June 2025 Newsletter

New Minnesota River Valley National Scenic Byway Website!

The new Minnesota River Valley National Scenic Byway website is complete and live! The UMVRDC worked with Vivid Image to improve user friendly functionality throughout the website, including significant updates to maps and discovery sites. Additionally, the new interactive features, such as a custom travel itinerary tool, allow users to create accounts, save favorite sites, and plan visits to historic locations.

This new website was funded by a grant from the Minnesota Historical Society. Explore the new website by clicking the button below!

Get Started NOW for Fall TAP Applications

Do you want to apply for funding through the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) this fall? Now is the time to start getting your application materials in order.

TAP is a competitive federal funding program administered by MnDOT that supports community-based projects like trails, sidewalks, Safe Routes to School improvements, ADA upgrades, and other active transportation infrastructure. These projects not only improve safety but also promote healthier, more connected communities.

The TAP application cycle typically runs from early October through early January. It begins with a Letter of Intent (LOI) due in early November. The LOI is a short form outlining your project idea and is required to move forward in the process. Once submitted, it comes to the UMVRDC. We will review it and follow up with you to schedule a meeting. This early review gives us a chance to help you identify any missing pieces, clarify eligibility, and strengthen your application. The full application window opens in early December with final submissions due in early January. Even though the application deadline may seem far off, TAP projects require significant coordination between local governments, engineers, and community stakeholders. Starting the process early gives your community the best chance at submitting a complete, competitive application.

Why Start Now?

• TAP is competitive. Projects are scored regionally and must be shovel ready within a specific timeframe. Well-prepared applications stand out.
• You’ll need a fiscal sponsor. Because TAP is federally funded, almost all applicants in the UMVRDC region must work with their county as the fiscal agent. Montevideo is currently the only city in the region that can sponsor its own project.
• You’ll need partners. Coordination with the county, city staff, schools, and other stakeholders is key, and it takes time to build those relationships.
• You’ll need a cost estimate, preliminary design, and maps. Engineering input can take weeks to secure, so early communication with your engineer or county is essential.
• You’ll need a formal resolution. Applicants must obtain approval from their city council or school board, along with a resolution from the fiscal agent. This also includes a commitment to provide the local match.
• Time to think about your strategy. What existing plans can you reference? What public engagement has already been done—and could you do more before the application deadline? Can you gather letters of support? What is the story or angle of your project? For example:
  • Does it improve access for low-income neighborhoods?
  • Does it provide ADA improvements that support older adults or people with disabilities?
  • Can you tie it to local health concerns like high rates of obesity or physical inactivity?
• Planning helps avoid surprises. Starting now gives you time to fill any gaps, build support, and make your application as strong as possible. Reviewers can tell when a project is well thought out—and strong, complete applications are much more competitive.

The UMVRDC is here to support local governments and schools in our region through the TAP process. We’ve helped communities secure hundreds of thousands of dollars in TAP funding for projects that truly make a difference. We can answer your questions about eligibility and help you figure out the best way to approach your application. We can even write the application for you!

For more info or to get started, reach out the Savannah at the UMVRDC at 320-289-1981 x 113 or savannah@umvrdc.org.

EDA Announces FY25 Disaster Supplemental Funding Available

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) recently announced the availability of $1.45 billion nationwide through the FY 2025 Disaster Supplemental Grant Program. This funding is available to communities that received major disaster declarations due to hurricanes, wildfires, severe storms and flooding, tornadoes, and other natural disasters occurring in calendar years 2023 and 2024.  In our region, that includes Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle and Swift counties.  (See Minnesota Severe Storms and Flooding (DR-4722-MN))

There are three funding pathways that applicants can choose from.  They are:

1. Readiness Path – Applications accepted on ongoing basis

Non-construction projects to build local capacity and prepare for future implementation projects. Readiness projects include funding for recovery strategies, disaster recovery coordinators or other capacity building activities, and pre-development expenses.

2. Implementation Path – Applications accepted on ongoing basis

Standalone construction and non-construction projects that help communities recover from major disasters and advance recovery and growth, improving economic outcomes.

3. Industry Transformation Path – Applications due March 3, 2026

Coalition-led, multi-project portfolios that transform regional economies through industry development. These grants can fund a mix of construction and non-construction projects.

Eligible applicants include:

• State, local, and Tribal governments
• Economic Development Districts
• Institutions of higher education
• Economic development organizations
• Public and private non-profits working with local government
• Public-private partnerships for public infrastructure

Matching Fund Requirements

EDA generally expects to fund up to 80% of project costs, but may fund up to 100% for Tribal applicants and severely distressed applicants. Coalitions applying for the Industry Transformation grants may distribute match requirements across components.

