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City of Hackensack invites the public to an informational meeting on Tuesday December 8th at 6:00 p.m. The results from the community survey will be shared and this meeting will be held remotely via Zoom. Please join via this link https://zoom.us/j/96502248882 with password 5555. The survey results will be used by the local planning team to develop goals and aspirations to guide future planning efforts for the Comprehensive Plan Update, facilitated by Region Five Development Commission. Comprehensive planning is an important tool for cities to guide future development of land to ensure a safe, pleasant, and economical environment for residential, commercial, industrial, and public activities. For updates and details about the City of Hackensack’s Comprehensive Plan process, including the project’s timeline, ways to participate, and survey link, visit www.regionfive.org/hackensack You may also contact Tad Erickson at terickson@regionfive.org or by phone at (218) 894.6012 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.

A free series of virtual forums, Minnesota’s Road to Volunteer Drivers, begins this month to share information and support for volunteer drivers in Minnesota. Volunteer drivers are a critical resource in meeting the transportation needs of many Minnesotans without other practical options. This virtual forum series is convened and sponsored by the Minnesota Council on Transportation Access in partnership with the Minnesota Volunteer Driver Coalition and will bring together volunteer driver program administrators, volunteer drivers, riders, funders, transportation policy advocates, and transportation stakeholders. All Minnesota’s Road to Volunteer Drivers’ forums are offered at no cost via Zoom. Registration is required and you need to only register once to attend all the forums. Detailed information on each session will also be posted several weeks in prior to the forum. · November 18, 2020: Current State and a Look into the Future of Volunteer Drivers · December 9, 2020: Policy Issues and Real Life Stories · January 20, 2021: Volunteer Driver Recruitment and Promotion · February 17, 2021: How to Start a Volunteer Driver Program · March 17, 2021: Person-centered Practices & Disability Etiquette for Volunteer Drivers and Cultural Diversity & Equity Training · April 21, 2021: Trauma-informed Care Training and Providing Community Education About People Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing · May 19, 2021: Best Practices for Volunteer Driver Programs — Safety, Security, Crisis, Medical, Passenger, Resiliency & Boundary Issues The forums include closed captioning, ASL interpretation, and will be recorded for future access. Region Five Development Commission is the facilitator for the Regional Transportation Coordinating Council in Region 5, working in partnership with MCOTA. If you have questions or need a place to access the internet to participate in this training, please contact Matt Kallroos at (763) 486-8637 or mkallroos@regionfive.org. Questions about this virtual form can also be directed to Arlene Mathison at (612) 624-3646 or mathi032@umn.edu. About MCOTA The Minnesota Council on Transportation Access (MCOTA) was established by the Minnesota Legislature in 2010 to "study, evaluate, oversee, and make recommendations to improve the coordination, availability, accessibility, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and safety of transportation services provided to the transit public." About R5DC Region Five Development Commission is a high-performing, regionally focused partner committed to enhancing the vitality and quality of life in Cass, Crow Wing, Todd, Morrison and Wadena counties, through resilient, inclusive, and collaborative approaches to community development, economic development, and transportation initiatives. ###

