Welcome Savannah!
We are excited to welcome Savannah Hundley to the UMVRDC! As a Community Development Specialist, Savannah will be working on the MnDOT Transportation Planning Program, Safe Routes to School, and Active Transportation. She will also spend time working on local foods. We look forward to the ideas and knowledge she will bring to our office and the communities we serve!
Savannah’s Bio
Plan to Attend the Southwest MN Workforce Summit on April 29th
The Southwest MN Workforce Summit is set to take place on April 29, 2025 at the Heritage Event Center in Taunton, MN. This summit will bring together employers, HR professionals, educators, community leaders, and economic development stakeholders to discuss workforce challenges and opportunities in the region. Attendees will have the chance to network, collaborate, and explore innovative strategies to strengthen the local workforce. Hosted by economic development and workforce partners of Southwest Minnesota, including the UMVRDC, the event aims to drive meaningful conversations that support business growth and workforce sustainability.
More Info & Registration
2024 Regional Survey Results
Results are in from the 2024 Annual Survey completed by local units of government in our region – Chippewa, Swift, Yellow Medicine, Lac qui Parle, and Big Stone Counties. These survey results help UMVRDC staff create workplans each year to address topics that are most important to the communities that we serve.
This year, the most important topics by all jurisdictions were:
1. Planning or funding to Retain/Increase Childcare
2. Expose Youth to Local Career Opportunities
3. Marketing & Promoting our Community/Area
Housing Updates & Resources
The UMVRDC tries to bring tools, resources and technical assistance to our member units of government to help solve local issues. We are well aware of the challenges communities are facing in regard to housing as housing-related issues showed up in five of the top 11 most important topics in our most recent Regional Survey.
One way we could help is to bring attention to the available housing lots in the region. In the summer of 2024, the RDC contacted all of our communities in an effort to gather information on available housing lots (lot size, incentives, amenities, available utilities, etc.) with the intention of sharing it with prospective residents or existing residents looking to build. We compiled this data into a single resource for communities to use in promoting new housing development. We plan to continue to update and enhance this resource, making it a useful tool in strengthening our region’s housing stock. If your community has lots available and would like to add them to the inventory, please contact kevin@umvrdc.org.
We’ve created a new Housing Resource page on our website, which includes the Housing Development Inventory document and a listing of available lots in the region. We hope to add more resources to this page in the future, so check back often!
Also, on March 18th, the UMVRDC hosted Leah Hall from the MN Housing Partnership (MHP) to present information on their Housing Institute program to interested communities.
What is the Housing Institute? Participants form teams comprised of several entities in a region, often including city, county, HRA and EDA staff as well as other local stakeholders like local businesses and nonprofits, and school and healthcare administrators. Through the Housing Institute program, MHP works together with these teams over a 14-month period, meeting regularly to address a specific housing need or challenge in their community. In past rounds of the Housing Institute, local teams have worked together to pursue a variety of specific projects, including the development of housing studies, websites, senior housing, workforce housing, supportive housing, single family rehab, and more.
MHP is currently seeking applications from Southwest MN communities for the next round of participants in their Housing Institute program which will begin in June. Applications are due in early April.
Enhancing the Appleton Trail
The UMVRDC recently assisted the City of Appleton in writing a grant for repairs to a 0.7-mile stretch of the Appleton Trail, a key connector that links the City’s park and recreational areas. This section of the trail provides access to popular destinations like the baseball/softball fields, the city campground, and Pomme de Terre River access. Additionally, it connects to the newly completed portion of the Minnesota River State Trail, providing access to the county fairgrounds and the Marsh Lake Dam area. The repairs will improve safety and accessibility, particularly benefiting those with mobility issues, as well as parents with young children biking with training wheels or pushing strollers.
This project is part of Appleton’s broader goal of creating a safe and connected community with ample walking areas, allowing residents to easily access and enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings. The grant is administered through the Department of Natural Resources, which requires a 25% match. If Appleton is funded, the city will overmatch slightly at 27% to ensure the project is completed.
If funded, this section of the trail will enhance the overall experience for community members and visitors alike, supporting the City’s efforts to promote outdoor recreation, strengthen local connections, and improve access for all its community members.
Graceville Applies for Small Community Planning Grants for Stormwater, Wastewater, and Community Resilience
The UMVRDC recently submitted a grant on behalf of the City of Graceville for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Small Community Planning Grants for Stormwater, Wastewater, and Community Resilience. The amount applied for, $63,901.80, would go toward studying and identifying an improved stormwater management system with sensitivity calculations of climate change related to stormwater runoff impacts. Rain events with as little as 1.5 inches within a short period of time causes water to rise over roads, sidewalks, and even against homes and businesses. In rain events of three to four inches, flooding becomes a significant detriment to the community.
We’ve also created a new Housing Resource page on our website as a resource, which includes the promotional document and a listing of available lots in the region. We hope to add more resources to this page in the future, so check back often!
Solar on Public Buildings in Montevideo
After the UMVRDC assisted the City of Montevideo in establishing eligibility for the Solar on Public Buildings through a readiness assessment, the Minnesota Department of Commerce invited the City to submit a full grant application for a 40kW ground-based solar array to power the City’s public works building. This grant funding will cover 70% of the array up to $84,000. The City is also eligible for 30% funding available through federal direct pay clean energy tax credits, limiting Montevideo’s overall cost of the project.
