Community Bridgemakers

Thomas Zimmermann, R5RTCC Mobility Manager, shares details about the transportation council in Region 5. Learn more at r5rtcc.org

Savannah Winkler, Regional Development Planner, shares information about Comprehensive Planning, including the local decision-making process, partnerships, challenges, and successes. Learn more at regionfive.org/comprehensive-planning

Katie Baier, Program Manager for Community Bridgemakers, shares more information about this collaborative, regional program led by the Initiative Foundation, Region Five Development Commission, and Sourcewell.

Arlene Jones, Executive Director of Sprout, shares the impacts the CARES Act funding had on their organization during the pandemic. To learn more about loan programs through R5DC's non-profit lending arm, visit northcentraleda.org

Listen as we share an overview about the North Central Regional Food Business Center. Learn more at www.northcentralrfbc.org.

In this episode, my colleague BJ Allen, R5DC's Deputy Director, sits down with Betsey Suchanic and Dee Shaw from New Growth Innovation Network (NGIN) to talk about their Inclusive Recovery Guide. You can learn more about NGIN, check out the guide and become part of their online community at recovery.newgrowth.org/

In this episode, we share information about the Agricultural Mental Health & Wellness Program, supported in partnership by the MN Department of Agriculture, Minnesota State Agricultural Centers of Excellence and Region Five Development Commission. Keith Olander and Monica McConkey join us to share stressors and strategies for overall well-being. Staci Headley from R5DC also joins us. For more information about this program, visit regionfive.org/local-foods 

Cheryal Hills, R5DC's executive director, shares why we focus on equity work as a regional economic and community development organization in central Minnesota. Learn more about our work in this space at regionfive.org/welcoming-communities.

Cheryal Hills, Executive Director of R5DC, and Arlene Jones, Executive Director of Sprout MN, share details about the new AgVet Program, enhancing agricultural opportunities for military veterans and their families. To learn more, visit regionfive.org/military-connectionsThis work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans Program, project 1029231 and will be implemented over a three-year period.

In this episode, we hear from Dawn Espe and Hannah Smith as they share more details about the Cultivating Communities | A North Central MN Welcoming Summit that R5DC is hosting September 19-20. Visit regionfive.org/events or sowingroom.org to learn more. We hope to see you at the summit!