MMDC is preparing to revise our region’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). The CEDS can be thought of as a 5-year economic roadmap for our four-county region (Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, and Renville Counties). It is the mechanism by which our region receives Economic Development District designation from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA). This district designation is the starting point for U.S. EDA grant eligibility.
Recently, the City of Willmar received notice that they would receive a $2.3 million grant from the EDA to support continued industrial park development. This could not have happened without our approved CEDS and our region’s Economic Development District designation. Two other grant applications are also being considered within our region. One would include improvements to Ridgewater College’s Hutchinson Campus, to support the construction of a new electrician training facility, and the other would assist with the needed redevelopment of Renville County Road 21, adjacent to the Southern MN Beet Sugar Cooperative (Renville County’s largest employer). Commerce supporting grant applications like these cannot move forward without an approved CEDS and the quality of our CEDS depends on quality input from our region’s residents, workers, and employers. Thank you for your help!
There’s still time to share your thoughts on the region’s economy – what you think is going well and where you think improvement is needed. Visit: www.surveymonkey.com/r/MMDC-CEDS to weigh in!