Rock County Community Foundation
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  ROCK COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
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The Merc

A Local Hub for Innovation
The Merc breathes new life into the historic Smith Furniture building, transforming a downtown space into a vibrant place for new local businesses and community gathering. By honoring our past, we are fueling the revitalization of Main Street and building a stronger future for Luverne through key goals: restoring a historic keystone, supporting local start-up businesses, creating meaningful community jobs, and boosting downtown visitor traffic. 
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This multi-level opportunity breaks down the barriers that hold local entrepreneurs back by turning "what if" into reality, housing main floor retail shops, an upper-level dance studio, and a start-up business incubator. These diverse spaces create a constant stream of energy and activity that keeps our downtown thriving from morning to night. 
Join us in building the next 100 years; your gift of cash, goods, or services transforms The Merc into a lasting community asset and a legacy that preserves our history while fueling future growth. As a self-sustaining project, every dollar of profit is reinvested directly into our downtown, ensuring your support today doesn’t just restore one building—it funds the future of our entire Main Street.
The Merc is an initiative by L.I.F.T. (Luverne Initiatives For Tomorrow), a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to preserving our historic downtown while empowering the local small businesses that call it home.
​Visit our Facebook page for more information.
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Donate to the Merc Fund
​The Rock County Community Foundation (RCCF) formerly Luverne Area Community Foundation, started in 1984 as a healthcare foundation to help support the needs of the local hospital.  It became a community foundation with a broader mission in 2008 supporting the needs of Rock County.  To be inclusive of this mission the name was updated in 2026 with the same continued mission; to be a resource where ideas get unstuck and a thriving culture of giving is nurtured. 
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Emily Crabtree
Executive Director
Phone: 507-220-2424
[email protected]
[email protected]
Address:
102 E Main St,
PO Box 623
​Luverne, MN 56156​

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  • Home
  • ABOUT
    • Contact Us
    • Board of Directors
    • Our Legacy and History
  • Donors
  • Scholarships
  • Grants
  • Partners
  • Community Funds
  • Resources