Black descendants of slaves in Minnesota and the Dakotas will soon be able to apply for a first-of-its-kind grant program designed to help them build wealth on their own terms.

"With that money, the Open Road Fund will award $50,000 grants to at least 800 Black residents in the region through 2031," said Danielle Mkali, senior director of Nexus Community Partners, which is handling the application process and distribution of the grants. "The name, the open road fund comes from this idea that when you're about to do something significant our ancestors will clear the road and make an open road for you to be able to achieve your goals with as few barriers and obstacles as possible."

To read the full story, visit the KARE 11 News site here.