PHOTO: From left: Doug Cannel, Otter Tail County facilities operations director; Staci Allmaras, The Bridge Center board president; Deb Sjostrom, former Otter Tail County human services director; Otter Tail County Commissioner Wayne Johnson, District 2; Nicole Hansen, Otter Tail County administrator; Tammy Nordick and Judy Tabbut, and Candace Roesch The Bridge Center board members; Otter Tail County Commissioner Kurt Mortenson, District 3; Dan Kramer, the Bridge Center facilities chair; Celeste Koppe, the Bridge Center project manager; and Lynne Penke Valdes, Otter Tail County deputy administrator. (OTC)
PELICAN RAPIDS, Minn. (KFGO) – A new Family Resource Center is coming to Pelican Rapids through a MN Department of Education grant.
Otter Tail County has received funding to renovate The Bridge Center. Several local contractors and volunteers are helping with the work. When the work is finished, the Family Resource Center will move into the newly renovated space.
“Young people’s experiences and the data have shaped The Bridge Center’s focus on relationships, belonging, and opportunities to build community and protective factors we can strengthen together,” said Staci Allmaras, Bridge Center Board President. “Welcoming the Family Resource Center brings family support into a place young people are helping create.
The Bridge Center grew out of The Youths of Pelican Rapids and their work to create a place for young people to connect and belong. When the former Congregational Church donated its building, community members came together to build on that work and meet needs already identified for a commercial kitchen and gathering space. With a mission of bridging generations, cultures and community, The Bridge Center’s renovation will support four primary program areas: the Gathering Space, the Family Resource Center, the Community Kitchen and The Youths.
Family Resource Centers are a partnership between Otter Tail County and MAHUBE-OTWA Community Action Partnership, and a network of other community partners. MAHUBE-OTWA brings years of experience helping families across the region. The agency offers energy and housing assistance, Head Start, child care and family health services. It also helps families with food, health insurance, tax preparation and money for basic needs.
Staff from MAHUBE-OTWA, Otter Tail County and other local organizations serve at the centers to support families and thriving communities. They connect families with service referrals and maximize existing resources for greater impact.
Liz Kuoppala, executive director of MAHUBE-OTWA, said, “We are thrilled to be a part of this effort and love the model that leverages community relationships and is grounded in family voice to provide real results to the community.”
Pelican Rapids is part of a growing network of Family Resource Centers serving Otter Tail County. The New York Mills Family Resource Center has served the New York Mills area since February 2026, and pop-up events and programming will kick off in Parkers Prairie and Fergus Falls in 2027.
“I support Family Resource Centers because the data shows they work. If you are a parent or grandparent, you know parenting can be hard,” said County Commissioner Wayne Johnson, District 2. “When families are supported early, children do better in school, parents feel less alone, and challenges are less likely to grow into a crisis. We’re grateful for the grant funding that helps make this important work possible and expands access to these resources for families in our communities.”
Help is available now
Families don’t have to wait for the renovation to be completed to get support. Operated by MAHUBE OTWA, Family Resource Centers serving Otter Tail County offer and connect people to resources, host events and partner in community activities while construction takes place.
This Family Resource Center is partially funded with a Minnesota Multi-Purpose Community Facility Projects grant from the Minnesota Department of Education using federal funding, CFDA 84.027A, Special Education – Grants to States.
Story courtesy of Otter Tail County.
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