News & Events

Southwest Regional Development Commission️ 2024-12-10T19:33:15+0000

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.

Southwest Regional Development Commission️ 2024-12-10T19:25:06+0000

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

Southwest Regional Development Commission️ 2024-12-10T15:27:46+0000

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

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