In July 2011, we wrote about the work the UMVRDC is doing with local human services representatives to draft a Tranist Human Services Coordination Plan for the region.

The goal of the 2011 Local Human Service Transit Coordination Plan is to:

• identify the transportation needs of individuals with disabilities, older adults, and people with low incomes;
• provide strategies for meeting those needs;
• and prioritize transportation services for funding and implementation in Big Stone, Swift, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, and Yellow Medicine Counties.

For more information, contact Dawn Hegland at 320-289-1981 ext. 1 or dawn.hegland@umvrdc.org or Lindsey Knutson at 320-289-1981 ext. 7 or lindsey.knutson@umvrdc.org.

The Minnesota Department of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HSEM) and USDA Rural Development are two potential funding options for sirens. All funding is limited and very competitive.

Option 1: USDA Funding

Funding is often times provided in loan / grant combinations; however, smaller cities may be eligible for up to 75% grant funding (restrictions apply).  Our local USDA Community Programs Specialist is Kevin Friesen. He is available to discuss your community’s application and can let you know what type of funding (grant/loan) might be available for your community. Kevin Friesen can be contacted at: 320-235-5612 ext. 128 or kevin.friesen@mn.usda.gov

Click here for USDA Application

Option 2: HSEM Funding

HSEM has indicated that sirens are eligible for funding if a community can provide the required 25% local cash match. An interested community must fill out a Notice of Interest (NOI) form and return it to HSEM Staff James Russell at: 651-201-7423 or james.russell@state.mn.us

Click here for HSEM Notice of Interest

For more info, contact Jacki Anderson at 320-289-1981 ext. 2 or jacki.anderson@umvrdc.org.

2012  SC/SW Toward Zero Deaths Workshop

Thursday, April 19^th, 2012

at Holiday Inn in New Ulm, MN

More information to follow. Please forward this information to anyone you know who might be interested in attending this year’s Toward Zero Deaths Workshop.

The mission of Toward Zero Deaths is to create a culture for which traffic fatalities and serious injuries are no longer acceptable through the integrated application of:

• education,
• engineering,
• enforcement, and
• emergency medical and trauma services.

These efforts will be driven by data, best practices, and research.

Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) is a Minnesota partnership led by the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Health, in cooperation with the Minnesota State Patrol, the Federal Highway Administration, Minnesota county engineers, and the Center for Transportation Studies at the University of Minnesota.

For more information about TDZ, check out the website: www.minnesotatzd.org

• Assess your project’s needs and help organize goals and objectives
• Target the most appropriate sources of funding
• Prepare and submit loan and grant application proposals

Below are some resources & opportunities that you might find useful. Please pass on this information to others you know!

FUNDING FOR THE ARTS

The Southwest Minnesota Arts and Humanities Council (SMAHC) Arts Organization Development grant program provides funds to nonprofit arts organizations in southwest Minnesota for organizational development, management projects or equipment & facilities improvement projects.  Learn more about this funding opportunity at this free workshop led by SMAHC:

Monday, January 16 from 4:00 - 6:00 PM
Worthington High School Media Room – 1211 Clary Street, Worthington, MN

The workshop is free of charge, but please contact SMAHC to register.  Call (800) 622-5284 or email:  smahcinfo@iw.net

Some basics about the grant program:

• Arts Organization Development grants are available for up to $5,000 or 75% of the total project cash costs, whichever is less.
• Startup Organization Planning projects are available for up to $2,000 with no cash match requirement for newly formed arts organizations to develop articles of incorporation, by-laws and apply for their 501(c)(3) non profit status.
• Grants for equipment and facilities improvement projects are available up to $15,000 with a 35% cash match required for organizations that can identify how the grant will enable the organization to leave a legacy.
• GRANT APPLICATION DEADLINE:  February 1, 2012.

FUNDING FOR PARKS & TRAILS

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announces grant funding opportunities for park and trail projects across Minnesota. Millions of dollars in state and federal funding will be available in 2012 for building trails, acquiring park land, installing fishing piers and otherwise expanding outdoor recreation opportunities in Minnesota.

Applications are now being accepted for the following grant programs:

• outdoor recreation
• natural and scenic areas
  local trail connections
• federal recreational trails
• regional trails
• public boat accesses
• clean vessel
• boating infrastructure
• fishing pier and shore fishing areas.

Details about the Parks and Trails Legacy grants and Regional Parks grants will be available later this year with an application deadline for these programs in the fall.

