Campaign hits $1M goal for YES! House renovation in Granite Falls, Minnesota – West Central Tribune

GRANITE FALLS

— A five-year capital campaign has raised more than $1 million for a unique community gathering place known as

The YES! House

in Granite Falls.

The Department of Public Transformation, the nonprofit rural arts and culture organization responsible for the effort, announced the successful completion of its capital campaign on Dec. 18.

The funds are being used to transform a historic downtown building at 726 Prentice Street into a gathering place serving the rural community and area, according to information from the

Department of Public Transformation

.

“This milestone has been achieved with local and national support and a dedicated team that has sustained efforts through a global pandemic, economic volatility, and turbulent political times,” the organization stated in a news release.

A major proponent to help reach the finish line was a generous contribution from the

Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership

, which contributed the final gift that brought the Say YES! Capital Campaign to completion.

“As an early supporter, we believe in the transformative potential of this project and its alignment with our shared work with the Department of Public Transformation,” said Jennifer Lamb, director of resource and program development at the Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership. “The YES! House exemplifies the power of collaboration in rural communities, and we deeply value our ongoing partnership, united in creativity, connection, and positive transformation across the region.”

Contributed / Ashley Hanson

In 2024, the final goal for the capital campaign was increased to $1,020,000 to account for inflation and additional repair costs since the original budget was set in early 2020, according to the news release from the Department of Public Transformation.

The campaign represented an ambitious and bold goal and project for a relatively young and growing rural arts nonprofit. The organization credited the support of many local residents — and statewide and national funders — with making it possible.

“Running a capital campaign of this size in any location is a heavy lift, but this is specifically true for building renovation projects in rural communities,” said Ash Hanson, CEO of the Department of Public Transformation. “We are incredibly humbled by the support we have received and excited for what this means for future programming at The YES! House.”

To date, the arts and culture organization has completed the renovation of two artist apartments on the second floor and has been working toward the completion of the main floor gathering space, which includes a performance venue, gallery space and co-working area. Renovation on the lower level will begin over the winter months and include a recording studio, multimedia lab and artist classroom/workshop space.

While the building renovation has been in progress, the organization has continued to hold open hours and host ongoing creative community events in partnership with the Creative Collaboration Team — a group of local residents — including the Learn From Your Neighbor series, local and visiting artist events, and the River Valley Ripple Artist Residency for southwest Minnesota artists.

Over half of the contributions — 54% — came from or were directed by southwest Minnesota, and the remainder came from farther afield, a balance that accurately aligns with the Department of Public Transformation mission and its commitment to urban-rural solidarity and being good stewards and neighbors near and far.

Learn more at

www.publictransformation.org.

Tom Cherveny / West Central Tribune file photo