Region Nine Welcomes Two New Teammates |
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RNDC is excited to announce that Paola Ferrario and Frances Long have joined the team.
Paola has come on board as a Community Development Planner. She brings with her a wealth of experience in business startups and incubators as well as ecosystem development and innovation.
She is from Asuncion, Paraguay and studied Communications at the National University of Asuncion. She also specialized in Entrepreneurship and Innovation with the Young America's Business Trust and Mashav in Haifa, Israel. Paola also served as Vice President of the Global Entrepreneurship Network Paraguay and has participated in the America's Competitiveness Exchange (ACE) on Innovation and Entrepreneurship multiple times.
Her experience in supporting entrepreneurs and her passion for innovation and agriculture will provide a valuable asset to the residents of Region Nine.
"I hope to generate great partnerships for the region, bridging opportunities with some programs of the EDA, Organization of American States (OAS) and ITA. I strive to work with the team to create strategies that will reinforce Region Nine’s desire to open up more of the international market and attract top talent to the area." - Paola Ferrario
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Frances joined RNDC as a Finance Specialist and brings years of experience in payroll and purchasing. Her resume includes non-profit work for the Mankato Rehabilitation Center, Inc. (MRCI) where she assisted with the onboarding process for people with disabilities as they joined the workforce.
She spent the last few years working in school district finance for the Minnesota Valley Education District in St. Peter, and Le Sueur-Henderson Public Schools.
"I am excited to be part of a team that is dedicated to revitalizing small communities and helping them thrive. I am so grateful to be part of an effort to engage and support small, local businesses." - Frances Long
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Inclusive Equitable Communities Grant Program |
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Over the last year, Region Nine has partnered with the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) and SE MN Together to host three convenings for the awardees of SMIF's Inclusive Equitable Communities (IEC) Grant Program. This year, ten awarded organizations were supported as they developed or expanded initiatives which increase equity and inclusion within communities or support entrepreneurs in communities of diverse backgrounds. In addition to support via funding, the grant program partners are dedicated to building a network and ecosystem that will support them in their initiatives now and in the future.
As one of the ten awarded organizations, the Minnesota Council of Churches (MCC), in partnership with community and business leaders from DEED Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), Greater Mankato Growth, Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and Minnesota State University, Mankato, developed and facilitated a new business-focused Tapestry series, which ran from May 2021 to March 2022.
“We are extremely grateful for the support of SMIF to help us pilot the Business Tapestry Series. It has been a pleasure to engage with SMIF on this and to meet other funded organizations and learn about their work at the SMIF convenings,” shared MCC representatives Habiba Rashid and Sophia Hoiseth.
The program gathered entrepreneur "Explorers" from the Mankato area immigrant and refugee communities and "Business Connectors" from Mankato area leaders with experience in business and entrepreneurship. The program allowed participants to enhance professional networks, engage in two-way learning, and improve cultural understanding. In the final session, participants shared what they learned from participating. “Explorers” discussed the meaningful information they learned toward their business creation, and “Business Connectors” shared how engaging with aspiring immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs opened their eyes to perspectives they had not previously known.
“Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation is proud to have partnered with Region Nine Development Commission and SE MN Together to bring funding to 10 outstanding organizations through our Inclusive Equitable Communities Grant. On September 12, a new round of applications will be considered,” Pam Bishop Vice President of Economic Development.
Next month, more information on the SMIF’s upcoming grant program as well as another example from HACER on how the IEC Grant Program has impacted the region!
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Region Nine Dashboard Is Now Live |
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Region Nine has launched a dashboard highlighting the region's Sustainable Development Goals.
To view your county's metrics, click the button below.
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Local Foods Week in the News! |
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Region Nine Growers' Network celebrated Local Foods Week on July 20-24. This week-long event partnered local farmers with restaurants to highlight dishes made with local produce and livestock.
The Amboy Cottage Café featured menu items with mushrooms from Rebel Rooster Farm in Good Thunder, MN. The Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm offered a Cuban pizza using Mangalitza pork from Blue Dirt farm in Blue Earth, MN.
Check out the news report from KEYC below!
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55th Anniversary of the Minnesota Human Rights Act |
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In 1967, Minnesota passed one of the strongest civil rights laws in the country, the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA).
The MHRA, enforced by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, public services, education, credit, and business based on protected class, such as: race, religion, disability, national origin, sex, marital status, familial status, age, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
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Mankato Leads the State in Employment Growth |
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The Minnesota unemployment rate is at an all-time low of 1.8%. The previous low was in early 1999 when unemployment was 2.5%. The United States unemployment rate has held steady at 3.6% for the last four months.
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Do You Travel to and from New Ulm for Work? NUBRIC Needs Your Input |
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The New Ulm Business Resource Innovation Center (NUBRIC) is collecting data on community interest in commuter bus service for individuals who travel to and from New Ulm for work. Input from employees and employers is critical as they plan, so please fill out the brief survey by clicking below. |
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$$ Grant Opportunities $$ |
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Request for Proposal: Commercial Tobacco Prevention and Control Program
The MN Department of Health (MDH) is requesting proposals to receive technical assistance and training to create changes to policies, systems, and environments to reduce commercial tobacco use and reduce secondhand smoke exposure.
The purpose of this proposal is to partner with and fund up to two organizations to create sustainable changes related to harmful commercial tobacco.
Deadline: August 10, 2022
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Child Care Economic Development Grants Now Open for Applications
The MN Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is seeking proposals from local governments or nonprofits with experience in the operations, financing, advocacy, or advancement of the delivery of child care services. Qualified parties may request up to $300,000 in state funds for this program.
Deadline: August 30, 2022
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Calendar of Events
August 10: RNDC Board of Directors Meeting
September 7: RNDC Board of Directors Meeting
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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 Region Nine on social media to stay up-to-date on events, news, and more! |
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