Southwest Regional Development Commission
The Southwest Regional Development Commission provides comprehensive economic development assistance and planning services to businesses, local governments, and communities within a nine-county region in southwest Minnesota.
Services
The Southwest Regional Development Commission (SRDC) provides a range of development and support services aimed at fostering economic and community growth. These services include planning, facilitation, grant writing assistance, GIS services, project collaboration, marketing and communications training, research and data analysis, and revolving loan funds. The SRDC also offers community development planning, transportation planning, economic resiliency planning, workforce development collaboration, project management, and more. Their technical assistance extends to creating customized surveys, communications support, and community engagement and visioning support.
Economic Development Assistance
The SRDC offers comprehensive economic development assistance to businesses, local government units, and communities within its nine-county coverage area. Initiatives include the administration of funding opportunities such as the Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) and Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program. The organization also collaborates with the Rural Minnesota Energy Board (RMEB) on the PACE program to facilitate sustainable energy improvements. Furthermore, the SRDC supports the development of the region’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) to identify projects that promote regional economic growth.
Community and Transportation Planning
The SRDC is heavily involved in community and transportation planning within its jurisdiction. The organization supports numerous projects by providing planning services, initiatives, and collaboration efforts. Specific transportation planning services include active living and trails planning, human services transit coordination planning, and safe routes to school (SRTS) planning. The SRDC works closely with local SRTS teams to create tailored plans for community-specific needs. Additionally, the SRDC collaborates with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and other partners on local transportation projects, offering assistance with grant applications and data collection.
Grant Writing and Funding Opportunities
The SRDC offers extensive support in grant writing and funding opportunities to help local entities secure necessary resources. This includes grant writing assistance, federal EDA planning and grant packaging, and data collection for grant applications. The organization administers multiple funding programs, such as the Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) and the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program, to provide financial backing to new and existing businesses in the region. These funds are geared towards filling financing gaps and supporting energy-efficient property improvements.
History and Regional Coverage
Founded in 1973, the SRDC has been serving a nine-county region in the far southwest corner of Minnesota for several decades. The counties covered by the commission include Cottonwood, Jackson, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, and Rock. Over the years, the SRDC has built a reputation for fostering regional development and economic stability through strategic collaboration with local leaders, organizations, community groups, and government entities.