U.S. Senator Tina Smith Announces $600,000 to Bolster Jobs, Economy in Waseca

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Federal Funding Will Help Create 248 Jobs and Save 600 Jobs in Waseca County

WASHINGTON, D.C. [12/13/2019]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced that the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is investing nearly $600,000 in two projects to strengthen Waseca’s regional economy, establish a resilient workforce, and create jobs. 

The EDA is investing $395,820 to hire an economic recovery coordinator to create a three-year strategic plan that will help economic recovery efforts from the impact of Quad/Graphics’ closure in 2017. The EDA is also investing $203,754 to fund a study to help Region Nine Development Commission determine the viability of a new Waseca Area Manufacturing Resource Center. Together, these two projects are anticipated to create 248 jobs and save 600 jobs.

“I feel so inspired by the spirit, resilience and ingenuity of people I’ve met in small towns and communities across Minnesota during my rural economy tour,” said Sen. Smith. “But at the same time I recognize that many areas are facing economic hardship, where folks feel like they’re hanging on by their financial fingertips as they struggle to get by. These EDA grants will provide Waseca with the resources they need to take a step back, assess where they’re at, and determine what they can do to restore economic prosperity. We must do everything we can to create economic opportunity for everyone.”

You can read full descriptions of the grants here.

EDA grants are awarded through a competitive process based upon the application’s merit, the applicant’s eligibility, and the availability of funds. You can access more information on EDA’s grant process and investment process can be found at www.eda.gov.

Waseca To Receive Funding From US Economic Development Administration

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Economic development efforts in Waseca have received a boost from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. Federal official say the EDA will fund a nearly 396-thousand dollar grant to hire an economic recovery coordinator. The money will be earmarked to create a strategic plan that will help economic recovery efforts from the impact of the Quad/Graphics closure in 2017. The EDA says will it also invest nearly 204-thousand dollars in grant money to help fund a study. Federal officials say the study will help Region Nine Development Commission determine the viability of a new Waseca Area Manufacturing Resources Center.

View the KTOE article.

Waseca making progress a year after loss of Quad Printing

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WASECA — When Quad Graphics, formerly Brown Printing, closed at the

end of 2017, it left about 400 employees out of

work and dealt a blow to the city of 9,000, which counted the printing company as its largest employer.

 

But what could have been a dire blow to the community today appears more hopeful as other manufacturers are starting to repopulate that massive facility and as the city has secured a large federal economic grant to help spur business growth.

“It’s definitely an exciting time with the things happening at Quad and elsewhere in Waseca,” sad Gary Sandholm, the city’s economic development coordinator. “We’re guardedly optimistic about things. I think 2020 should be an interesting and fun year.”

The city was recently awarded nearly $600,000 from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. Nearly $400,000 of that is to hire a coordinator for three years who would work exclusively on recruiting companies to move to or expand in Waseca.

“We’re looking for someone who has connections with people who are fairly high up in various companies or industries. Someone who has relationships with the decision makers,” Sandholm said.

“It’s a unique position — it’s not everyone who’s going to be qualified to handle it. It could be a great capstone for someone’s career. It’s probably not for someone just coming out of school.”

He said the person, who they hope to have on board by late winter or early spring, would seek companies from out of state to come to Waseca or businesses in Minnesota that are looking to expand to another location. Sandholm said they would not seek companies already in the state to relocate to Waseca.

The rest of the grant will go toward a study to determine the viability of a new Waseca area manufacturing resource center.

Sandholm said that project will be done by the Region Nine Development Commission, which a couple of years ago began looking at regional centers to assist either specific industries or all manufacturers in the nine-county area.

Read the full Free Press article.

2019 Impact Award

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Region Nine Development Commission has received a 2019 Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Award from the National Association of Development Organizations for MedTech Connect.

MedTech Connect was motivated by the need to develop a conceptual framework that inventories and supports medical manufacturing activities in South Central Minnesota. The plan examines how and how well manufacturing and related industries leverage their geographic proximity to the medical manufacturing hub in the Twin Cities and innovations at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Results from this report indicate that South Central Minnesota is poised for growth in the medical manufacturing sector and has led to RNDC applying and being awarded a grant from the Economic Development Administration to conduct a feasibility study for a Manufacturing Resource Center in Waseca.

NADO is a membership association of regional development organizations that promotes programs and policies that strengthen local governments, communities, and economies through regional cooperation, program delivery, and comprehensive strategies.

The association’s Impact Awards program recognizes regional development organizations and their partners for improving the economic and community competitiveness of our nation’s regions and local communities.

–Free Press, Names and Notables

Region 9 Recently Honored By A National Organization

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The Region Nine Development Commission was recently recognized by the National Association of Development Organizations. Nicole Griensewic Mickelson is the executive director of Region Nine says they receive the 2019 Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Award.

“It was for our Medtech connect plan,” said Griensewic Mickelson. “It looked at all of the medical supply chains throughout south-central Minnesota. We were able to talk to all sorts of business owners to advance this manufacturing field.”

Region Nine representatives say the plan examines how and how well manufacturing and related industries leverage their geographic proximity to the medical manufacturing hub of the Twin Cities and innovations at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

–KTOE

RNDC receives national Impact Award of 2019 by NADO

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WASHINGTON (KEYC) — The Region Nine Development Commission (RNDC) has received a 2019 Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) for their contributions to MedTech Connect.

MedTech Connect was created due to the developing need for a conceptual framework that inventories and supports medical manufacturing activities in south-central Minnesota.

The plan examines how and how well manufacturing and related industries leverage their geographic proximity to the medical manufacturing hub of the Twin Cities and innovations at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

The results from the report, found below, indicate that south-central Minnesota is poised for growth in the medical manufacturing sector and has led to the RNDC applying, and being awarded, a grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to conduct a feasibility study for a Manufacturing Resource Center in Waseca.