The City is currently drafting a request for proposals (RFP) to open the project up for bidding from contractors across the state of Minnesota. Once drafted, the RFP will be shared with the Minnesota Department of Administration who will post the RFP and solicit bids from a pre-approved list of vendors. The City will then select the vendor who will oversee the installation of the solar array.
Transportation Advisory Committee To Host Open House Meeting
The Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) will hold an open house meeting on Tuesday, April 8th, 2025, at the Appleton Civic Center, located at 323 W. Schlieman Avenue, Appleton, Minnesota. The meeting will be open to the public, and for those unable to attend in person, a virtual option will also be provided. (Microsoft Teams: Meeting ID: 265 039 923 421, Passcode: Pv2ff6Wc)
This year’s Open House, starting at 3:00 p.m., will include a presentation and public comment session on the draft Area Transportation Partnership Improvement Program (ATIP) for 2025-2029, focusing on projects in Big Stone, Swift, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, and Yellow Medicine Counties. The ATIP outlines a four-year plan for Federally-funded transportation improvements submitted to the state for inclusion in the State Transportation Improvement Program. Mary Safgren from MnDOT District 4 and Megan DeSchepper from MnDOT District 8 will both provide updates. In addition to these presentations, both Mary and Megan will provide an overview of the 2025 construction season projects for MnDOT. This will give attendees a better understanding of what to expect for the upcoming summer season in terms of roadwork and infrastructure improvements.
Throughout the meeting, there will be opportunities for the public to ask questions and engage in discussions about ongoing and upcoming transportation projects. Public participation is highly encouraged, and the TAC welcomes any comments or suggestions related to transportation improvements. Comments can be submitted by mail, phone, or virtually during the meeting. All comments will be included in the meeting notes, which will be forwarded to MnDOT and the affected counties.
Federal Funding Pauses Impact on UMVRDC Programs
As a result of changing post-election federal funding priorities, several grant programs are paused until further notice. One affected program is Renew America’s Schools, through which Ortonville and Dawson-Boyd School Districts hoped to update their aging HVAC infrastructure with improved energy efficient options. Another program that is currently indefinitely paused is the Regional Food Businesses Centers Program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This program enabled the UMVRDC to collaborate with nonprofits and local communities in the local foods sector, expanding the capacity and utilization of local foods within our region. The goal was to create a more sustainable and robust food network within our five-counties. Although this program is on hold, the UMVRDC remains committed to advancing work in this space and is actively pursuing other funding opportunities. Recently, the UMVRDC submitted a grant application through the Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships program for competitive funding to continue work on a directory for the region, aimed at connecting farmers, consumers, and resources. The UMVRDC hopes to secure this funding in order to continue partnering with organizations like the Land Stewardship Project, Minnesota Grown, and the Southwest Initiative Foundation to support the local food system.
Funding Available for Business Start-Ups or Expansions
When UMVRDC Revolving Loan Funds are used, the primary lender has a lower loan to value and the debt service coverage is increased due to lower rates. There is currently $1.7 million in loan funds available in the UMVRDC’s Revolving Loan Fund (RLF). It’s called the RLF because as these loans are paid back, they are loaned out again.
Since 1988, 157 loans have been made for a total of over $10 million providing access to affordable capital through gap financing for business start-ups or expansions. Buying or creating a small business takes money. Many times, the people with the passion and idea to start a business don’t have the dollars. Gap financing through the UMVRDC can help.
The UMVRDC Revolving Loan Fund is designed to provide gap financing for business and industry starting up or expanding in the five-county region of Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Swift and Yellow Medicine. The primary focus of the program is manufacturing and industrial-related businesses that will create or retain jobs. If you or someone you know is looking at a business start-up or expansion, please give us a call. We are here to help.
Welcome to the UMVRDC’s Newest Board Member!
Chris Schacherer, representing the Dawson Boyd School board. Chris is a native of Dawson. He continued his education at Lake Area Technical Institute in Watertown, SD. After moving back to Dawson, he worked in the grain and feed industry for 12 years before working for the Lac qui Parle County Highway Department.
Chris likes being an elected official for the school board because “it is another way to give back to the community.” Outside of his school board duties, Chris is a volunteer firefighter with the Dawson Fire Department and surrounding townships.
When asked why he volunteered to serve on this board, he said he saw it as a great opportunity to gain new and broader perspectives, grow connections with various local groups, and contribute to another board with a meaningful mission.
Chris and his wife live in Dawson with their one-year-old son and are expecting their second child this spring. They enjoy traveling, spending time at the lake, and making memories with family and friends.
Upcoming Events
April 8: TAC Open House
Appleton Civic Center || 3:00 p.m.
April 18: UMVRDC Office closed for Good Friday
April 22: UMVRDC Monthly Meeting
Appleton Civic Center || 6:30 p.m.
April 29: Southwest MN Workforce Summit
Heritage Event Center, Taunton, MN || 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
May 26: UMVRDC Office closed for Memorial Day
May 27: UMVRDC Monthly Meeting
Appleton Civic Center || 6:30 p.m.
June 19: UMVRDC Office closed for Juneteenth
June 24: UMVRDC Monthly Meeting
Appleton Civic Center || 6:30 p.m.
