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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced finalists for the USDA Regional Food Business Centers (Regional Food Centers). Twelve organizations, including Region Five Development Commission (R5DC), have been selected as finalists to establish Regional Food Centers that will provide coordination, technical assistance, and capacity building to help farmers, ranchers, and other food businesses access new markets and navigate federal, state, and local resources, thereby closing the gaps to success. In September 2022, USDA announced $400 million available to fund this initiative. Pending an Administrative Review, USDA and R5DC will enter into a cooperative agreement to establish a North Central Regional Food Business Center, which will serve Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. “USDA looks forward to partnering with Region Five Development Commission on this innovative and unprecedented initiative,” said Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “By leveraging the expertise soon to be available through these Regional Food Centers, USDA can offer unique support for local food systems development across the country.” “This is an extremely exciting opportunity to build on multi-state assets, honor our environmental stewardship commitments and serve the agricultural economy with an intentional focus on underserved small to mid-sized food value-chain businesses,” shared R5DC Executive Director Cheryal Hills. “The group of partners who have come together to make this happen is a dream team, and we are grateful for this incredible investment to strengthen food businesses in the North Central US three-state region.” Collectively, the finalist organizations selected reflect an impressive cross-section of the varied institutions, organizations, and associations that must cooperate to achieve genuinely strong and distributed food systems. Region Five Development Commission and the other finalist organizations are already engaging with grassroots food and farm organizations and employing a range of creative strategies to build food system resiliency in their regions. In total, USDA will establish 12 Regional Food Business Centers that will serve all areas of the country. Regional Food Centers will target their work to historically underinvested communities in their region. More information is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service’s (AMS) Regional Food Business Centers webpage and on regionfive.org/rfbc.

Pictured in Photos from Left to Right: Top Left | Outstanding Business Partner of the Year Upsala Senior Living. R5DC Chairperson John Benson, Amy Jo Matros, Tim Matros, Deanna Thompson, Tracy LeBlanc, and Rollie Johnson, R5DC Commissioner and Mayor of Upsala. Top Right | R5DC Chair John Benson, Jason Polovick ,Outstanding Business Partner of the Year Central Todd County Care Center. Bottom Left | Exceptional Regional Partner of the Year Minnesota Farmers Union. Julie Anderholm, Small Business Development Center; Stu Lourey and Gary Wertish, Minnesota Farmers Union; Dave Endicott, Central Lakes College; Carol Anderson, Community Development of Morrison County, Mark Johnson, Central Lakes College; John Benson, Region Five Development Commission; Quinn Swanson, Happy Dancing Turtle. Bottom Right | Exceptional Service Provider of the Year Schlenner Wenner & Co. Ashley Meagher, R5DC Chairperson John Benson, Jon Archer, Riann Harpster, and Zach Scegura. Region Five Development Commission (R5DC) announced their 2022 Annual Award Winners and honored awardees at an event held at Roundhouse Brewery Union Station in Nisswa, MN on Thursday, December 9th. Music was provided by the Pillager Chamber Singers. R5DC selected Schlenner Wenner & Co as the recipient of the 2022 Exceptional Service Provider of the Year for exceptional services and authentic relationships that support R5DC’s mission. Minnesota Farmers Union was chosen as 2022 Exceptional Regional Partner of the Year for exhibiting real collaboration through the Mobile Meat Slaughtering project in partnership with multiple allies including Cass County, Community Development of Morrison County, Happy Dancing Turtle, Central Lakes College, the Small Business Development Center, Agriculture Utilization Research Institute, and the U.S. Economic Development Administration. In support of the agricultural economy, and alongside others, the North Central Economic Development Association (NCEDA), the private sector led lending arm of R5DC, assisted the Minnesota Farmers Union project with access to capital to make this important project a reality. Central Todd County Care Center and Upsala Senior Living were selected as 2022 Outstanding Business Partner of the Year. Central Todd County Care Center, located in Clarissa, Minnesota, Central Todd County Care Center Inc is a private non-profit corporation consisting of a 45 bed Skilled Nursing Facility with 16 Assisted living Apartments and eight Independent Senior Apartments. Upsala Senior Living is a 20-bed licensed assisted living community serving area residents with a newly constructed building, opening its doors, and welcoming their first residents in August 2022. R5DC recognizes the amazing work of all these organizations and strongly applauds them for their positive community impact. Commissioners David A. Anderson (10 years) and Rosemary Franzen (15 years) received R5DC service awards, along with Cory Pettit (5 years) with NCEDA. R5DC also released its Annual Report, highlighting regional impacts from fiscal year 2022. To review the report: visit regionfive.org/annual-report