If you have any questions or a potential project that you’d like to discuss, please contact Kevin at the UMVRDC at 320-289-1981 x 111 or kevin@umvrdc.org.

UMVRDC Launches Initiative to Expand Minnesota Grown Membership Across Region

This summer, the UMVRDC is leading an exciting regional initiative to help local producers grow their reach and their sales through free Minnesota Grown memberships.

Thanks to support from the Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP), the Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF), and Minnesota Grown, the UMVRDC is offering two full years of free membership to Minnesota Grown for producers in Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Swift, and Yellow Medicine Counties.

To make this possible, the UMVRDC has secured:

• $13,370 in Phase 1 and $4,450 in Phase 2 from RSDP to support staff time, an intern, and project evaluation.
• $5,000 from SWIF to fully cover the cost of producer memberships.
• $2,000 from Minnesota Grown to pilot a regional filter on their online directory, making it easier for consumers to find producers in this five-county area.

In addition to financial support, Minnesota Grown has provided a wide range of outreach materials—including brochures, sample applications, return envelopes, and promotional items like stickers and posters—to help farmers understand the value of membership and make sign-up easy.

What’s in a Membership?

Membership includes a Minnesota Grown directory listing, free marketing materials, use of the logo, automatic inclusion in the new Pride of the Prairie Directory, and more. It is completely free, with a typical value of $25 to $65.

To learn more and sign up, click here.

Outreach in Action: Markets, Meetings, and Momentum

To build momentum, UMVRDC staff have already attended producer events and farmers market meetings to introduce the program. Even before on-the-ground outreach began, these efforts led to nine producers and market managers signing up for Minnesota Grown, as of June 2nd.

In late June, the next step kicks off with the arrival of a student intern, whose position is funded through RSDP. The intern will visit farmers markets throughout the region in June and July, talking directly with growers and helping them sign up on-site. The goal is to enroll as many producers as possible. Our intern will also be collecting some informal data for us to help create a follow-up survey that will be implemented in phase 2 of the project. The goal of the survey is to understand what participants find most valuable, how the membership impacts their business, and what improvements could be made. This feedback will help shape future efforts and could provide the foundation for making free memberships available to all local farmers on an ongoing basis.

Exciting Opportunity: Funding Still Available for Business Start-Ups and Expansions!

We’re thrilled to share that five new business loans have recently been funded right here in our region, fueling innovation, growth, and job creation. Even better, $1 million in funding is still available through the UMVRDC Revolving Loan Fund (RLF).

The RLF is a powerful tool for local businesses. As loans are repaid, the funds are re-invested into the region—creating a cycle of opportunity and success. Since 1988, the UMVRDC has issued 167 loans totaling over $11 million, helping entrepreneurs and business owners bring their visions to life. Whether you’re launching a new venture or expanding an existing one, our gap financing can bridge the divide between your dreams and the resources to achieve them.

If you or someone you know is considering a business start-up or expansion in the five-county area of Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Swift, or Yellow Medicine, now is the time to act!

Why Choose the UMVRDC Revolving Loan Fund?

• Affordable capital tailored for rural business needs
• Flexible financing that works in partnership with local lenders
• Focused on growth, especially for manufacturing and industrial businesses
• Job creation and retention are central to our mission

Let us help turn your business idea into a reality. Contact Dalen Roe at dalen@umvrdc.org today to learn more about how we can support your goals.

Canby Safe Routes to School Project Wraps Up

The UMVRDC is wrapping up the Canby Safe Routes to School (SRTS) planning project, which began in July 2024. The Canby School District was awarded $29,485 from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to support the development of this plan. The goal of the project was to make it safer and easier for students to walk and bike to school, encouraging healthier, more active lifestyles while improving traffic safety near school grounds. UMVRDC staff led the planning process to identify a list of potential infrastructure and non-infrastructure solutions to help more children walk and bicycle safely to and from school.

This project would not have been possible without the dedication of the Canby SRTS Steering Committee. The planning team, which included MnDOT staff, school administrators, school board members, and city officials, provided local knowledge and consistent input that helped shape a plan reflecting the needs and priorities of the Canby community.

The success of the plan also relied heavily on participation from the wider school community. Teachers helped collect classroom travel tallies, and valuable input was gathered through:

• A student engagement activity completed by 40 elementary students during parent-teacher conferences
• An online survey completed by 181 high school students
• An online parent survey completed by 65 parents

Volunteers supported the effort by assisting with observation days, tracking student travel behaviors and identifying safety concerns near school campuses.

