What’s Up at the Redwood Area Development Corporation?

2016 was a busy year for the staff at the Redwood Area Development Corporation (RADC).   Pat Dingels, Community Development Specialist, Amanda Johanneck, RADC Administrative Assistant, and Julie Rath, Economic Development Specialist work directly with our member communities and businesses.   As staff we each have are area of expertise that we work within, and collectively work well as a team.  

For economic development in 2016, twenty-four businesses were directly served by the RADC resulting in 171 jobs either retained or created in our area.   A sampling of our businesses completed an online survey about their 2017 Economic outlook for our area.   The top challenges that our business clients are facing are related to healthcare costs; attracting and retaining top talent; and then tied were simpler regulations; more available skilled labor; and lower taxes.  Our businesses stated that our area has an unparalleled quality of life, a forward-looking culture that embraces entrepreneurship, and an educational system that is second to none.  

Currently there are four great existing properties available for new business occupancy in Redwood Falls and you can find these properties listed on our website.  When we have available properties, it makes recruitment a lot easier to talk with prospects about expanding or relocating to our communities.

Workforce development and talent attraction continue to be on the front burner as we work with companies.   Our CEO roundtable meeting last July resulted in a new initiative called Technology and Trades on the Prairie which is a business driven initiative to better communicate and connect careers with 7-12th grade students and their parents in our six school districts about career opportunities in our communities in Redwood County and surrounding area.   This program will be implemented in 2017.  What we do know is that our population is aging, seventy percent (70%) of jobs will require more than a high school diploma by 2018, we don’t have qualified candidates to fill many good-paying jobs; the fastest growing segment of our future workforce is students of color, and they currently have the state’s lowest graduation rate, and that for all students getting a heads up on the right career path of interest to our students early on will help them better direct their educational interests and financial resources to a career they will be passionate about when they enter the workforce.

Affordable housing is often on the top of the list when talking with prospective employees and or employers.  As staff, we provided administrative services for the Renville County HRA and just recently are under an interim administrative agreement for the Redwood Falls HRA which owns Lakeside Manor.   We recently had a tour of the renovations underway and anticipate this property opening up again mid-summer for occupancy!  

Minnesota Valley Regional Rail Authority/Minnesota Prairie Line will be celebrating their 15th Anniversary on September 22, 2017!    As their administrator for their monthly activities and the renovation work that continues to happen along our 94-miles of track serving our 16 communities, we have invited the North American Rail Car Operators back in September to ride our track.   Stay tune for more information about this upcoming event.  

Our grants program for 2016 wrote a total of 23 grants of which 10 were awarded totally $598,320 in 2016.  We provide administrative services for the Redwood Area Communities Foundation representing 32 entities each with their own board of directors.  We administer the Ehlers Student Loan program and applications are currently being taken and are due on May 8, 2017. In the 30 years that the RADC has been in business we have leveraged and assisted with loans and grants benefiting our area consisting of more than $59,292,873.00!   We take great strides to grow existing businesses and member communities to grow in 2017.   In 2017, we welcome new member communities of Morton and Wabasso along with Belview, Lucan, Lamberton, Seaforth, Vesta, Wanda, Redwood Falls, and the Lower Sioux Indian Community.   

As businesses assess their options, the Redwood Area Development Corporation….a Good Place to Start, has the ability to assist your business needs with your growth through financial assistance, business planning, infrastructure, grant writing, and be a confidential advocate for your business needs.   For more information, questions, business referrals, give us a call at 507-637-4004, find us online at www.radc.org, follow us on Facebook, or complete our contact form on our website.