Pictured left to right, representatives from Minnesota at NADO Conference: Jay Trusty, Southwest Regional Development Commission; Andrea Boettger, City of New Ulm, Dawn Hegland, Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission; Staci Headley, Region Five Development Commission; Myron Koets, City of Pipestone, Nicole Griensewic, Region Nine Development Commission; BJ Allen, Region Five Development Commission. WASHINGTON, DC – Region Five Development Commission (R5DC) based in Staples, Minnesota has received a 2022 Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) for Watershed Planning. Meeting facilitation, public engagement, and plan development coordinated by R5DC resulted in local, and subsequent state-level approval of multiple watershed plans. These plans will lead to millions of dollars of extraordinary investment in our region over the next 10 years that will protect surface and groundwater, enhance wetlands, protect fish and wildlife habitat and recreation, and prioritize buffer zones. NADO is a Washington, DC-based membership association of regional development organizations that promotes programs and policies that strengthen local governments, communities, and economies through regional cooperation, program delivery, and comprehensive strategies. The Impact Awards program recognizes regional development organizations and their partners for improving the economic and community competitiveness of our nation’s regions and local communities. Award-winning projects were recognized during NADO’s 2022 Annual Training Conference, held in Pittsburgh, PA on October 15-18. The 2022 class of award recipients consists of 107 projects from 71 organizations spanning 28 states. These projects are presented in an interactive “Story Map” developed by NADO that includes project summaries, partners, and images. The Story Map is available online at: https://tinyurl.com/38vbcczu “Regional development organizations and their partners have played an integral role in supporting local communities during this important time of economic recovery,” said 2021-2022 NADO President Misty Crosby, former executive director of the Buckeye Hills Regional Council, located in Marietta, OH. “This year’s Impact Awards recipients demonstrate the many ways our member organizations serve their communities by promoting economic development, fostering resilience, and improving quality of life for residents.” The NADO Impact Awards are presented in honor of the late Aliceann Wohlbruck who was NADO’s first executive director and served 24 years as a tireless champion for regional approaches to economic development in rural communities. For more information about this award-winning project, contact Angela Anderson, (218) 894-3233, aanderson@regionfive.org. ### Since 1967 the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) has provided advocacy, education, networking, and research for the national network of 540 regional development organizations. NADO members provide professional, programmatic, and technical assistance to over 2,300 counties and 15,000 municipalities.

LITTLE FALLS, MN – Sprout received a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to work with Veterans who are interested in agriculture and want to learn more. Sprout, in partnership with Region Five Development Commission (R5DC), will offer Veterans in the region opportunities to explore agricultural careers with hands-on learning opportunities through apprenticeships, fellowships, and cohort peer-to-peer learning. These opportunities are fully funded by the AgVet grant, funded by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and will be delivered in conjunction with local colleges to provide Veterans career curriculum and development certifications, and technical assistance programming as many of our Veterans embark on agricultural career exploration and transitions. "The community partners engaged in the development of this programming continue to provide programs and services to our Veterans as part of the core commitment to serving those who have served all of us. We are excited to be part of this grant and work with other organizations to make these partnerships successful,” shared Arlene Jones, Executive Director of Sprout. This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans Program, project 1029231 and will be implemented over a three-year period. Learn more about the program at: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/enhancing-agricultural-opportunities-military-veterans-agvets About Sprout Sprout is a nonprofit food hub with a vision of a flourishing food system powered by those who honor creativity, embrace community and ingrain sustainability through amplification of programming, leveraging community capital, and prioritizing the long-term sustainability of the regional food system." About Region Five Development Commission Region Five Development Commission (R5DC) is a high-performing, regionally focused partner providing community development, economic development, and transportation initiatives in central Minnesota. R5DC programs are strategic and resilient in nature, and contain an inclusive and collaborative approach, with an emphasis on local foods/agricultural and renewable energy economy. R5DC is an equal opportunity employer, lender, and provider. Learn more at regionfive.org.

