The UMVRDC has been selected as the “Community and Economic Development Partner Region” by the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development. The goal of this partnership is to increase awareness of resources available to further economic development within the Upper Minnesota Valley Region, ensuring the sustainability of its communities well into the future. The more that is known about where to access information on resources that can be leveraged across varying agencies and partnerships, the better the public is served. In coordination with USDA staff, UMVRDC is working to identify opportunities in support of local and regional projects.