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.
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.
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, DevelopMN, Revolving Loan Funds, Technical Assistance
Active Living & Trails Planning, Human Services Transit Coordination Planning, Safe Routes to School
News
Quarterly Newsletter – Sept. 2024
https://www.swrdc.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2024/12/SRDC-newsletter-sept.-2024-redesign.pdf Read the latest on SRDC happenings, upcoming events, and more. Subscribe to our newsletter to keep up…
Upcoming Events
SRDC Board Meeting
SRDC board room, slayton, MN
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.
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.
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
Grant Available to Aid in Weather Resilience Program to Help Farmers and Ranchers Prepare for Extreme Weather Grant Available to Aid in Weather Resilience Program will help farmers and ranchers prepare for extreme weather St. Paul, MN: Recognizing the risks posed by extreme weather, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is offering a grant opportunity to help eligible producers make their operations more resilient to drought, flooding, and severe weather events like storms, tornadoes, and straight-line winds. The Preparing for Extreme Weather Grant, also referred to as the Prepare Grant, offers grants of up to $10,000 for Minnesota livestock and specialty crop producers to buy and install supplies and equipment for weather event preparation. It requires a 50% match. “Minnesota agriculture needs to prepare for more climate extremes in the future,” said MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen. “This will help farmers and ranchers increase the resiliency of their operations and reduce some of the stress and anxiety around the weather.” For the purposes of this grant program: Livestock includes aquaculture, bees, beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, poultry, goats, mules, farmed cervids, ratites (including ostriches and emus), bison, sheep, horses, and llamas. Specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, and floriculture. See USDA’s list of Specialty Crops for further examples. Eligible projects include — but are not limited to — water tanks, pipelines, and wagons/trailers; wells (new improvements, fixes, replacement pumps); irrigation equipment (including drip irrigation); fans; misters; livestock shade systems; and windbreaks. The MDA expects to award 50 to 75 grants through a competitive review process. There is $500,000 available for this program. Applications will be accepted through 4 p.m. Central Time on February 12, 2025, and the MDA will notify applicants as soon as possible, but no later than March 26, 2025, about whether their proposal was selected for funding. Full grant details and the request for proposals (RFP) can be found on the MDA website. https://www.mda.state.mn.us/preparing-extreme-weather-prepare-grant The Preparing for Extreme Weather Grant is funded by the Agricultural Growth and Research Initiative (AGRI) Program, which supports advances in Minnesota’s agricultural and renewable energy sectors.
Does the idea of adding a geothermal heat exchanger, a groundwater thermal exchange device, or a submerged closed loop heat exchanger to your community sound exciting? The Minnesota Department of Commerce is launching a grant program that would fund up to $150,000 for counties, cities and towns to look into geothermal energy system(s) that would head and cool one or more building. The Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Geothermal Planning Grant will open Monday, December 16, 2024 thgrough March 10, 2025. Learn more, including details about a public webinar taking place on Monday, December 16, 2024 on the their website here: https://mn.gov/commerce/energy/consumer/energy-programs/geothermal.jsp?fbclid=IwY2xjawHFdeFleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHWIclcmCnMm0d4g8uPNIbxK4zb23tI6WVbbIJ6hB92dqreHu7ga2A7cl-w_aem_CcslBQ7q1AZTQYiFrW_yYQ
The Southwest Regional Development Commission and SW Minnesota Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership decided to hold a little door decorating contest. We need your help in deciding a winner. Please comment below with the door number you think should win. Please submit your choice by Dec. 20th. #10 plays music