STAPLES, MN – Region Five Development Commission (R5DC) is currently seeking projects to include as projects in their Comprehensive Regional Economic Development Strategy (CREDS). The project submissions will be prioritized by a group of diverse regional leaders from the private, public & non-profit sectors. The committee will select projects with regional significance that create economic vitality, environmental stewardship, and quality of life. There are up to $5,000 dollars available to be rewarded to selected projects with a minimum of five projects to be chosen for funding. Projects listed in the CREDS document allows access to U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) funding as well as other federal grant programs. Being listed in this document shows alignment to a regional plan which is favorable to most Federal, State or Local funding agencies. Projects will be shared with multiple funding agencies to encourage these partners to invest in projects meeting regional goals. Projects and ideas are accepted until October 31, 2022. To submit an application, please go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2022VitalProjects. The R5DC Comprehensive Regional Economic Development Strategy Committee (CREDS) meets in November to review and prioritize projects, followed by a 30-day comment period. Please contact Staci Headley at sheadley@regionfive.org or (218) 894-3233 for details. To learn more about the 2022-2026 CREDS for Region 5, visit regionfive.org/creds or eda.gov/ceds for general information regarding this program from EDA.

Staples, MN –The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the 12 members of the newly established Equity Commission Subcommittee on Rural Community Economic Development (RCED), which includes Cheryal Hills, who currently serves as the Executive Director of Region Five Development Commission (R5DC). Hills was selected from over 500 applicants, with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack appointing 12 individuals to serve on the USDA Equity Commission (EC) RCED Subcommittee. RCED Subcommittee members include representatives of community-based organizations, lending institutions, small business or cooperatives, tribal entities, and two members from the Equity Commission. To read the full press release from USDA, visit: https://bit.ly/3Ailrn3 Hills shared, “I am deeply honored to accept this appointment and committed to building equitable economic ecosystems that honor environmental stewardship and embrace underserved populations in rural communities. I appreciate that I still have much to learn and can benefit from diverse guidance. Please feel welcome to share ideas as to how USDA could make services more inclusive and accessible and how USDA could encourage the same from organizations who deliver services through federal investments.” The RCED Subcommittee will work with the Equity Commission and its Agriculture Subcommittee to provide recommendations to the Secretary that specifically address issues and concerns to rural development, persistent poverty and underserved communities. To learn more, visit usda.gov. Cheryal Hills can be reached via email at chills@regionfive.org or by phone at (218) 296-5200. About Region Five Development Commission The Region Five Development Commission is a high-performing, regionally focused partner committed to enhancing the vitality and quality of life in Region 5 through resilient, collaborative, and inclusive approach to regional community development, economic development, and transportation initiatives. R5DC is an equal opportunity provider, lender, and employer.

Region Five Development Commission received a grant from the Northwest Area Foundation to work with 6 communities within the five-county region. This led to the formation of the Welcoming Community Advocacy Groups, who met every quarter, spending 1 ½ years together, to talk about ways to help create welcoming spaces, processes, and initiatives within themselves, the organizations they serve, and the communities they live in. Each community was given a $10,000 grant to produce a project or program that would exemplify how the community is creating a welcoming place. Harmony Park was the project that the Long Prairie Welcoming Advocacy Group chose. This proved to be an ideal project because it paved the way for the Long Prairie Group to promote “harmony” within our diverse community, to be in “harmony” with nature and the environment, and to encourage “harmony by” integrating the elements of health and wellness in the lives of the residents of the community. HARMONY PARK: A GATHERING PLACE FOR LONG PRAIRIE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS In the initial planning process, the group looked for a project that would establish a gathering place for Long Prairie residents and visitors. It did not have to look very far. Harmony Park has always been there - it just needed a “new look”. Its location in the center of the town boasted of good accessibility, with off-street parking available. A pond and a walking path connect to a bike trail and are adjacent to the community gardens. An earlier mosaic art project involving students was done at the park years ago and it is currently a gathering place for soccer games - very near the high school football field and track so people are familiar with the location. The goal was to better utilize the existing park with improved desirability for use by all age groups. Fifty new trees and shrubs have been planted to beautify the environment. A pavilion (shelter) will be built before the summer ends, and picnic tables will be added to allow for social interaction. In the future, “kid-friendly” games and activities to encourage physical exercise will be supplied, and a free library will be offered to inspire intellectual activity. HARMONY PARK: A GREAT LOCATION FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS AND GATHERINGS Local planners, suppliers, contractors, and community volunteers have come together to create a sense of “ownership” of the project. The expertise of a local arborist, botanist, and naturalist has also been adopted to illustrate the fact that the project is FOR the people of Long Prairie, and BY the people of Long Prairie. Opportunities have also been made available for the community to make donations towards the project in general, which includes purchasing trees, shrubs, and other plants and assisting with the cost of the pavilion and picnic benches. This financial support will enhance the beauty of Harmony Park for the people. So far donations of nearly $5200 have been received from local organizations and individuals. The Group hopes that additional donations of around $2000 will be forthcoming when progress at the site becomes evident. Dawn Espe, R5DC & NCEDA Equitable Development Specialist, hopes that Harmony Park will emerge as a gathering place for community members where children can play and exercise and adults can walk, relax and socialize and all members of our diverse community will feel welcome. “Looking forward, we have visions of the park being a future location for concerts, sporting events, and other community gatherings. We also hope that as residents see the progress made on this project, it will inspire future community improvement projects that enhance the quality of life in Long Prairie”, Dawn says.

