Staff photo by Fritz Busch Sleepy Eye Economic Development Coordinator Kurk Kramer stands in front of the Chief Sleepy Eye Monument. The Sleepy Eye Economic Devlopment Authority was selected to receive a $15,000 AARP Community Challenge grant. Funds will be used for downtown renovations including landscaping, concrete and fencing around the monument among other projects.

SLEEPY EYE — The Sleepy Eye Economic Development Authority and Sleepy Eye Regional Foundation were recently awarded a $15,000 Community Challenge Grant.

Sleepy Eye Economic Development Coordinator Kurk Kramer said grant funds will be used for downtown revitalization work.

“We’ll continue landscaping, concrete and fencing around the Chief Sleepy Eye monument, add more seating and trash receptacles along downtown walking areas and pursue a military mural on a building wall just east of Veteran’s Park,” said Kramer.

He said the military mural will be a costly undertaking.

“We’ve been reviewing mural options and artists the past couple years. I recently found possible local artists that may be interested in doing the mural. I have visited many Minnesota communities with murals to get more ideas,” Kramer said.

Sleepy Eye was one of 383 grantees selected from 3,450 applications from 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The AARP (American Association of Retired People) Community Challenge grant program supports projects in public places including housing, transportation, digital connectivity, community resilience and others.

For more information, visit AARP.org/CommunityChallenge.