Guido Wallraven Visits Region Nine |
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Guido Wallraven, Technical Director for the Climate Community Program in Saerbeck, Germany, was in Region Nine from February 15-20 to lead discussions on transitioning to a clean energy economy. Guido was joined by Sabine Engel, Director for International Partnerships at the University of Minnesota Institute on the Environment (IonE), RNDC staff and commissioners, and Region Nine community leaders. |
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On Wednesday Guido was in New Ulm where the day started by meeting with local stakeholders where the discussion ranged from the costs and investment potential to the barriers of adopting a new energy infrastructure. The group then visited the public utilities facility before taking a tour of Black Frost Distillery. Wednesday night ended with two community discussions at Turner Hall. These sessions were more informal and offered an opportunity for differing viewpoints to be addressed freely and the aim was to open dialogue for future conversations.
To close the meeting, New Ulm City Council President and RNDC Vice Chair, Andrea Boettger said, “This is not the end of the conversations. We want to bring you aboard to know how we as a city and as a region can support this and develop partnerships.”
Guido added, “You are starting from a completely different point of view. There is much more know-how here, sitting at this table than we had 15 years ago.”
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Thursday the group traveled to St. James to speak to high school students. This has been a crucial demographic in Saerbeck as the students will be the stewards of a new climate economy. Guido shared that the key motivation for the Mayor of Saerbeck was his grandkids. “The mayor asked, ‘when they are my age, will there be any natural oil or natural gas on the earth? How do we ensure the future of our kids?’ So, we decided to ensure the energy supply for the city is 100% renewable by 2030”, said Guido.
The next stop in St. James was the Watonwan County Library where county business leaders joined the group to hear Guido’s presentation. A lively conversation grew out of the presentation, and it offered Guido a chance to address common concerns.
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The group then visited POET's Lake Crystal Bioprocessing plant. POET’s motto is “In rhythm with nature,” and they produce 56 million gallons of ethanol annually. To accomplish this, they consume 20 million bushels of locally-grown corn and employ approximately 44 people. The POET plant gave a good example of the economic potential of adopting a sustainable business model.
After leaving the plant, they traveled to Kurt Blomgren’s farm to discuss his solar panel array and solar garden and the steps he took to install them. Mike Kulseth joined to talk about geothermal heating and cooling in the agricultural industry.
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The day ended at First Presbyterian Church with another community discussion. The event was attended by more than 80 community members and the seating was arranged so that each table had a selection of diverse backgrounds. The interactive format had each table come up with ideas and opinions about different climate initiatives. These responses were gathered and recorded for future discussions. |
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Friday, Guido, Sabine, and RNDC staff members visited Comfrey where the group started the day touring the town’s utility infrastructure. Steve Berberich, Comfrey’s Water Superintendent, led the tour and explained how the city has maintained and improved its infrastructure.
Next, the group visited Comfrey High School where Guido led a question-and-answer session. Guido stressed how important it is for the younger generations to get involved early and described how students in Saerbeck learn about climate initiatives throughout their education.
The day in Comfrey ended with another discussion at the community center with local residents. The goal of this session was another opportunity for community members to ask questions and open up a dialogue as the city looks toward the future of its utilities.
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Guido’s trip to the region concluded with a recap session in Mankato on Monday. In attendance were the organizers from each city and representatives from higher education. Some of the key takeaways were that more people are interested in learning about a clean energy economy than expected. The individual sessions also highlighted what the residents of Region Nine are already doing to aid in the transition. Guido discussed his recommended next steps to continue the conversations and maintain momentum.
The timing of his visit was important for the region. State and federal funds will be available to communities looking to adopt sustainable energy initiatives.
Nicole Griensewic, RNDC Executive Director said, “It was such an honor for the region to host Guido. During the learning exchange with North Rhine-Westphalia, Guido’s knowledge, enthusiasm, and optimism were infectious and delegation members returned to their communities excited to start working on clean energy initiatives. This visit was an important first step and is an opportunity for Region Nine to take the lead on the clean energy economy in Minnesota.”
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RNDC Commissioners Accepted to MYALP Cohort |
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Two RNDC Commissioners have been accepted to the 2023 Minnesota Young American Leaders Program Cohort (MYALP). Chris Dalton and Ayan Omar will join a group of young leaders throughout the state to increase their knowledge of our national and regional economic development, provide tools for cross-sector collaboration, and grow their networks for the public good. Successful applicants were chosen based on their professional and civic engagement track records.