Pictured left to right: Jamie McCormick, Mirielle Burgoyne, NADO Staff; Cheryal Lee Hills, R5DC, and Levon Johnson, Mr. Levon Johnson, President and CEO, Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce. Cheryal Lee Hills, Executive Director of Region Five Development Commission (R5DC) and representative of the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO), testified before Congress on Wednesday May 11, 2022. The U.S. House Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth hosted the hearing, “Bringing Prosperity to Left-Behind Communities: Using Targeted Place-based Development to Expand Economic Opportunity.” Select Committee Members and policy experts had an opportunity to examine how wealth disparities in local economies have increased – including in rural towns, industrial centers, and urban neighborhoods– and how targeted, place-based initiatives can restore local economies and bring jobs to economically vulnerable regions. As a federally recognized Economic Development District, R5DC develops and maintains the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the region. CEDS is an intentional equitable economic pathway designed by diverse voices. “It is imperative to invest in local practitioners who emphasize equity and inclusion in their approaches to community development. We measure success of projects and programs based on improved livelihoods and ownership for those living on the margins of our economy,” Hills testified during the hearing on local economic development. “In her testimony, Cheryal Lee Hills not only represented the needs of her region; she also represented the needs and interests of hundreds of other NADO members across the country. Cheryal was the perfect person to speak about how federal funding and programs can be better targeted to benefit rural and underserved communities in more equitable and impactful ways,” said Joe McKinney, Executive Director of NADO. This hearing explored targeted, place-based policies to restore local economies & uplift underserved communities. To watch the hearing, please visit: https://youtu.be/TPhUlO7n2m0 About Region Five Development Commission Region Five Development Commission (R5DC) is a high-performing, regionally focused partner providing community development, economic development, and transportation initiatives in central Minnesota. R5DC programs are strategic and resilient in nature, and contain an inclusive and collaborative approach, with an emphasis on local foods/agricultural and renewable energy economy. Visit regionfive.org/about to learn more. About NADO The National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) is a 501c4 membership association that represents the interests of regional community development and economic development practitioners. Established in 1967, NADO advocates for federal policies and programs that promote equitable community development, economic competitiveness, rural development, economic mobility, and quality of place. NADO represents a national network of more than 500 Regional Development Organizations (RDOs) across the country.

Region Five Development Commission (R5DC) is soliciting Request for Proposals (RFP) from construction firms to partner with a contractor to complete building improvements for the SHED Accelerator project located at Brainerd Annex building located at 213 South 5th Street in Brainerd. The deadline for responses is 4:30 p.m. CST on April 4, 2022. Interested parties are urged to review the full eligibility criteria and RFP details at regionfive.org/rfp. Any questions about the request for proposals process should be directed to Staci Headley at (218) 894-6010 or via email at sheadley@regionfive.org.