WASHINGTON, DC – Region Five Development Commission (R5DC), based in Staples, MN has received a 2020 Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) for the RxCSA/VetCSA Program. This innovative RxCSA/VetCSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Program targets areas of geographically dispersed veterans and their families, people who are working to increase adaptation and lifestyle capacity while living with mental illness, and those who are recovering from opioid or other drug addictions to provide CSA shares of locally grown food, cooking demonstrations, and nutrition education. “There has never been a project like this in our nation,” according to Staci Headley, senior regional development planner at R5DC. “This project is innovative and unique because of the approach to deliver services to people - taking into consideration their unique needs. It brings people together through the common denominator of food and uses food as medicine to improve quality of life and overall health and wellness, while also supporting our local growers. We have seen our CSA programs deliver amazing results, while our team continues to seek ways to deliver this project to a multitude of people with different needs simultaneously to create efficiencies and greater impact.” NADO is a Washington, DC-based membership association of regional development organizations that promote programs and policies that strengthen local governments, communities, and economies through regional cooperation, program delivery, and comprehensive strategies. The association’s 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 virtual 2020 Annual Training Conference, held online October 20-22. The 2020 class of award recipients consists of 79 projects from 48 organizations spanning 19 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://www.nado.org/impactawards/. “Our annual Impact Awards program is an opportunity to highlight the important work our members do every single day to serve their local communities,” said 2019-2020 NADO President Kevin Byrd, executive director of the New River Valley Regional Commission, located in Radford, VA. “These projects show the best that regional development organizations have to offer and are a real testament to the value they add to their regions.” 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 Staci Headley at 218-831-0137 or via email at sheadley@regionfive.org. About NADO 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. About R5DC The Region Five Development Commission is a high-performing, regionally-focused partner committed to helping their region respond to this unprecedented challenge by implementing strategies that expand the focus within regional economic development and local Comprehensive Plans to include pandemic response strategies, as well as diversifying technical assistance and other opportunities offered to small businesses, with an emphasis on local foods/agricultural and renewable energy economy.

HACKENSACK, MN – The City of Hackensack requests public input on a community survey. This will help create community-developed goals and aspirations to guide future planning efforts for the Comprehensive Plan Update. Comprehensive planning is an important tool for cities to guide future development of land to ensure a safe, pleasant, and economical environment for residential, commercial, industrial, and public activities. If you live, work, play or visit in Hackensack, we ask that you please complete the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HWXTHGM For updates and details about the City of Hackensack’s Comprehensive Plan process, including the project’s timeline, ways to participate, and survey link, visit www.regionfive.org/hackensack You may also contact Tad Erickson at terickson@regionfive.org or by phone at (218) 894.6012 About Region Five Development Commission The Region Five Development Commission is a high-performing, regionally-focused partner committed to helping their region respond to this unprecedented challenge by implementing strategies that expand the focus within regional economic development and local Comprehensive Plans to include pandemic response strategies, as well as diversifying technical assistance and other opportunities offered to small businesses, with an emphasis on local foods/agricultural and renewable energy economy.

Region Five Development Commission is hosting a Regional Military & Veteran Exchange (RMVE) event with a physical fitness focus. The virtual event will be held online October 14th from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Learn more and register for the event at: https://rmve.eventbrite.com. At the time of the event, you may join the webinar portion at https://connect.apan.org/mnbhmc/. Audio portion of the event must be joined by calling (425) 436-6200 ext 727-017. The goal of the RMVE is to connect existing resources to enhance collaborations in the military connected community. The RMVE is a result of partnerships of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Minnesota National Guard, Minnesota Military & Veteran Exchange, Building Healthy Military Communities, Regional Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, and Region Five Development Commission. If you are interested in learning more about this event or our other military connected programs, please contact Staci Headley at sheadley@regionfive.org or (218) 831-0137. About R5DC 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. Learn more at regionfive.org.

Region Five Development Commission will receive a $1.6 million EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to capitalize and administer Revolving Loan Funds (RLFs) that will provide critical gap financing to small businesses and entrepreneurs adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic in Crow Wing, Cass, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena counties. “These investments come at a crucial time to help Minnesota’s and our nation’s economy come roaring back and provide hard-working Americans with new opportunities,” said Dana Gartzke, Performing the Delegated Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “Small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities, and EDA is pleased to invest these CARES Act funds so that Minnesota businesses have access to capital to respond to and recover from the coronavirus pandemic.” These current EDA RLF grantees are some of the more than 850 existing, high-performing EDA RLF, Economic Development District, University Center, and Tribal grant recipients invited to apply for supplemental funding under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act, signed into law by President Donald J. Trump, provides EDA with $1.5 billion for economic development assistance programs to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic. EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance, which is being administered under the authority of the bureau’s flexible Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) (PDF) program, provides a wide-range of financial assistance to eligible communities and regions as they respond to and recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. For complete information, please visit our recently updated EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance page. About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov) The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth. 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. Learn more at regionfive.org.