Read the full KEYC article.

Region Nine Development Commission Receives National Association of Development Organizations 2019 Impact Award

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Region Nine Development Commission (RNDC) has received a 2019 Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) for MedTech Connect.

MedTech Connect was motivated by the need to develop a conceptual framework that inventories and supports medical manufacturing activities in South Central Minnesota. The plan examines how and how well manufacturing and related industries leverage their geographic proximity to the medical manufacturing hub in the Twin Cities and innovations at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Results from this report indicate that South Central Minnesota is poised for growth in the medical manufacturing sector and has led to RNDC applying and being awarded a grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to conduct a feasibility study for a Manufacturing Resource Center in Waseca, MN.

NADO is a Washington, DC-based membership association of regional development organizations that promote programs and policies that strengthen local governments, communities, and economies through regional cooperation, program delivery, and comprehensive strategies.  The association’s Impact Awards program recognizes regional development organizations and their partners for improving the economic and community competitiveness of our nation’s regions and local communities.

Award-winning projects were honored during NADO’s 2019 Annual Training Conference, held October 19-22 in Reno, NV.  The 2019 class of award recipients consists of 100 projects from 66 organizations spanning 24 states.  These projects are presented in an interactive “Story Map” developed by NADO and CivicLens that includes project summaries and partners.  The Story Map is available online at:  https://www.nado.org/impactawards/.

“The Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Awards program is an opportunity each year for NADO to publicly recognize the important services that regional development organizations deliver to their local communities,” said 2018-2019 NADO President Scott Koons, executive director of the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council, located in Gainesville.  “The projects awarded have made significant impacts on their regions and demonstrate the diversity of programs and resources provided by regional development organizations across the country.”

The NADO Impact Awards are presented in honor of the late Aliceann Wohlbruck who was NADO’s first executive director and served 24 years as a tireless champion for regional approaches to economic development in rural communities.

View the KTOE article.

Lake Crystal strategic plan to be discussed at public meeting

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LAKE CRYSTAL — The city of Lake Crystal and Region Nine Development Commission will host a public meeting Wednesday highlighting Lake Crystal’s Strategic Economic Development Plan.

The plan is the result of a seven-month initiative between the city and Region Nine that creates a comprehensive picture of Lake Crystal’s economy, position and reputation within the region, according to a news release from the commission.

 

The public meeting is 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the City Hall community room, 100 E. Robinson St., in Lake Crystal. The meeting will showcase the plan as well as provide discussion about the next steps and implementation.

The plan incorporated public engagement and feedback that allowed Region Nine to verify findings, test assumptions and uncover additional challenges or opportunities the city may face, the commission said.

 

“With the plan complete, the city of Lake Crystal, Lake Crystal Economic Development Authority and its partners will have a road map to grow Lake Crystal and improve the quality of life for its residents,” Lake Crystal City Administrator Taylor Gronau said in a statement.

“Lake Crystal is much more than a small town — it is a highly educated workforce, an attractive destination, and an untapped potential for future investments,” Region Nine Executive Director Nicole Griensewic Mickelson said in the release.

View the Free Press article.

People gather for first-ever Southern Minnesota Equity Summit

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ST. PETER, Minn. (KEYC) — A variety of different sectors were brought together for discussions on equity and diversity in communities and workplaces.

Region Nine Development Commission, in partnership with the University of Minnesota Extension for Community Vitality and the Greater Mankato Diversity Council and support from the Bush Foundation, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Mankato Area Foundation and St. Peter Public Schools hosted the event.

“We brought together a variety of different sectors in a community. Including government, business, education, philanthropy, and we brought them together, so they are able to share how they can build equity, diversity and inclusion within their communities,” Region Nine Consultant Julie Hawker said.

Keynote speakers were present for the event, such as Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. Flanagan’s principles of her career work are giving back particularly to children and families of color, American Indians, low income and working people.

“I came here today to Southern Minnesota to talk about the need to ensure that everything we are doing is through an equity lens. That diversity and inclusion should be very central to the work that we do. That there’s so much more we can do to make Minnesota more welcoming and inclusive through the leaders right here in the community,” said Flanagan.

Flanagan opened the floor to questions and listened to as attendees voiced their concerns on the topic.

That included requesting more diversity in leadership roles in schools and government positions.

The day served as a day of networking between groups to learn how to find tools in their community and to increase diverse equity.

View the KEYC article and video.

Lt. Gov. Flanagan calls for more inclusive communities

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At southern Minnesota’s first summit focused specifically on equity, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan called on area leaders to foster welcoming and inclusive communities.

Flanagan, a White Earth Band of Ojibwe member, gave the summit’s afternoon keynote Friday at St. Peter High School, while also describing what she and Gov. Tim Walz are doing to promote equity statewide.

“Our population makeup, our communities and our workforce continue to become more and more diverse, and it is the fabric that makes us who we are as a state,” she said.

 

Partner organizations convened the summit in part to highlight what communities in southern Minnesota are already doing so more places can follow suit.

“There’s a lot of great things that are already happening,” said Nicole Griensewic Mickelson, executive director at Region Nine Development Commission. “We’re trying to share those stories across communities, across sectors so everyone can take away and learn from one another and see what is working.”

The commission organized the event alongside the University of Minnesota Extension Center for Community Vitality and the Greater Mankato Diversity Council. All are involved in equity work in the region, with the commission’s Rural Equity Learning Community program an example. The program drew leaders from several communities for monthly workshops on inclusiveness and diversity.

Attendees took part in panels and breakout sessions on topics ranging from inclusion in the workplace to uncovering hidden biases during the hiring process. Representatives from area businesses, nonprofits and government bodies led various sessions.

Read the full Free Press article.