Region Nine RDC Organizes Grant Opportunity Forum in Mankato

Region Nine Development Commission hosted an information-packed day for Mankato area government, nonprofit and small business organizations on May 24. Region Nine’s Resource Development Coordinator, Sarah R. Bieswanger, pictured here with Region Nine RDC Executive Director, Reggie Edwards, welcomed over 60 attendees to the Spring 2011 Grant Opportunity Forum. “We design the forum to give you a chance to have conversations with funders and learn about resource opportunities that may be available for your programs, organizations or businesses,” Sarah said in welcoming the group.

Informative presentations, tailored to south central Minnesota interests, were given by representatives of several funding resources. Leading the slate was Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation, which also sponsored the Forum. Additional participants/presenters were: HickoryTech Foundation, AgStar Fund for Rural America, USDA Rural Development, and Congressman Tim Walz's office.

Further adding value to the various details and guidelines of each featured funder, Sarah closed out the Forum by guiding participants with more information on developing a competitive grant application. Her tips, including a funder list for southern MN, and all kinds of ways to tap into useful, free and convenient resources led to new ideas for many of the participants. “How many of you know, for instance,” Sarah mentioned, “that we have a site right here at the Blue Earth County Library which houses the national Foundation Center Cooperating Collection. It’s one of my favorite resources for grants information of all kinds.”

For more information on the Grant Opportunity Forum, contact Sarah Reichwald Beiswanger.

Lois Schmidt, NRS, Bremer – Willmar Charter