Region Five Development Commission (R5DC) announces 2022 Board of Directors and incoming members. R5DC Directors include Chair - John Benson, Cass County Town Boards; Vice Chair – Jon Lubke, Crow Wing County Municipalities; Secretary - Julie Polak, Todd County Town Boards; Treasurer - Greg Blaine, Morrison County Commissioner; Directors - David A. Anderson, Wadena County Municipalities; Andrea Haverinen, Region 5 School Board Representative; Bob Kangas, Cass County Commissioner. The Commission’s newest representatives are Dr. Carrie Brimhall, Higher Education Representative; Annie McMurrin, Cass County Municipalities. R5DC is grateful to Alex Weego and Doug Kern for their service to the R5DC Board of Directors and to the following individuals for their service on the Commission: Chet Bodin, Workforce Development Representative; Kevin Egan, Cass County Municipalities; Randy Finn, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe; Tami Klucas, Camp Ripley Representative. Executive Director Cheryal Lee Hills shared, “We are fortunate to work for elected officials and leaders of public interest groups who continually seek regional cooperation and efficiencies in ways that improve our rural quality of life.” The work of the R5DC is guided by a governing commission that consists of 24 members representing a cross-section of constituents from around the five-county region. For a full listing of Commission representatives visit regionfive.org/about.

Region Five Development Commission (R5DC) announces their 2021 Annual Award Winners and honors awardees at an event held at Timbers Restaurant and Event Center in Staples, MN on Thursday, December 9th. Music was provided by the Pillager Chamber Singers. R5DC selected Department of Public Transformation and Voices for Rural Resilience as the recipient of the 2021 Exceptional Service Provider of the Year for their artist-rendered story-telling work highlighting changemakers in the region. The five county Soil and Water Conservation Districts were chosen as 2021 Exceptional Regional Partner of the Year: Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena Soil and Water Conservation Districts for their environmental stewardship across the region. Five Rocks Distilling Co. and Brainerd Family YMCA were selected as 2021 Outstanding Business Partner of the Year. Five Rocks Distilling Co. launched their Brainerd business during the pandemic and recognizing community need, they switched gears to provide hand sanitizer in bulk quantities. The Brainerd Family YMCA went above and beyond with free childcare for frontline workers and offering meals to families to reduce food insecurity. R5DC recognizes the amazing work of all these organizations and strongly applauds them for their positive community impact. R5DC also released its Five-Year Report, highlighting regional impacts from 2017-2021. To review the report: visit regionfive.org/five-year-report About Region Five Development Commission Region Five Development Commission (R5DC) is a high-performing, regionally focused partner providing community development, economic development and transportation initiatives in central Minnesota. R5DC programs are strategic and resilient in nature, and contain an inclusive and collaborative approach, with an emphasis on local foods/agricultural and renewable energy economy. Visit regionfive.org/about to learn more.

Region Five Development Commission (R5DC) is seeking to host two individuals for these unique opportunities: Native Culinary Artist-in-Residency (NCAIR) and JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) Fellowship. The Native Culinary Artist-in-Residency is set to begin in May 2022 and extends through January 2023. The NCAIR program is designed to offer an Indigenous culinary artist an experience that provides the time, resources, tools, and space to expand their cooking artistry and to share their cooking passion with rural restaurants in Central Minnesota, and through workshops and special programs to community. Special events and other opportunities to present work will be co-designed with the awarded artist. The JEDI Fellow will participate in a variety of activities to gain broad experience in local and regional justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion issues and opportunities. This fellowship experience includes working with private, public, and non-profit organizations and gives a better understanding of local government. The fellowship timeframe is from May 2022 to April 2023. These positions are funded by a grant from Northwest Area Foundation and seek to expand cultural awareness. To learn more and apply, visit regionfive.org/careers or contact Dawn Espe, Equitable Development Specialist, at despe@regionfive.org or by phone at (218) 894-6013. Applications for both positions will be accepted until 5:00pm on Wednesday, March 15, 2022. About Region Five Development Commission Region Five Development Commission (R5DC) is a high-performing, regionally focused partner providing community development, economic development, and transportation initiatives in central Minnesota. R5DC programs are strategic and resilient in nature, and contain an inclusive and collaborative approach, with an emphasis on local foods/agricultural and renewable energy economy. About Northwest Area Foundation Established in 1934, the Northwest Area Foundation supports grantees across its region of eight states and 76 Native nations who use their wisdom, passion, and expertise to advance social, economic, and racial justice.