Region Nine Development Commission

06/01/2026

RNDC staff took advantage of the beautiful weather during their lunch break by taking Mankato’s City Art Walking Sculpture Tour. Turns out, fresh air and public art make for a pretty great lunch combo.

Learn more about the tour at https://www.cityartmankato.com.

05/28/2026

Funding opportunity for rural health care providers in our region!

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has released a Request for Proposal for the 2026 Workplace Safety Grants for Health Care Entities. These grants are available to support workplace safety improvements for eligible health care organizations.

Eligible applicants include:
• Long-term care facilities
• Critical access hospitals
• Rural acute care hospitals with 49 beds or fewer
• Medical clinics
• Dental clinics
• Community health clinics

Applications are due Friday, June 12, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. CT.

Learn more and apply at https://www.health.state.mn.us/facilities/ruralhealth/funding/grants/index.html

05/26/2026

The deadline to register has been extended to May 29th!

There's still time to register for the South Central Regional Housing Forum. 📋🏘️🗣️

WHEN: Wednesday, June 10, 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
WHERE: Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center, Mankato MN
DEADLINE: Friday, May 29 at noon. (Register here — it's free! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/9qmw4qc)

This forum will equip you with the knowledge and tools necessary to move your community's housing vision forward. Learn more on our website: https://mnhousing.gov/home/south-central-regional-housing-forum

Sponsored by us (Minnesota Housing), Region Nine Development Commission, and Greater Minnesota Housing Fund. Thank you to our partner, Minnesota Housing Partnership!

05/26/2026

Minnesota farmers, producers, and agricultural landowners have an opportunity to access funding for climate-friendly agricultural practices through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Climate-Friendly Agricultural Practices (CFAP) program.

Eligible applicants can receive up to $10,000 for projects that support sustainable agriculture practices such as:
• Conservation cover
• Pasture and hay planting
• Conservation crop rotation
• Tree and shrub establishment

Funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis, with approximately $1.2 million available this year.

Applicants do not need to be certified through the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) to apply, though certified applicants are eligible for a higher payment rate.

Eligible applicants include farmers, producers, agricultural LLCs, and agricultural landowners operating in Minnesota.

Learn more and apply at https://www.mda.state.mn.us/climate-friendly-agricultural-practices-incentive-payments

05/21/2026

Joel and Nate recently hit the road as work begins on the new Shooting Star Scenic Byway plan. From gathering photos to documenting infrastructure along the route, the trip was a great opportunity to take a closer look at the communities, landscapes, and transportation assets that make the byway unique.

If your community or organization is looking for transportation planning or technical assistance, RNDC is here to help. Contact us at 507-387-5643 or visit https://www.rndc.org/contact-us/ to learn more.

05/19/2026

Registration closes May 26th for the South Central Regional Housing Forum!

Join Region Nine Development Commission and Minnesota Housing on Wednesday, June 10th, to network, learn about successful housing projects, and available resources and technical assistance.

Reserve your spot today at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/9qmw4qc

Visit https://www.mnhousing.gov/home/south-central-regional-housing-forum to learn more!

05/16/2026

Thank you Leah with The Free Press of Mankato MN for RIDING your bike to join us yesterday to celebrate .

Congrats to Paul and Old Blue for winning the pump!

Thank you Mark and Region Nine Development Commission team for hosting.

Let’s roll 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲

05/15/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us this morning for Bike to Work Day in downtown Mankato!

Region Nine Development Commission was proud to partner with Greater Mankato Bike & Walk Advocates to celebrate National Bike Month and encourage active transportation throughout south central Minnesota. Community members stopped by Civic Center Plaza to enjoy coffee, share stories, free bike fixes from Key City Bikes, and conversations about making our communities safer and more connected for walking and biking.

A special thank you to RNDC Chairman Mike Laven for helping kick off the event and to all of the community partners and participants who made the morning a success.

Events like Bike to Work Day highlight the importance of creating communities where people have safe and accessible transportation options for work, recreation, and everyday life.

05/14/2026

Register today for the South Central Regional Housing Forum!

Join Region Nine Development Commission and Minnesota Housing on Wednesday, June 10th, to network, learn about successful housing projects, and available resources and technical assistance.

Registration closes May 26th, so reserve your spot today at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/9qmw4qc

Visit https://www.mnhousing.gov/home/south-central-regional-housing-forum
to learn more!

05/13/2026

This Friday, Celebrate Bike Month with us at Bike to Work Day from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. at the Civic Center Plaza outside the Intergovernmental Center in Mankato.

Hosted by RNDC and Greater Mankato Bike & Walk Advocates, this free community event will feature coffee, bike-themed activities, a tire-change competition, bike show-and-tell, and free bike fixes from Key City Bikes. RNDC Chairman Mike Laven will help kick off the program at 8:00 a.m.

Whether you bike every day or are just looking for a fun way to start your morning, everyone is welcome. No registration is required.

Ride to work, save on gas, and celebrate active transportation with us this Bike Month.