There are many needed improvements laid out in the plan, reflecting both student safety and infrastructure challenges around the school. The top priorities identified through the planning process include:

• Installing pedestrian signs and a flashing beacon to improve safety for students crossing State Highway 68 in front of the high school
• Separating bus and car traffic during pickup and drop-off to reduce congestion and improve safety
• Moving student parking to the school side of Highway 68 to avoid dangerous crossings and improve access
• Installing a four-way flashing stop sign to increase safety at the intersection of Highway 68 and St. Olaf Avenue (US Highway 75), which is frequently used by students

The completed plan will be available for public use and can serve as a valuable tool in supporting grant applications by demonstrating both community need and meaningful community input in shaping the recommended improvements. The planning team worked to make the proposed changes easy to find and understand. Recommended improvements are organized by location in one section of the plan and then by project phase and location in another section, as many of the suggested improvements need to be completed in chronological order.

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant

Through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program from the US Department of Energy and the Minnesota Commerce Department, the UMVRDC has allocated $90,000 to five communities in the region to perform energy audits on their public buildings: Appleton, Madison, Graceville, Lac qui Parle County, and Chippewa County. The UMVRDC will facilitate the audits and catalog the discovered actionable steps communities may take to increase their energy efficiency and reduce overall energy-related operating costs. The UMVRDC expects to have leftover funds after completion of the audits, which will then be made available to other communities in the region to fund energy audits or other energy efficiency related planning projects. To learn more about this program  or other energy resources, view the UMVRDC website or contact Nick at the UMVRDC at nick@umvrdc.org.

Southwest Minnesota Workforce Summit

The UMVRDC partnered with the Southwest RDC, Southwest Initiative Foundation, and several regional partners to put on the Southwest Minnesota Workforce Summit on April 29 at the Heritage Event Center in rural Taunton.  Over 100 people attended the event, including employers, economic development professionals, elected officials, and education.

The focus of the summit was to address regional workforce shortages. Sessions at the summit included:

• Keynote Speaker – Nationally known workforce expert, Gerry Hoeffner
• An employer panel discussion focused on workplace culture and valuing the employee
• Generations in the workplace
• Employment law updates
• Embracing change in the workplace
• Artificial intelligence

2025 Meander Brochures Available!

The 2025 Meander Art Crawl brochures are hot off the press! This year’s cover art was created by Kathleen Marihart. There will be 42 artists participating this year in studios across the five-county area.

The brochures are available on the Meander website. You can also receive brochures by contacting the UMVRDC office. The 2025 Meander is October 3, 4, & 5.

Welcome Paige!

We are excited to welcome back Paige Meyer as our summer intern! This summer, she will be focusing on the UMVRDC Developable property inventory and spotlights, assisting with the Scenic Byway program, and contributing to updates for the regional housing inventory and website.

Paige is a 2023 Lac qui Parle Valley graduate and just finished her second year at South Dakota State University where she is studying Community and Regional Planning, GIS, Geography, and Landscape Architecture, with minors in Sustainability and Geospatial Intelligence.

Welcome Scott!

We are happy to announce the return of Scott Peterson to the UMVRDC board. Scott is a city council member for the city of Granite Falls and represents Yellow Medicine County Municipalities.  Scott previously sat on our board for eight years.

Scott has served 16 years on the Granite Falls city council and is involved in other community organizations and committees such as the Pioneerland Library System board, Granite Falls airport board, Planning Commission, and the newly formed Direct Marketing Organization.

Scott is a Navy Veteran. He is a Technology/Support Specialist at Southwest West Central Service Cooperative where he supports several school districts. During Scott’s spare time, he spends time with his wife and three children as well as his dog and two cats!

UMVRDC Service Recognition

Matt Moe is our Finance Director and just completed his ninth year at the UMVRDC. Matt spends his time managing all the finances and budgets for the agency. Matt is also a vital part of the management team and is actively involved in the day-to-day operations of the UMVRDC.

Nick Gjerde recently celebrated his one-year anniversary with us.  He is a Community Development Specialist and specializes in Clean Energy. We are happy to announce that Nick just earned his Master’s Degree in Global Development Practice from Harvard Extension School. Congratulations Nick!

Dates to Note

June 24: UMVRDC Monthly Meeting
Appleton Civic Center || 6:30 p.m.

July 4: UMVRDC Office closed for Independence Day

July 22: UMVRDC Annual Meeting & Tour
Dawson || Details coming soon!

September 23: UMVRDC Monthly Meeting
Appleton Civic Center || 6:30 p.m.