Headwaters Regional Development Commission
The Headwaters Regional Development Commission (HRDC) serves five counties in north central Minnesota, providing a range of services including strategic planning, financial assistance, and housing development.
Services
The Headwaters Regional Development Commission (HRDC) provides a wide array of services designed to support local governments, development organizations, and community leaders in north central Minnesota. Their services include strategic planning, facilitation, financial packaging, grant writing, loan application preparation, market research, feasibility studies, proposal development, business financing assistance, loan fund administration, and organizational development. They also provide staffing services under contract to the Beltrami County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA).
Founders
The Headwaters Regional Development Commission (HRDC) was formed in 1971 by local units of government. These founding entities recognized the need for a coordinated approach to regional development in the five counties of Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods, and Mahnomen in north central Minnesota.
Subsidiary Corporations
HRDC has a subsidiary corporation called the Headwaters Housing Development Corporation (HHDC), which was established in 1998 to address the inadequate supply of affordable housing throughout the region. HHDC operates various programs to increase affordable housing options, including a school-built construction program in partnership with Bemidji High School and Northwest Technical College.
Special Programs and Partnerships
HRDC administers the Rehabilitation Loan Program (RLP) and Emergency Loan Program (ELP) to assist low-income homeowners in financing basic home improvements. Additionally, HRDC participates in the statewide Safe Routes to School program, helping school districts enhance the safety of walking and biking routes for children. HRDC has also been involved in significant partnerships, such as the collaboration with the City of Bemidji and the Nameless Coalition for the Homeless, securing $570,000 in 2021 for the New Day Center project through a competitive COVID-Related Community Development Block Grant.
Housing Initiatives
HRDC has an active role in housing development within the region. Their Livable Communities program addresses housing efforts, such as the construction of supportive and transitional housing projects like Conifer Estates, Conifer Villas, and East Conifer Estates in Bemidji. The housing team at HRDC supports pilot projects, finds funding sources for housing initiatives, and develops master plans for future developments. Furthermore, they assist counties in accessing low-interest mortgage financing through the Minnesota Housing Financing Agency’s Minnesota Cities Participation Program (MCPP).