These grants help local governments, organizations and individuals throughout the state create partnerships with the DNR to fund projects ranging from natural area acquisition to trail connections to water-based recreational facilities. Eligibility requirements, deadlines and other details are available in the attached listing of the Division of Parks and Trails grant programs or can be found on the DNR website at mndnr.gov (click on “Grants”) or in this PDF document available here.

Looking for more information on available funding, or grant writing assistance? The UMVRDC can help! For more information:

- The Arts: Kristi Fernholz, 320-289-1981 ext. 6

- Parks & Trails: Lindsey Knutson, 320-289-1981 ext. 7

- General grant writing info: Jacki Anderson, 320-289-1981 ext. 2

This year, there were eleven applications submitted for competitive, merit-based funding from the National Scenic Byways Program. Among the eleven applications submitted from areas throughout the State of Minnesota, including byways such as the Great River Road and the North Shore, the Minnesota River Valley’s Granite Falls Pedestrian Bridge application ranked number one! With such a strong state ranking, UMVRDC staff and the City of Granite Falls are hopeful that the Pedestrian Bridge Rehabilitation Project will receive National Scenic Byway Funds from the FHWA.

If your community would like grant writing assistance, or to learn about available grant opportunities, contact the UMVRDC today! Call 320-289-1981 ext. 8 and ask to be connected to an available planner.

A view of the Granite Falls Pedestrian Bridge from downtown, looking east toward the park.

A view from the Granite Falls Pedestrian Bridge facing downtown.

Swift County’s draft plan has met the required criteria for a Hazard Mitigation Plan. Formal approval of this plan is contingent upon the adoption by the participating jurisdictions (county and cities).

For questions or more information, please contact Swift County Emergency Manager Bill McGeary at bill.mcgeary@co.swift.mn.us.

Pictured in front, left to right: Dawn Hegland, Kristi Fernholz & Jackie Sigdahl.

In back, left to right: Barb Jordahl, Jacki Anderson, Lindsey Knutson, Jenifer Fadness & Arlene Tilbury.

Please note: our office will be closed on Monday, January 2, 2012. We will re-open at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 3, 2012.

• There are almost 21.5 million (90%) small businesses in the United States;
• Small businesses are responsible for 39 percent of gross national product (GNP);
• Small businesses are responsible for 52 percent of all the U.S. sales and contribute about 21 percent of all manufactured U.S. exports;
• Small businesses contribute 44 percent of all sales in the country;
• Small businesses employ 54.4 million people, about 57.3 percent of the private workforce;
• 600,000–800,000 new small businesses are launched each year by entrepreneurs!

Statistics are from National Telecommunications and Information Administration and International Economic Development Council.

The UMVRDC Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) has helped over 100 small businesses throughout the five-county area with start-up and expansion funding. In collaboration with a bank, we can help a new or expanding business with funding for inventory, equipment, real estate and working capital expenses.

Things you should know about the revolving loan fund:

• A primary focus is job creation and retention.
• Funds are available for fixed assets, real estate and working capital.
• Bank participation is needed; the RLF will not replace bank financing.

For more information about the RLF, visit the RLF page here on our website, or contact Jacki Anderson at jacki.anderson@umvrdc.org or call 320-289-1981 ext. 2.

Please go to the following page and click the newsletter image to view the PDF:

http://umvrdc.org/who-we-are/umvrdc-newsletter/

If you have any issues accessing the newsletter, please contact our office at 320-289-1981.

Minnesota GreenStep Cities is a challenge, assistance and recognition program to help cities achieve their sustainability goals through implementation of 28 best practices. Each best practice can be implemented by completing one or more specific actions from a list of four to eight actions. These actions are tailored to all Minnesota cities, focus on cost savings and energy use reduction, and encourage innovation.

GreenStep Cities’ 28 Best Practices fall under the categories of Buildings and Lighting, Land Use, Transportation, Environmental Management and Economic and Community Development. To see the complete list of Best Practices, click here.You can also fill out a quick questionnaire to determine what category your city fits.

In Region 6W, Milan is the only city to become a GreenStep City. For more information on joining Milan as a GreenStep City, if you would like a representative to talk to your city about becoming a GreenStep City, or if you are already interested in becoming a GreenStep City, please contact Lindsey Knutson at the UMVRDC by calling 320-298-1981 ext. 7 or email lindsey.knutson@umvrdc.org.