Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission

09/05/2026

09/03/2026

Plan to attend a half-day immersive experience focused on strengthening the link between education and local workforce development. Co-hosted by Southwest Initiative Foundation, International Economic Development Council (IEDC), and educator & workforce thought leader Mark C. Perna, the event is structured to:

Inspire a shared vision between educators, employers, economic developers, and community leaders
Provide actionable strategies to connect education with purpose and workforce passion
Facilitate tabletop discussions to foster new partnerships and local economic initiatives
Feature a dynamic presentation, fireside chat, and guided conversation to move from ideas to action 12

Date & Location
🗓️ September 29, 2026 | 8:30 AM–2:30 PM
📍 The Upper Room, Marshall, MN 12

Sign up today!

Educators, employers, economic developers, and community leaders are invited to join Southwest Minnesota partners, the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), and workforce expert, Mark C. Perna, to catch the vision for education with purpose, employment with passion, and the economic vit...

09/03/2026

Starting or growing a business comes with a flood of information, and it’s easy to feel buried under advice about finances, marketing, operations, and everything in between. SCORE’s upcoming workshops cut through the noise with practical, expert guidance to help you focus, gain confidence, and move your business forward. Here’s what’s coming up:

https://www.score.org/business-education/

Sept 8 | Build Your Holiday Marketing: Plan Your Offers, Marketing Calendar and Content
Sept 10 | Alternative Funding for Small Businesses: Grants, Crowdfunding and More
Sept 15 | How to Use Google Workspace with Gemini as Your AI-Powered Productivity Partner
Sept 22 | Mastering Small Business Financial Management – Keys to Growth and Profitability
Sept 24 | Using AI for Financial Management: Balancing AI Tools With Reliable Bookkeeping
Sept 29 | Beyond the Barcode: Manage Inventory, Navigate Retail Channels and Prepare to Scale
Oct 1 | Business Owner Compensation: How It Works for Sole Proprietors, Partnerships, and Corporations

Live and on-demand workshops led by SCORE mentors and business experts provide practical guidance to help entrepreneurs grow and manage their businesses effectively.

08/28/2026

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/housing-a-town-hall-with-rural-voice-moderated-by-mprs-kerri-miller-tickets-1996062774491

Join us for a lively conversation on the topic of housing in rural Minnesota.

08/27/2026

The UMVRDC Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Revolving Loan Fund offers financing to help cover the cost of energy improvements!

✔ Available in Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Swift, and Yellow Medicine Counties
✔ Minimum funding starts at $5,000
✔ Covers projects like HVAC, lighting, solar, windows, insulation, EV chargers, and more
✔ Open to commercial, industrial, agricultural, nonprofit, and multifamily (5+ units) properties

With PACE, you can invest in upgrades that reduce energy costs and improve efficiency—while spreading payments over time.

👉 Reach out today to see if your project qualifies!
https://umvrdc.org/clean-energy-revolving-loan-fund-pace/

08/27/2026

Are you a leader with a track record for making things happen in your community? Then you'll want to know that the 2027 Bush Fellowship info is now available on our website. We encourage window shopping! It's a great way to see if a Bush Fellowship is a fit.

On our website, you can find out if you are eligible, what we're looking for in a Fellow, what it takes to apply, what questions we ask in the application, what ideas make for a strong submission, who the 2026 Fellows are - and so much more!

Get started today: https://bit.ly/3U61JbU

And save the date: 2027 Bush Fellowship applications officially open Sep. 22 and close Oct. 6.

08/11/2026

Our FY26 Annual Report is here - with more than $9 million invested in our region as a result of the UMVRDC's work in FY26.

From supporting local governments to assisting communities with planning, economic development, transportation, housing, grants, and more, UMVRDC continues to work alongside the five counties of Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Swift, and Yellow Medicine to strengthen our region.

Take a look at our FY26 Annual Report to see what we’ve been working on and the impact we’ve made across the region!

https://umvrdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AR26-outline-FINAL.pdf

08/03/2026

Congratulations to Dalen Roe on your retirement!

After years of dedicated service as the UMVRDC Revolving Loan Fund Specialist, Dalen is beginning a well-earned new chapter. Throughout his career, he has helped support businesses, communities, and economic development across our region, making a lasting impact through his knowledge, professionalism, and commitment to helping others succeed.

Now that retirement has arrived, we're sure your cattle will appreciate having you around a little more! We hope you enjoy the extra time caring for your herd, along with all the other adventures this next chapter has in store.

Happy Retirement, Dalen! 🎉🐂

08/03/2026

RLF Business Spotlight: Round the Table

For Kenneth and Cassandra Carskadon, what started as a lifelong passion for board games has grown into a new business venture designed to bring people together. Round the Table, located on 1st Street in Montevideo, is a retail destination specializing in board games, tabletop role-playing games, trading card games, and hobby accessories.

Read their story: https://umvrdc.org/round-the-table/

FUNDS AVAILABLE! The RLF is designed to provide gap financing for business and industry starting up or expanding in the five-county region of Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Swift and Yellow Medicine. The primary focus of the program is manufacturing and industrial-related businesses that will create or retain jobs.

07/30/2026

We've added a new child care case study to our website! The CCM Health Employee Child Care (Version 2) case study takes a closer look at the journey that the child care center took when building and moving into their new facility.

Learn how their new facility came to be, the challenges and successes of moving into a new building, and the positive impact it's had on employee recruitment and retention. The case study also highlights valuable lessons learned that can help other communities and employers exploring child care solutions.

Read the new case study—and explore our full collection of child care case studies—on our website:
https://umvrdc.org/childcare-case-studies/