NWRSDP Seeks Members in NW MN to Serve on Board of Directors

CROOKSTON, Minn. – Northwest Regional Sustainable Development Partnership (NWRSDP) is seeking community members in Northwestern Minnesota to serve on its board of directors. 

Each of the five Regional Partnerships (Southeast, Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, and Central) is citizen-driven, building community-University partnerships that create new opportunities and solve problems in Greater Minnesota. The Partnerships are a division of University of Minnesota Extension.

According to Linda Kingery, executive director, board members function as a team, working with local communities to identify and implement projects that foster sustainability in agriculture and food systems, tourism and resilient communities, natural resources, and clean energy.

Members of the NWRSDP board also:

•          solicit, evaluate, and vote on proposals

•          participate in regular boards and focus area work group meetings--both in-person and by conference calls--contributing time, energy, and insight to projects 

•          serve for three years with mileage and honorarium for agreed upon meetings and special assignments.

Board membership is open to residents of Greater Minnesota and University of Minnesota faculty, staff, and students. To be considered for a position, please submit your application by Friday, May 15, 2015 for terms starting in July of 2015.

 For more information, see "Board members information and application" at http://RSDP.umn.edu. 

RRV Development Association Celebrates 77th Annual Honor Banquet

The Red River Valley Development Association’s 77^th Annual Honor Banquet will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2015, beginning at noon in Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center, University of Minnesota, Crookston.  Tickets for the noon banquet are available for $18.00 from the Extension Regional Office, Crookston, and can be reserved by calling 1-888-241-0781 by March 20.  Payment can be made at the door.

Those honored at the March 28^th banquet were selected for the good example they have set through volunteering, community service, farming or agricultural operations, and their commitment to conserving natural resources.  Funding for the Red River Valley Development Association is provided by 14 counties in northwest Minnesota.

The Northwest Minnesota Youth Leadership Awards will be presented to four youth between the ages of 17 and 21 who submitted applications and essays describing their leadership contributions in their communities.

The Red River Valley Development Association includes Directors from 14 counties in northwest Minnesota appointment by the county boards of commissioners.  The 2015 Directors and honorees are:

County	Director	Honorees	Town
Becker	Bruce Hein	Lloyd and Linda Jirava	Ogema
Clay	Clarice Schmidt	Bruce and Joy Bang	Hawley
Clearwater	Allen Paulson	Mark and Sharon Larson	Clearbrook
Kittson	Gary Johnson	James and Betty Younggren	Hallock
Lake of the Woods	Ken Horntvedt	Lynda Annoreno Amy Ballard	Baudette
Mahnomen	Jean Nelson	Anthony and Patty Maruska	Lengby
Marshall	Gary Satre	Richard and Pat Moen	Newfolden
Norman	Burton Rockstad	Dan and Nancy Grundhovd	Gary
East Otter Tail	Roger Fremming	Randall and LuAnn Carow	Perham
West Otter Tail	Daniel Roehl	John and Michelle Lindquist
Pennington	Gladys Hallstrom	Alan and Deb Swanson	Goodridge
East Polk	Jerry Erickson	Robert and Janet Landsverk Donald and Janice Landsverk	Fosston
West Polk	Curt Knutson	Reed and Sheryl Tinkham	Fisher
Red Lake	Larry Johnson	Tim and Janet Hagl	Red Lake Falls
Roseau	Selvin “Buddy” Erickson	Samuel and Lola Grafstrom	Salol
Wilkin	Milan Drewlow	Gerald and Cathy Nordick	Breckenridge

For more information, contact Deborah M. Zak, Regional Director, Northwest, Extension Regional Office, Crookston.  Phone:  218-281-8684 or 1-888-241-0781.  E-mail:  dzak@umn.edu.

Bemidji Downtow Development Authority Establishes Fund with NMF

Bemidji, MN – April 2, 2013 – In an effort to further enhance the strong business presence in downtown Bemidji, the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has established a new fund with the Northwest Minnesota Foundation (NMF) that will offer loans up to $5,000. The mission of the revolving loan program is to assist businesses in either locat ing downtown or expanding their downtown business.

The loans are available to any business looking to locate or expand in downtown Bemidji. “This is an excellent opportunity to increase awareness about the Downtown Development Authority and our important work,” said DDA President Ken Cobb. “We already have a great downtown, and we are always working to make it even better. Our mission is to promote and enhance our vibrant downtown, and this loan program will encourage businesses to locate and expand here.”

Loans can be used for building improvements, equipment, inventory, supplies, and working capital. The business must maintain (DDA) membership throughout the term of the loan. “This is a great partnership opportunity with NMF and the DDA,” said Business Development Officer, Diane Morey. “In some cases, a DDA loan can be paired with a loan from our own in-house microloan program. This leveraging can bring more options and flexibility to the business owner, which was a priority in this partnership.”

The DDA Loan Committee will meet as needed to approve applications. Businesses must reflect and complement the character of downtown Bemidji, as interpreted by the committee. Applications can be found online at www.nwmf.org under Business Development on the Entrepreneur Development Program page.