Promoting Growth
& Opportunities for
Southwest Minnesota
We work to connect units of government, businesses, and communities with the resources, planning, and services needed to promote growth. Together we can further opportunities in Southwest Minnesota by promoting a growing workforce and business base and ensuring population stability.
![Legislative Committee weber Legislative Committee Meeting](https://www.swrdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Legislative-Committee-weber-2019-pl-1024x768.jpg)
![Trail Planning Parternships Friends of the Casey Jones State Trail Annual Meeting 2022 Friends of the Casey Jones State Trail](https://www.swrdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Trail-Planning-Parternships-Friends-of-the-Casey-Jones-State-Trail-Annual-Meeting-2022.jpg)
![Minnesota Icon with Southwest Minnesota highlighted Southwest Minnesota Highlighted](https://www.swrdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Minnesota-Icon-with-Southwest-Minnesota-highlighted.png)
Providing professional expertise and leadership to enhance regional opportunities.
At Southwest Regional Development Commission (SRDC), we are listeners and connectors to help you find the resources needed to address your concerns. Together we can channel progressive collaboration between cities, counties, and townships so that shared knowledge and resources can be used to help you and the region prepare for a future where people and businesses thrive.
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A growing workforce and business base.
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Better lives for those living in the region.
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Population stability.
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Significant needs addressed that are challenging the region.
![Evolution Evolution Icon](https://www.swrdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Evolution.png)
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, DevelopMN, Revolving Loan Funds, Technical Assistance
![bicycle icon bicycle icon](https://www.swrdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/bicycle-icon.png)
Active Living & Trails Planning, Human Services Transit Coordination Planning, Safe Routes to School
News
Sarah Paws Resort,rural Currie, officially opens
Sarah Paws Resort, rural Currie, officially opens Sarah Paws Resort, located in rural Currie, recently hosted an…
Upcoming Events
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Looking to grow your business or organization, solve a problem in your community, or progress your organization?
Our assistance is tailored to your needs. Southwest Regional Development Commission provides assistance to projects that support, enhance, or address the region's needs. We work with your team on planning, facilitation, data collection, research, grant writing, outreach assistance, and more.
![Red Rock County Park Red Rock County Park](https://www.swrdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Red-Rock-County-Park.jpg)
![Bicycle Friendly Workshop in Jackson Active Living Bicycle Friendly Workshop](https://www.swrdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bicycle-Friendly-Workshop-in-Jackson-Active-Living.jpg)
The Region We Serve
The Southwest Regional Development Commission serves the nine-county region of Cottonwood, Jackson, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood and Rock in the far southwest corner of Minnesota.
Since 1973, SRDC has worked with and on behalf of these counties, their cities, townships, school districts, and public interest groups. These partnerships and the leveraging of resources throughout the region have led to the advancement of programs in the areas of community, economic, energy, transportation, and land use development.
![SRDC Region Map](https://www.swrdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SRDC-Region-Map-MN.png)
Lincoln County
Lyon County
Redwood County
Pipestone County
Murray County
Cottonwood County
Rock County
Nobles County
Jackson County
SRDC Regional Spotlight
John Regier Farms: Harnessing Solar Power to Transform Hog Farming
Mt. Lake, MN
Crafting Success: The Story of Pohlman Pallets and the Sustainable Business Behind it
Windom, MN
“From California to Lake Benton: A Journey of Community and Commerce”
Lake Benton, MN
Social Media Updates
MnDOT awarded $8.5 million in federal grants for rural bus replacement, facility upgrades ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Federal Transportation Administration recently awarded the Minnesota Department of Transportation $8.5 million dollars through two grants which will help three rural Minnesota transit providers upgrade their vehicle fleets and infrastructure. The grants come from the federal “Low and No Emissions” and “Bus and Bus Facilities” programs, and the money is part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. MnDOT applied for the funding on behalf of three rural transit agencies in Minnesota: United Community Action Partnership Community Transit, Friendly Rider Transit and SMART Transit. MnDOT manages the federal funding of rural Minnesota transit programs. “Many people in rural areas rely on transit, and these projects will improve service while reducing emissions,” said Sarah Ghandour, director, Office of Transit and Active Transportation. “We chose these projects based the needs of our local partners, their willingness to participate in the application, and, finally, the extent to which the proposed projects meet the criteria of the competitive grants.” The Low or No Emissions Grant will help two rural transit providers upgrade their vehicle fleets and infrastructure: United Community Action Partnership’s Community Transit will replace six gas-powered buses with six propane-fueled buses. These buses, and propane fueling tank, will be based in Marshall. UCAP provides rural public transit for eight counties in southwest Minnesota (Lincoln, Lyon, Redwood, Pipestone, Murray, Cottonwood, Jackson and Rock). Friendly Rider Transit will replace three gas- and diesel-powered transit buses with three propane-fueled buses and a propane fueling tank at its Wadena Transit Facility. Friendly Rider serves Wadena County in Central Minnesota. The FTA grants will cover $2.3 million of the projects estimated $2.8 million total cost, with the remaining funds coming from state transit funds. The Bus and Bus Facilities Grant will allow Cedar Valley Services, Inc. (SMART Transit), to build two state-of-the-art transit facilities in the cities of Austin and Waseca. The new facilities will enhance operational efficiency for the entire SMART Transit system, providing safer, more reliable transit for local communities. These facilities will incorporate energy saving efficiencies in design and will include solar photovoltaic (PV) panels for a cost-effective form of renewable energy, facilitating the future transition to a zero-emission transit fleet in the future. The Federal Transportation Administration grants will cover $6.3 million of the projects estimated $7.8 million total cost, with the remaining dollars coming from state transit funds. Once the grant funding is in place, MnDOT will submit a detailed scope of work and budget to the FTA. The new buses and infrastructure could be in place within the next one to two years.
RMEB Brookings 2nd Circuit construction tour The project, which will add a new circuit to the existing transmission infrastructure between Brookings, SD, and the Lyon County substation near Marshall, was approved in May 2024, with construction beginning in June. The project will improve the transmission system in the area, adding new capacity for wind energy generated in southwest Minnesota and the Dakotas, reduce system congestion, save electric customers money, and increase the amount of wind energy delivered to those customers.