of all parks, trails, and recreational facilities in Rice County. The assessment, which included surveying hundreds of Rice County residents, was used to update a 10-year Master Plan for Rice County-owned parks, facilities, and open spaces. Click Final Parks Plan to see the Master Plan.
Creating a more “Bikeable” Faribault
New adult and youth bikes are available for low cost rentals at Faribault Rental, new bike racks are being installed in downtown Faribault parking areas, increased signage along trails and in parks, update city maps with biking information.
Rice County Olympics Day
Increasing opportunities for physical activity and access to recreational facilities in Rice County.
Sites participating include: River Bend Nature Center, Faribault BMX track, Faribault Wapacuta Park, Faribault Family Aquatic Center, Faribault Community Center, Basher’s Bowling Alley, Faribault West Mall Indoor Playground, Fit For Life Fitness Center, Northfield Ice Arena, Northfield Senior Center, Northfield Community Services, Northfield Gymnastics Club, Northfield Community Resource Center.
Rice County Healthy Snack Cart Project
Providing schools in Rice County with snack carts
Healthy School Lunch
Workshops for school food service staff and child care providers on improving nutrition in their food programs
Over 40 school food service and child care providers participated in the training
G.A.M.E. Getting Active Motivated and Energized! 
Engaging licensed child care providers and also Family Friend & Neighbor (FFN) unlicensed providers in simple ways for increasing physical activity and improving nutrition in their child care programs.
Over 50 child care providers have received training and resources in the I am Moving, I am Learning curriculum and local grocer, HyVee, is now offering a 10 percent discount to GAME providers. For more information on how to attend a GAME training or how to get the HyVee discount care, contact Natalie Ginter at Rice County Public Health
Growing Up Healthy
Neighborhood leaders engaging limited-English residents in nutrition, physical activity, and tobacco-related initiatives and events including healthy recipe cooking classes
Youth PhotoVoice Project
Area youth received digital cameras to capture photos of things in their communities which were either helping them stay healthy or holding them back. The video includes photos from 13 communities across Minnesota.
Mini Grants
Rice County SHIP has awarded over $120,000 to local schools, worksites, health care agencies, and community organizations for healthy projects which incorporate a policy, system, or environmental change to positively affect the health of our residents. The following is a partial list of initiaves in Rice County which have received mini-grant awards since SHIP began in July 2009.
Mini Grant Award Recipients:
Worksite Wellness Projects Several awards given to Rice County employers $32,000 Total
So How Are the Children (SHAC) “Faribault Youth Gardening Project” $5,000
Discovery Public School “Discovery Sports Club” $3,600
Growing Up Healthy “Fresh Produce, Fresh Possibilities” $3,000
Rice County Parks Department “New signage for county parks and trails” $3,000
River Bend Nature Center “Snowshoes for Winter Fitness” $2,000
Faribault Mainstreet Program “Bike racks for downtown Faribault” $2,000
Faribault High School “Students Performing on Tough Situations (SPOTS) and Somali Swim Nights” $2,000
Faribault FREEPOPS “Healthy Snacks for Summer Youth Programming” $2,000
Northfield Youth Sports Collaborative “Promotion and Equipment” $4,000
Northfield Southside Garden Club “New community garden in southside Northfield” $2,000
Northfield YMCA “Signage and supplies for a new building” $2,000
Villages of Lonsdale “Raised community garden beds for Lonsdale” $2,000
Faribault Middle School “New community frisbee golf course” $2,000
United for Kids/United Way of Faribault “Healthy Snacks for Summer Kindergarten Camp” $2,000
St. Olaf College “A Revolution in the Classroom: Can Generating “Green Energy” Change Student’s Perception of a Daily Exercise Routine?” $2,000
Carleton College “Integrating Exercise into 7th Grade Life Sciences Curriculum at Northfield Middle School in Collaboration with Carleton College Immunology Students” $2,000
Faribault Diversity Coalition “Healthy Lifestyle Outreach Project” $2,000
United for Kids “Learning in Your Grocery Store” $2,000
A Child’s Delight Too “Strong Bodies, Strong Minds Indoor Playground” $2,000
McKinley Early Childhood Center “Gymboree: Open Gym time on Saturdays” $2,000
HealthFinders Clinic “Pura Vida” Healthy Lifestyles Project $2,000
Faribault High School “SPOTS” Students Performing on Tough Subjects $2,000
Growing Up Healthy “Kids at Play” Cannon River Mobile Home Community $2,000
Girls on the Run afterschool program $2,000
Basic Blessings “Food supplement program for low income youth” $2,000
Holy Cross Catholic School “Fitness Skills for Life” $1,950
Northfield Community Action Center “Faith Community Gardens” $1,930
City of Northfield “Old Memorial Pool Bike Racks” $1,915
Northfield Senior Center “Raised Community Garden Beds” $1,910
Cannon River STEM School “Health Curriculum & P.E. Equipment” $1,900
Villages of Lonsdale “Lunch, Education, Activities Program” (LEAP Congregate Dining) $1,900
River Bend Nature Center “New Signage and Maps” $1,885
So How Are the Children (SHAC) “Let’s Move!” Afterschool Project $1,825
South Central College “Increasing Opportunities for Physical Fitness” $1,805
Somali American Faribault Education (SAFE) “Healthy Initiative”
Nutrition education, healthy cooking classes, and community gardening $1,800
Northfield ARTech “Physical Education for 6th-12th graders” $1,750
Northfield Public Schools “Dirt to Dinner: Gardening for Kids” $1,600
Rice County Extension “Resources for Nutrition Education & Outreach” $1,500
So How Are the Childre (SHAC) “Health Snacks during Summer Programming” $2,500
Project ABLE “Adapt the Fun for Everyone” $1,500
Faribault Tourism & Bike Rental “Low cost bike rentals” $1,500
Kids at First Preschool “Preschooler Active and Well” $1,500
St. Dominic School “Project SMART” Active Classrooms $1,400
Roosevelt Elementary School “Organized Play/SMART Recess Time” $1,300
Northfield Middle School “Healthy Snack Cart” $1,300
Shattuck St. Mary’s/student project led by Sarah Tiano “Farm to Fork to Fuel of the Future” $1,150
Northfield ECFE “Exercise Initiative” $1,000
Faribault Chamber of Commerce “New maps to increase usage of bike rentals, parks, and trails” $1,000
Faribault BMX “Bike Ridership Increase” $1,000
Faribault BMX “New bikes for low income youth” $1,000
Somali American Faribault Education (SAFE) Community Garden Project $800
A Child’s Delight Too “Ride on toys and helmets for outdoor playground” $750
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church “Equipment for the Community Garden” $700
Northfield SUPER Kids “Summer Programming for Active Youth” $650
Northfield Nursery School “Push and Roll” $628
Faribault Foundation “Basic Blessings” $550
Faribault Middle School “Disc Golf Course supplies” $500
Faribault ALC Physical Education “Trek to the North Pole” $500
Kids Avenue Learning Center “Teen Parenting Nutrition Classes” 500
Hand in Hand Preschool, School Readiness Program “Let’s Keep Moving!” $400
Somali Swim Nights “Free swimming for Somali families” $400
Fit Girls “Running and Reading” Program for Faribault Girls $250
