NEW ULM – Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) once again showed support for early childhood education through the approval of $248,275 in grants awarded to 24 Early Childhood projects across southern Minnesota, include grants to New Ulm and Sleepy Eye. New Ulm Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) was awarded $20,000 and Sleepy Eye ECFE received $15,561. “We love SMIF,” New Ulm ECFE coordinator Betty Uehling said. “I don’t know what we would do with them. We would not be able to offer what we do for the community without their support.” Uehling said SMIF was a ...