Chris is the New Ulm City Manager, and Ayan Omar is the Public Interest and Minority Populations Commissioner. MYALP was created in 2015 by the Harvard School of Business. The Minnesota program grew from a partnership between the Itasca Project and the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Center for Integrated Leadership. Chris and Ayan were both nominated by Nicole Griensewic as well as RNDC partner Colin Scharf who was also accepted into the program.
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Natural Disaster Loans Available due to Drought |
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The United States Department of Agriculture is offering disaster loans to farmers that can demonstrate a loss of 30% or more from drought conditions.
Due to the drought, multiple counties in Southwest Minnesota have been designed as natural disaster areas. This area includes Blue Earth and Watonwan counties.
If you believe you are eligible, you can contact your local Farm Services Agency (FSA). To find your local FSA, visit the USDA service center locator.
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RNDC in the News: SMIF and RNDC Approve Nine Grants |
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Some of the projects included:
- $20,000 for Blue Earth Area Schools to provide transportation and interpretation services
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$11,000 to the Martin County Economic Development Authority to translate the EDA website, provide interpreter services for the area, and partner with Project 1590 to launch multi-cultural outreach events
- $20,000 to the Minnesota Council of Churches Refugee Services in Mankato to support the Tapestry Entrepreneur Series which focuses on developing small business leadership skills
You can read the full article from Owatonna People's Press here.
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Staff Spotlight - Heather Bartelt |
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This month's staff spotlight is Executive Assistant, Heather Bartelt. Heather was born in Sioux Falls, SD, and moved to the area to attend Minnesota State University, Mankato where she studied Sociology. She has been with RNDC for three years.
What brought you to RNDC?
I was actively seeking to embark on a new phase in my professional journey and was enthusiastic about the prospect of collaborating with an organization on projects within the local community.
What is your favorite part of working at RNDC?
I get satisfaction from collaborating effectively with my colleagues and contributing to team goals.
What do you like to do in your free time?
During my leisure time, I take pleasure in quality moments with my children, exploring nature through activities such as camping, travel, and outdoor pursuits, especially in the summertime.
Where is your favorite place you've traveled to?
Florida holds an emotional significance for me as it has been the location of numerous cherished memories.
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Join Us in Welcoming the New RNDC Commissioners |
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- Doug Trytten - Faribault County Cities Under 10,000, Mayor of Kiester
- Paul Harris - Watonwan County Cities Under 10,000, St. James City Council
- Lisa Norton - Blue Earth County Cities Under 10,000, Mayor of Eagle Lake
- Mary Milbrath - Nicollet County Townships
- Patty O’Connor - Blue Earth County Commissioner
- Bob Nielsen - Sibley County Townships
- Rob Wilkening – Mayor of Waldorf, Waseca County Cities Under 10,000
- Shanon Nowell – Mayor of St. Peter, Nicollet County
You can view a complete list of commissioners by visiting, the RNDC website.
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Register for the Food & Ag Summit |
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The event will feature Keynote Speaker Eric R. Sannerud, President of Sannerud Hop Consulting. Joining Sannerud, will be Region Nine food and ag entrepreneurs of the MBFFA including Daniel Zimmerli from Cedar Crate Farm, Emily Knudsen from Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm, and Scott Haase from Blue Dirt Farm.
The MBFFA takes a collaborative approach to small business recovery and resiliency and works to reduce the barriers to access for entrepreneurs seeking customized consulting and training services.
Learn more about the event and the MBFFA here. You can register by clicking the button below. |
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$$ Grant Opportunities $$ |
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Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Value-Added Grant
The AGRI Value-Added Grant helps Minnesota processors add value to Minnesota agricultural products by investing in the purchase of equipment, production capacity, market diversification, and market access for value-added products.
Deadline: March 15, 2023
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Rural Business Development Grant
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Department seeks applications to improve rural transportation systems. These grants aim to increase opportunities for people living in rural areas by connecting them to economic resources and are part of the Rural Business Development Grant program.
Deadline: April 19, 2023
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Region Nine Development Commission takes great pride in working with and on behalf of counties, cities, townships, and schools throughout South Central Minnesota. Since 1972, being a partner for progress has led to the development of programs and identification of solutions in the areas of economic development, business development, healthy communities, transportation, community development, and leveraging regional resources. To learn more about our work and mission, visit www.rndc.org.
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Follow RNDC on social media to stay up-to-date on events, news, and more! |
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