Delegation from Aachen Germany Tours Mankato and New Ulm

On September 19, 2024, RNDC hosted a delegation from Aachen, Germany. The group visited the region to learn more about the area, engage with local County Commissioners and stakeholders, and exchange ideas.

The delegation included Aachen County Commissioner Dr. Tim Grüttemeir, Cyros Clermont, Personal Speaker of Aachen, Frank Leisten, Head of Inward Investment at AGIT mbH Aachen, and Sven Pennings, Managing Director of AGIT mbH Aachen. Their interest in forming a partnership with Region Nine stems from shared strengths in agriculture, manufacturing, higher education, aviation, and similar natural features.

“It’s important for us to have partners in America because we believe in bringing together public entities to learn from one another,” said Dr. Grüttemeir.

The delegation's first stop was the historic Turner Hall in New Ulm, where RNDC Vice Chair and New Ulm City Council President Andrea Boettger welcomed them. Following introductions, RNDC Executive Director Nicole Griensewic highlighted RNDC’s role in advocating for rural communities. “When we talk about equity, we mean it in a broad sense. Equity includes small towns, and we are dedicated to working with our communities to bring federal funding to our region,” Griensewic said.

The day’s discussions began with RNDC and Brown County Commissioner Dave Borchert leading a conversation on flood mitigation and recovery. Flooding has posed significant challenges for both Region Nine and Aachen in recent years. South Central Minnesota is still recovering from severe flooding this past June, while Aachen faced a devastating flood in 2021. Dr. Grüttemeir shared insights from Aachen’s recovery efforts, noting gaps in their flood mitigation strategy and communication notification systems. Although they have a flood prediction system, it only provides reliable forecasts within 48 hours.

Borchert emphasized that fostering early connections with international and regional partners is crucial for disaster preparedness. “We don’t want to be exchanging business cards during a crisis. We want these partnerships in place beforehand,” he said.

Borchert then led the delegation on a tour of New Ulm’s berm along the Minnesota River, which stands as the city’s largest flood protection initiative, safeguarding areas up to 814 feet above sea level and protecting 44 homes.

Next, the group visited Schell’s Brewery, where President Ted Marti welcomed them to the United State's second-oldest family-owned brewery. During the visit, the conversation shifted to workforce challenges and the regional economy.

Kristian Braekkan, RNDC’s Economic Development Director, commented on the discussion, saying, “Our region has been somewhat slower than other parts of the state in transitioning to a knowledge-based economy. It was insightful to hear our German partners emphasize the role of higher education in economic development.”

The focus on workforce and manufacturing continued at RISE Building Products in Mankato, where Vice President of Manufacturing, Kevin Line, led a tour of their facility. RISE manufactures building materials using 94% recycled content, such as carpets, diverting substantial amounts of waste from landfills. Line shared his passion for merging business with sustainability.

The conversation shifted to higher education as the group traveled to Minnesota State University, Mankato (MSU). MSU Vice President of Student Success and Engagement, Travis Thul, joined the delegation on the bus, guiding a tour of the campus and providing an overview of the university’s leadership in technology. Thul noted that this year, MSU saw its highest enrollment since 2016, with over 15,000 students.

The visit concluded at the Mankato Regional Airport, where Jerry Redman, Vice President of North Star Aviation, discussed the airport’s partnership with the university. “North Star Aviation serves as the fixed-base operator for Mankato and provides flight training for university students. With fall enrollment, we now handle an average of 250 flights a day,” Redman explained.

This visit provided a valuable opportunity for South Central Minnesota and Aachen to learn from each other while strengthening relationships and exploring ways the two regions can collaborate in building vibrant and resilient communities.

Jessica Beyer Named Deputy Director

Jessica Beyer has been named Deputy Director of RNDC. Jessica joins RNDC with a wealth of experience working with organizations throughout Region Nine.