Region Five Development Commission (R5DC) is currently seeking 10 projects to include as Vital 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. Vital 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. Vital Projects and ideas are accepted until August 30, 2020. To submit an application, please go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Vitalprojects2020. The R5DC Comprehensive Regional Economic Development Strategy Committee (CREDS) meets in October 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 2016-2021 CREDS, visit www.eda.gov/ceds or www.regionfive.org/creds. 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. Learn more at regionfive.org.

Region Five Development Commission (R5DC) welcomes the addition of Erica Bjelland. Bjelland joins R5DC as a regional development planner, after working for several years at Rural Renewable Energy Alliance (RREAL) in Backus, MN. She is responsible for facilitating community development and economic development projects, with an emphasis on program implementation focused on energy, environment, and pandemic planning. Erica assists local units of government and businesses with various other planning and ensures that diversity, equity, and inclusion practices are incorporated into existing and new policies, rules, programs, and proposals. Bjelland holds bachelor’s degrees in Environmental Policy and Global Studies from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN and currently serves on the 100 Rural Women board and Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) regional steering committee. 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. Learn more at regionfive.org.

Pictured in photo (left to right): Nicole Bjerke (CentraCare), Rick Utech (Todd Co EDA), Lu Brunkhorst (Long Prairie Chamber) and Mayor Jodi Dixon (Long Prairie Senior Center) Region Five Development Commission (R5DC) announces the selection of the community of Long Prairie as a member of their Welcoming Communities Project. This is a community-led project that exemplifies goals that bridge cultures, funded by a grant from the Northwest Area Foundation. The Long Prairie community has formed a Welcoming Community Advocacy Group, made up of students, educators, residents, elected officials, nonprofit and community leaders. The Welcoming Communities program is focused on workforce attraction and expanding cultural agility for individuals, organizations, and communities. If you would like to become involved in this Long Prairie community initiative, please contact Mayor Jodi Dixon at 320.732.2167 or via email at jodidixon8470@gmail.com. Contact Dawn Espe at despe@regionfive.orgor 218-894-3233 if you are interested in learning more about participating in this program

Region Five Development Commission (R5DC) was awarded $45,700 in 2019 Innovation Funding from Sourcewell for R5DC’s Regional Yellow Ribbon Program. This comprehensive program creates awareness for the purpose of connecting service members, veterans and their families with community. It is designed to create efficiencies within the region by synchronizing community, county and company resources between and within the five-county region. At the monthly Regional Yellow Ribbon meeting held in January, the City of Menahga was presented with a check for $10,000 to use towards the veteran’s section addition of Menahga City Cemetery. Sourcewell Manager of Community Solutions Anna Gruber said the Innovation Funding program was created in 2014 to help public agencies in Region 5 fund initiatives aimed at producing collaboration and improving the region. The annual program promotes outside-the-box teamwork on projects that might not otherwise come to fruition. “Through the Innovation Funding process, Sourcewell is able to give back to our communities in ways beyond our imagination,” Gruber said. “We’ve seen projects like a regional food cooperative, WIFI on public transportation, and a region-wide mental health initiative come to life. It’s a wonderful way to collaborate with organizations throughout our region to do great things.” Since 2014-15, local government, schools, and nonprofits across the Sourcewell region have used more than $10 million through the Innovation Funding program to boost student and community success. The 2020 Innovation Funding application process for local governments and nonprofits is open now through May 6, 2020. This year will mark the sixth-consecutive year that city and county entities within Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena counties (Region 5) have the opportunity to partner with Sourcewell and make special projects and initiatives come to life. This unique funding opportunity includes an Innovation Funding Review Day when representatives from Region 5 entities attend a day-long, priority setting and application review to rank and select awarded projects. Gruber emphasized that Sourcewell does not select projects. Voting is done by Region 5 cities, counties, and other government associations in attendance. Review Day for 2020 will take place on June 10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sourcewell's campus in Staples. To learn more about the Regional Yellow Ribbon Program, Staci Headley at sheadly@regionfive.org or 218-894-3233. Learn how Sourcewell is reinvesting in communities at sourcewell.co/reinvesting. About Region Five Development Commission Enhancing the vitality and quality of life in Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd and Wadena counties is the mission of Region Five Development Commission. Resiliency, inclusion and collaboration are guiding concepts in achieving mutually shared goals that continue to evolve with local municipalities, state, federal agencies, philanthropic, non-profit and social advocacy agencies. Visit www.regionfive.org to learn more. About Sourcewell Sourcewell (formerly National Joint Powers Alliance) is a self-supporting government organization, partnering with education, government, and nonprofits to boost student and community success. Created in 1978 as one of Minnesota’s nine service cooperatives, we offer training and shared services to our central-Minnesota members. Throughout North America, we offer a cooperative purchasing program with more than 400 awarded vendors on contract. Sourcewell is driven by service and the ability to strategically reinvest in member communities.

The Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group (CSG) interviewed staff at Region Five Development Commission (R5DC) as part of their research that identified “Rural Development Hub” intermediaries as effective community and economic development partners in rural America. CSG has now published the final report of this research, with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The report, titled ‘Rural Development Hubs: Strengthening America’s Rural Innovation Infrastructure’, offers value and insight for the entire country. It focuses on the role – and aggregates the wisdom – of a set of intermediaries, like R5DC who are doing economic and community development differently in rural America. Rural Development Hubs are main players advancing an asset-based and inclusive wealth-building approach to rural community and economic development in this country. The recommendations that emerged from CSG’s Hub interviews can help investors, policymakers and other decision-makers who have questions about rural America. “Our organization has been fortunate to learn and grow beside some of the nation’s best economic and community development practitioners”, shares R5DC’s Executive Director Cheryal Hills. “In this report we are classified as a ‘Unicorn Regional Organization’ which is fitting given that we are quite unique as a unit of government who also staffs a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, both committed to regional prosperity for ALL people. The CSG’s report has been the first to accurately record this complex mix and the rural relevancy.” To read more about rural development hubs and view the summary report, visit: https://www.regionfive.org/wealthworks. View the full report at: http://as.pn/ruralhubs About Region Five Development Commission Enhancing the vitality and quality of life in Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd and Wadena counties is the mission of Region Five Development Commission. Resiliency, inclusion and collaboration are guiding concepts in achieving mutually shared goals that continue to evolve from residents, private, public, philanthropic, non-profit and social advocacy agencies. Visit www.regionfive.org to learn more. About the Aspen Institute The Aspen Institute is an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, DC. Its mission is to foster leadership based on enduring values and to provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical issues. The Institute is based in Washington, DC; Aspen, Colorado; and on the Wye River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. It also has offices in New York City and an international network of partners.

Walker-Hackensack-Akeley School District is one of eleven schools in Minnesota that will benefit from planning assistance that supports the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program. Safe Routes to School is an international program to improve safety, reduce traffic congestion around schools, increase physical activity and improve health by making it easier for students to walk and bicycle to school. Planning assistance grants provide communities the resources to convene a team, understand key issues, prioritize strategies and identify solutions that fit the local need. “Thousands of Minnesota students will now have more opportunities to safely walk and bike to schools and improve their health,” said MnDOT Commissioner Margaret Anderson Kelliher. “Thanks to the Safe Routes to School program we are helping to build the next generation of multi-modal transportation users.” With several letters of support, the Walker-Hackensack-Akelely Schools Safe Routes to School planning application was awarded with planning set to begin in October. Also participating in the planning process is Cass County Health & Nutrition SHIP Educator Simon Whitehead, who assisted in the development of the application. Region Five Development Commission (R5DC) will assist in facilitating the planning process which will include a parent survey, an in-class student tally, walking audits to identify potential infrastructure deficiencies, a school zone hazard observational assessment, identification of issues and barriers, and a public kickoff meeting on Wednesday, November 13th from 6:00pm – 7:00pm at the Walker-Akeley-Hackensack High School in Walker. If you are interested in participating on the Walker-Hackensack-Akeley SRTS planning team, you are invited to attend the kickoff meeting. For more information, contact Tad Erickson at 218.894.3233 Ext. #7 or via email at terickson@regionfive.org. For more information on SRTS please visit MnDOT’s website: https://www.dot.state.mn.us/newsrels/19/04/22-saferoutes.html