Region Nine Development Commission Executive Director to attend Eleventh Americas Competitiveness Exchange

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Mankato, MN – Region Nine Development Commission’s (RNDC) Executive Director, Nicole Griensewic Mickelson, was selected to participate in the eleventh Americas Competitiveness Exchange on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ACE) as a newly selected ACE Ambassador.

ACE is designed to connect decision makers from the Americas and beyond to establish international and regional partnerships, increase trade and investment, and strengthen Hemispheric innovation and competitiveness by building on ideas and models that work to create jobs. More than 10,000 authorities/officials and experts have engaged in the program since its inception in 2014, including 400+ global selected participants that have joined the 10 ACE Editions. The program has resulted in more than 2,000 collaboration opportunities, strategic alliances, and new projects.

ACE is organized and supported by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration and Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of State, and the Organization of American States. The 11th ACE (ACE 11) will take place in Puerto Rico from May 18, 2019 to May 25, 2019. ACE 11 will showcase examples of effective innovation and entrepreneurship-related initiatives underway in Puerto Rico that are impacting its economic development and recovery with the goal of creating information sharing and collaboration building opportunities for all participants. The program will take participants to 10 cities of all sizes throughout the island, where they will interact with over 30 key innovation-driven businesses and institutions as well as share emerging technologies and best practices linked to the sharing economy, renewable energy, medical tourism, smart cities, and the internet of things. 

ACE Ambassadors are chosen based on their proven leadership and commitment to open doors in their community. ACE Ambassadors maintain and enhance best practices that promote competitiveness in the Americas, provide support in guiding communities on current and future ACE programs, represent the ACE program domestically and internationally, provide expertise to participants and alumni, and much more.

“I am excited to represent the region at ACE 11 in this new role as an ACE Ambassador as we continue to collaborate and explore new regional and global partnerships. ACE 10 was an opportunity to connect with the Puerto Rican Department of Economic Development and Commerce.Their senior leadership was interested in the work we were completing at the time on regional Medical Device Manufacturing (MDM), as Puerto Rico is a major hub for the global MDM industry with close ties to the firms operating in Minnesota. We shared our final plan, MedTech Connect, with the Secretary and Deputy Secretary this past fall, and we are eager to continue conversations regarding possible partnerships in hopes of strengthening the industry clusters here at home and in Puerto Rico. Despite the geographic distance, close connections already exist following the devastating hurricanes in Puerto Rico as local firms took over some manufacturing contracts while the island rebuilt. It is our hope that RNDC can help strengthen these ties and possibly expand to related industries. It is therefore very fortunate that  ACE 11 will take place in Puerto Rico this May. As regional leaders, it is important for RNDC to continue our work and open doors to new regional and global markets that can only further strengthen our communities,” shared Executive Director, Nicole Griensewic Mickelson.

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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 community development, economic development, transportation, healthy communities, business development, and leveraging regional resources.

St. Peter American Legion Decides To Sell Whisky River

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After St. Peter American Legion received the gift of Whisky River last fall, Legion Members had plenty of different opinions on how the organization could use the old restaurant.

Ultimately, they brought in Region 9 Development Commission to conduct a feasibility study.

“So the feasibility study was really looking at could they get an unbiased decision as to what are some options to help guide the committee and membership through,” explained Nicole Griensewic Mickelson of Region 9.

The in–depth study contained interviews with many in the community about the Legion as well as a wide range of data.

“Being able to gather that qualitative and quantitative data as well as looking at different traffic patterns, commuter labor sheds and as well as looking at the industry, industry trends with restaurants,” added Griensewic Mickelson. “So looking at what is the density for how many bars and restaurants in a certain geography and being able to provide them with that data.”

Article from KEYC.

St. Peter American Legion votes to sell Whiskey River

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ST. PETER — The former Whiskey River restaurant is back on the market.

Members of St. Peter’s American Legion decided not to move into the larger building on Highway 99.

“It’s far too big for our use and would be far too expensive for us to run,” said Legion member Shawn Schloesser.

Nicollet County Bank donated the former restaurant and bar to the William R. Whitty American Legion Post 37 late last year.