Jessica has more than twenty years of leadership experience in multiple sectors including nonprofit leadership, government administration, community development, marketing/communications, and sales. Prior to joining RNDC, she served as President & Chief Executive Officer of Greater Mankato Growth, Inc. In this role, she led chamber and regional economic development efforts and oversaw business units that also included Visit Mankato, City Center Partnership, and GreenSeam. Additionally, she has more than a decade of local government experience serving in Blue Earth County and most recently as County Administrator for Waseca County. 

Greater Mankato has been her home for the majority of her life, and she has been active in the community volunteering, and serving on several boards and committees, in addition to being an engaged leader at the regional, state, and national levels. 

In her role as Deputy Director, Jessica will facilitate public engagement, conduct project and program design and implementation, secure funding through grant writing and reporting, and oversee daily operations.

Jessica said, “I’m excited to join the RNDC team and further the organization’s work in leveraging regional resources, fostering collaboration, and supporting progress across the nine-county region. This role will allow me to carry forward my passion for serving our area communities and to utilize my unique background in local government, economic development, business support, and community engagement.”

RNDC Executive Director Nicole Griensewic said, “Jessica brings fabulous experience to our talented team. Her deep understanding of chambers of commerce and county administration will only strengthen our ability to collaborate with our units of governments and other regional partners effectively and efficiently. She brings great enthusiasm and positivity to our organization’s work. I am ecstatic to have her serve as RNDC’s first Deputy Director, as we continue to expand our programs to meet the communities’ needs.”

American Connection Corp Member Giselle Lo and GreenCorps Member Lisa Callahan Join RNDC

RNDC is excited to introduce two new additions to the team this month! Giselle Lo joins as an American Connection Corps (ACC) Fellow, and Lisa Callahan comes on board as a GreenCorps Member.

Giselle Lo, a recent graduate of Bethel University with degrees in Political Science and Business with an emphasis on finance, will be working on broadband initiatives across our region. Her focus will be on developing strategies to plan, implement, and expand broadband access, an essential component for strengthening our rural communities.

"I’m eager to connect with local communities and learn more about their specific broadband needs," Giselle shares. Her dedication to community service made the ACC a perfect fit, and she’s driven by the mission of addressing the critical issue of unreliable internet access in underserved areas. "Without high-speed internet, so many households face barriers to workplace productivity, interactive learning, and even quality healthcare," she adds.

Lisa Callahan brings a wealth of experience from the investment banking and renewable energy sectors, with a passion for circular economy practices. Now, as a GreenCorps Member, she’s eager to delve deeper into the non-profit and governmental arenas, applying her expertise to benefit the region. At RNDC, Lisa will focus on community outreach and evaluating local readiness for climate-smart initiatives.

“My career started in equity research, covering energy technologies, and it evolved into leading Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives. I’m passionate about using financial strategies to drive positive environmental and social impacts,” says Lisa.

RNDC is thrilled to have both Giselle and Lisa on board and looks forward to the positive impact they’ll bring to Region Nine.

RNDC Staff Attends MADO's All Staff Retreat

Earlier this month, RNDC staff attended the Minnesota Association of Development Organizations (MADO) All Staff Retreat held from October 2-4, 2024, in St. Cloud, MN. This retreat serves as a valuable opportunity for regional development organizations across Minnesota to connect, learn, and share strategies to support their communities.

A Collaborative and Insightful Experience

The retreat kicked off with an engaging opening plenary session, where RNDC staff participated in a “speed dating” event, sharing unique projects happening across the state. It was a chance to see how other RDOs are innovating to meet their community’s needs—whether through economic development, infrastructure improvements, or creative community engagement initiatives.

RNDC staff also participated in various Conversation Cafés, which were designed to facilitate in-depth, meaningful dialogue on topics ranging from housing and financial reporting to leadership development and employee engagement. The informal yet structured format encouraged participants to exchange ideas and strategies that could be applied back at their respective RDOs.

