Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission

10/14/2026

The UMVRDC is looking for a Finance Specialist. Do you know someone who has business lending experience and a finance background? https://umvrdc.org/join-our-team/

This role is perfect for a candidate who enjoys cross-functional collaboration, relationship-building with local businesses and agency partners, and delivering precise financial and grant reporting on schedule. The position involves administering loan programs, supporting a growing business lending portfolio, and assisting the finance team with accounting, payroll, and audit preparation tasks. We promote a flexible workplace and a collaborative team culture. If public service and making a regional difference motivate you, UMVRDC provides a fulfilling environment. Discover the communities we serve — housing, schools, healthcare, employment, and recreation — at Western Minnesota Prairie Waters https://prairiewaters.com/

Check out

10/06/2026

October 7 marks National Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day!
Walk, bike, or roll to school and celebrate the benefits of active transportation, healthy kids, and stronger communities. Learn more about Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day at https://www.walkbiketoschool.org/

The UMVRDC has developed numerous Safe Routes to School (SRTS) plans for communities throughout our region, helping make it safer and easier for students to walk and bike to school.
Learn more about Safe Routes to School and explore examples of our work: https://umvrdc.org/program/safe-routes-to-school/

10/02/2026

Reminder to register for upcoming webinar!

On Wednesday, October 7 at noon, UMVRDC will be hosting an informational webinar for employers about the Minnesota Secure Choice Retirement Program.

❓What is this?
Established in 2023, Minnesota Secure Choice is a state-facilitated, employer-supported retirement program that gives employees a reliable, accessible tool to build their own savings. It allows employers with 5 or more employees to provide a competitive retirement savings benefit at a low cost with minimal administrative burden.

Minnesota Secure Choice’s mission is rooted in accessibility and empowerment. Through automatic payroll deductions into an individual retirement account (IRA), Minnesota Secure Choice makes saving effortless. Workers keep full control of their accounts, benefit from low fees and maintain portability across jobs, while employers avoid the cost and complexities of managing their organization’s own retirement plan.

🪙 Minnesota Secure Choice Retirement Program
The Minnesota Secure Choice Retirement Program is expanding access to retirement savings for Minnesota workers who do not have access to a workplace retirement plan, while offering employers a simple and streamlined way to facilitate participation.

The presentation will explain employer eligibility, compliance requirements, onboarding processes, payroll integration options, and the support resources available to assist businesses. It will also highlight the program’s strong early growth and its role in improving long-term retirement security for workers across Minnesota.

🙋‍♂️Who is this for?
Private businesses and non-profit entities employing 5 or more employees and do not currently offer a qualified retirement plan.

📅When?
Wednesday, October 7 at 12pm

👉 Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeUT55kkUeuKSU8Q7OlU6lyvTkJ56iz9p5AgpR_PMCdBSeoIw/viewform

10/01/2026

Funding May Be Available for Income-eligible Homeowners!

The City of Montevideo, in partnership with the Upper Minnesota Regional Development Commission (UMVRDC), is applying for funding through the Small Cities Development Program (SCDP) from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).

If awarded, eligible property owners could receive Up to $25,000 per eligible home for residential improvements

Your Interest Matters

The City needs feedback from eligible property owners to demonstrate that there is enough interest in the program to support the grant application.

If you own a home in Montevideo and are interested in making improvements, please take a few minutes to complete the survey. Completing the Interest Survey also provides priority status to use the funds if the City receives the grant.

Complete the Interest Survey by November 5, 2026:

umvrdc.org/montevideo-scdp/

¿Necesita arreglar su hogar? Si su nivel de ingresos califica, este mensaje es para usted. La Ciudad de Montevideo necesita que responda una encuesta para demostrar el interés de la comunidad y así poder traer este programa de ayuda. ¡Participe! llame al 320-269-6575 para más información.

09/23/2026

FREE AI for Small Business Webinars!

https://sbdc.vimm.com/

09/15/2026

On Wednesday, October 7 at noon, UMVRDC will be hosting an informational webinar for employers about the Minnesota Secure Choice Retirement Program.



Please share this with other employers in your community.



❓What is this?

Established in 2023, Minnesota Secure Choice is a state-facilitated, employer-supported retirement program that gives employees a reliable, accessible tool to build their own savings. It allows employers with 5 or more employees to provide a competitive retirement savings benefit at a low cost with minimal administrative burden.

Minnesota Secure Choice’s mission is rooted in accessibility and empowerment. Through automatic payroll deductions into an individual retirement account (IRA), Minnesota Secure Choice makes saving effortless. Workers keep full control of their accounts, benefit from low fees and maintain portability across jobs, while employers avoid the cost and complexities of managing their organization’s own retirement plan.



🪙 Minnesota Secure Choice Retirement Program

The Minnesota Secure Choice Retirement Program is expanding access to retirement savings for Minnesota workers who do not have access to a workplace retirement plan, while offering employers a simple and streamlined way to facilitate participation.

The presentation will explain employer eligibility, compliance requirements, onboarding processes, payroll integration options, and the support resources available to assist businesses. It will also highlight the program’s strong early growth and its role in improving long-term retirement security for workers across Minnesota.

🙋‍♂️Who is this for?
Private businesses and non-profit entities employing 5 or more employees and do not currently offer a qualified retirement plan.

📅When?
Wednesday, October 7 at 12pm

👉 Register here: Once registered, we’ll send you the Teams link.

09/08/2026

The Rural Voice town hall event that was originally scheduled for September 8 has been rescheduled to Tuesday, October 6.

Join us for a lively conversation on the topic of housing in rural Minnesota.

09/05/2026

09/03/2026

Plan to attend a half-day immersive experience focused on strengthening the link between education and local workforce development. Co-hosted by Southwest Initiative Foundation, International Economic Development Council (IEDC), and educator & workforce thought leader Mark C. Perna, the event is structured to:

Inspire a shared vision between educators, employers, economic developers, and community leaders
Provide actionable strategies to connect education with purpose and workforce passion
Facilitate tabletop discussions to foster new partnerships and local economic initiatives
Feature a dynamic presentation, fireside chat, and guided conversation to move from ideas to action 12

Date & Location
🗓️ September 29, 2026 | 8:30 AM–2:30 PM
📍 The Upper Room, Marshall, MN 12

Sign up today!

Educators, employers, economic developers, and community leaders are invited to join Southwest Minnesota partners, the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), and workforce expert, Mark C. Perna, to catch the vision for education with purpose, employment with passion, and the economic vit...

09/03/2026

Starting or growing a business comes with a flood of information, and it’s easy to feel buried under advice about finances, marketing, operations, and everything in between. SCORE’s upcoming workshops cut through the noise with practical, expert guidance to help you focus, gain confidence, and move your business forward. Here’s what’s coming up:

https://www.score.org/business-education/

Sept 8 | Build Your Holiday Marketing: Plan Your Offers, Marketing Calendar and Content
Sept 10 | Alternative Funding for Small Businesses: Grants, Crowdfunding and More
Sept 15 | How to Use Google Workspace with Gemini as Your AI-Powered Productivity Partner
Sept 22 | Mastering Small Business Financial Management – Keys to Growth and Profitability
Sept 24 | Using AI for Financial Management: Balancing AI Tools With Reliable Bookkeeping
Sept 29 | Beyond the Barcode: Manage Inventory, Navigate Retail Channels and Prepare to Scale
Oct 1 | Business Owner Compensation: How It Works for Sole Proprietors, Partnerships, and Corporations

Live and on-demand workshops led by SCORE mentors and business experts provide practical guidance to help entrepreneurs grow and manage their businesses effectively.