Legion leaders hired the Region Nine Development Commission to study whether the veterans service organization should move from its home on West Nassau Street. The study concluded the more than 9,000-square-foot former restaurant would be too costly for the Legion to update and operate.

Legion members met Monday night and made a nearly unanimous decision to sell the property and use the proceeds to modernize its existing building and programs.

Schloesser, chairman of the committee formed to lead the Whiskey River decision, and Post Cmdr. Dave Arpin said they will now turn their efforts toward making the post “more welcoming” to all community members.

Legion leadership said the Whiskey River gift was a blessing, but it also created dissonance among post membership over how to move forward.

Schloesser said he was relieved when the feasibility study yielded a firm recommendation that the Legion should not try to reopen the restaurant — at least not by itself.

“Although the former restaurant and bar could lend itself to be an attractive space, the downsides come with potentially debilitating potentials,” the study warned.

Continue reading the Free Press article.

March E-Newsletter

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Read about upcoming events, funding opportunities, and more in the latest issue of Region Nine’s E-News!

Read Now

February E-Newsletter

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Read about upcoming events, funding opportunities, and more in the latest issue of Region Nine’s E-News!

Read Now

Free Help for Minority Owned Businesses in Southern Minnesota

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The Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation based in Owatonna has teamed with the Region Nine Development Commission and the Faribault Diversity Coalition to recruit minority-owned business leaders.  Fifteen businesses are being sought out to take part in the 2019 Prosperity Initiative cohort. Eligible businesses include those operated by minorities, women, veterans, persons with disabilities and or low-income in the 20 county region.

Continue reading the KRFO Radio post.

Doctor preaches resicilency through farm stress

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NORTH MANKATO — During his presentation on how farmers can and must take better care of ourselves, Dr. Amit Sood said addressing high stress levels begins in the initial moments of our days.

Sood founded the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Resilient Mind program and has authored books on stress management, background which made him a fitting speaker for a local series centered around agricultural resiliency. The Region Nine Development Council organized the Friday event at South Central College in partnership with the college, the state Department of Agriculture and Minnesota State University.

Noting how farmers are navigating stressful financial and technological environments, Sood drew a clear distinction between the matters in and out of their control. An individual farmer can’t do much about economic policies and grain prices, he said, but they can change how these uncontrollable factors impact them.

“Resilience isn’t that we won’t experience adversity,” he said. “It’s that we’ll recover faster.”

Continue reading The Free Press article.

A complex problem

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Two bills introduced in the Minnesota Legislature aim to increase child care access and space across the state.

To Albert Lea Children’s Center Executive Director Sue Loch, however, the legislation does not address the need to pay child care teachers more, which she said is needed to increase child care access.

One bill, authored by Sen. Carla Nelson, R-Rochester, and Rep. Jeff Brand, DFL-St. Peter, awards $3 million in grants to Minnesota Initiative Foundations for planning, coordination, training and education to expand child care access. The money is expected to be used to help providers with business improvement planning, quality mentoring and workforce development.

The second bill, authored by Sen. Jerry Relph, R-St. Cloud, and Brand, aims to have more child care spaces through the Child Care Capital Grant Program, which would provide grants to child care providers, local governments and regional economic development organizations in Greater Minnesota to cover up to 50 percent of costs to build, upgrade or expand child care facilities to meet state requirements and increase capacity.

Continue reading the Albert Lea Tribune article.

Free business coaching for minority-owned businesses

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Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, in partnership with Region Nine Development Commission and Faribault Diversity Coalition, is recruiting minority-owned business leaders for a new cohort of its Prosperity Initiative.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 29 percent of Minnesota’s population in 2040 will be people of color, an increase from only 4 percent in 1980. In response to this rapid growth, the Prosperity Initiative was designed to provide education and business resources to minority business owners and educate resource partners on the barriers and opportunities these individuals encounter.

SMIF is seeking 15 businesses to participate in a 2019 Prosperity Initiative cohort. The program provides directed, educate resource programming, while also creating a unified and coordinated resource structure, informing partners of best practices and creating opportunities for minority populations to network and access the business community. All resources are free for participating businesses. Eligible participants include minorities, women, veterans, persons with disabilities provide low-income business owners in SMIF’s 20-county region.

Continue reading the Albert Lea Tribune article.