Some standout sessions included:

Gimme Shelter!: Tackling the critical issue of housing shortages, this session encouraged staff to share actionable solutions for their communities, focusing on both short-term fixes and long-term strategies.

Move Your Leadership Forward: This session provided a reflective exercise that guided participants through an exploration of their personal leadership styles and priorities, offering insights into how to develop their leadership moving forward.

Telling Your Story: RNDC staff participated in crafting and refining their 30-second elevator speeches to better communicate the value and impact of the organization’s work to various audiences.

Learning from Peers and Experts

Day two focused heavily on emerging tools and techniques that RDOs can use to drive community development forward. Sessions on Artificial Intelligence and Solving the Data Puzzle provided insight into the latest technologies that can help RDOs make data-driven decisions. Tools like workforce analysis and demographic data were highlighted as essential to making informed, strategic recommendations for local development without overwhelming stakeholders with technical jargon.

Breakout sessions that followed offered practical skills training in areas such as meeting facilitation, public engagement, and best practices for social media. The exchange of ideas in these sessions allowed RNDC staff to return with new tactics to increase effectiveness in daily operations and community outreach.

A Focus on Wellness and Team Building

In addition to professional development, the retreat also emphasized team cohesion. The agenda included active breaks that included peer group gatherings in the afternoon to discuss specialized topics like transportation, finance, energy, and climate issues. These moments of reflection were balanced with intense learning, ensuring staff left the retreat both rejuvenated and inspired.

RNDC participates in the MADO All Staff Retreat as a way to strengthen connections with fellow regional development organizations and bring back new ideas that support the organization's work in South Central Minnesota.

County Profiles are Available on the RNDC Website

You can now explore profiles for all Region Nine counties on our website, www.RNDC.org. These profiles offer a quick overview of each county’s population, labor force, housing, and health equity.

To find them, just head to the "About the Region" section and select the county you're interested in. You’ll also find direct links to the profiles below.

Each county page also includes Census Tract Reference Maps for a deeper look at the data.

• Blue Earth County
• Brown County
• Faribault County
• Le Sueur County
• Martin County
• Nicollet County
• Sibley County
• Waseca County
• Watonwan County

Updated MnDOT Funding for Fall 2024

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has released several funding opportunities for Fall 2024. These include:

• Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP): Supports infrastructure like sidewalks, trails, and ADA-compliant facilities. Requires at least 20% local match. Letters of intent (LOIs) are due in October 2024, with applications in January 2025. Apply HERE.

• Active Transportation Infrastructure (AT): Focuses on improving safety and mobility for non-drivers. No local match is required. LOIs are due by October 18, 2024, with applications due by January 17, 2025. Apply HERE.

• Safe Routes to School Infrastructure (SRTS): Aims to enhance walking and biking routes for schoolchildren. Also requires no local match. LOIs are due by October 18, 2024, with applications due by January 17, 2025. Apply HERE.

• Additional Planning Grants, Design Assistance, and Boost Grants for Safe Routes to School are available. Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) and Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) grants are also available. Planning, Design, and Boost Grant applications are due January 17, 2025.

Contact Transportation Planner Joel Hanif at joel@rndc.org for more information and assistance in applying for these solicitations.

Planning Grants Available for Stormwater, Wastewater, and Community Resilience

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is offering $750,000 in grant funding to support climate-planning projects for communities throughout the state. This funding will assist communities in assessing vulnerabilities and preparing for the impacts of climate change in three key areas:

• Enhancing stormwater resilience and reducing localized flood risks.
• Strengthening the resilience of wastewater systems.
• Mitigating public health effects and adapting community services, ordinances, and public spaces.

Eligible applicants include tribal nations, cities, counties, towns/townships, soil and water conservation districts, water management organizations, and water districts. Applications must be submitted by 4 p.m. on Thursday, November 14, 2024.

Questions regarding this grant can be submitted to grants.pca@state.mn.us with the subject line “FY 25 Planning Grants for SWC Resilience” by Thursday, November 7, 2024, at 4 p.m.