2015 HIGHLIGHTS A YEAR IN ACTION AND 2016 FOCUS. Dawn Keeley, Executive Director December 21, 2015

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1 2015 HIGHLIGHTS A YEAR IN ACTION AND 2016 FOCUS Dawn Keeley, Executive Director December 21, 2015

2 2015 Highlights and 2016 Goals Four primary focus areas Economic Development Community Development Riparian Repair and Restoration Regional Advocacy Management and RRRC s business model New opportunities under construction How can you help?

3 Economic Development Lead staff: Dawn Keeley and Maggie Suda (hired in September 2015) Services: Manage Nelson and Pembina County Job Development Authorities Link private sector needs and public sector resources/solutions Manage three loan programs in compliance with federal regulations Foster large-scale initiative projects Cultivate regional coalitions 2016 Highlighted Goals Complete more than personal business visits for Pembina County Business Retention and Expansion project Secure 2016/2017 Pembina County JDA management/development contract Enhance Nelson County JDA services Continue to engage communities and businesses with JDA meetings Cultivate support for large-scale development within Pembina Gorge Develop and close at least four new loans Explore development relationships with rural Grand Forks County cities Continue youth entrepreneurship initiatives Maggie to attend Intro to Economic Development one week course

4 Michigan Munchkins and Lakota Child Care Center Paul Retzlaff, JDA Chair, and Tiffany Woinarowicz and Amie Vasichek January 2015

5 Pembina and Walsh County JDA Business Training Series with Train ND Spring 2015

6 Joey and Nicole Safranski, Midway Seed Expansion Pembina County Job Development Authority March 2015

7 Food First site visit - Walhalla World-class business with a world-wide market with expansion into a food-grade product Two generations - Bob and Jordan Thornberg June 2015

8 Exploring the Pembina Gorge and Master Plan Implementation Mike Duerre, ND Parks and Recreation Dick and Judith Johnson June 2015

9 American Crystal Sugar Company - Drayton Pembina County JDA Tour July 2015

10 Board of Directors Annual Meeting Stump Lake Park July 2015

11 Grafton True Value and Lumber Grand Opening September 2015 RRRC provided $100,000 loan

12 RRRC Loan Closing Desirae and Dustin Wilson and Rob Boll, KodaBank Purchase of Halcrow s Drayton July 2015

13 Business Retention and Expansion Program Initiated in Pembina County in fall 2015 and must be completed by fall 2016 Piloting approach in Pembina County with possible expansion in region Secured $30,000 from USDA Rural Development and $15,000 from JDA; RRRC committed $10,000 from JDA budget to this project Led by Maggie Suda and most visits also attended by Mary Houdek, Job Service ND Phase 1: Primary sector (manufacturers) Completed 13 visits between November and December 2015; 1 visit to be scheduled in January 2016 Phase 2: Agriculture, tourism and financial institutions 6 visits scheduled in December/January; 13 more to be scheduled Phase 3: Healthcare, international trade, retail/service and education Will require additional funding from JDA to complete originally proposed project budget

14 Life Skills and Transition Center Strategic Planning Session with Praxis Strategy Group October 2015 RRRC staff provided leadership to initiate Task Force, identified strategic planning partners, and hosted August meeting with potential state and federal funding partners.

15 Pembina/Walsh County Marketplace for Kids Hosted by Cavalier Public Schools 600 Attendees Grades 3-8 April 2015 Dawn Keeley, Co-Chair

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17 ND Youth Entrepreneurship Education Program Grafton Camp 35 campers July 2015

18 ND Youth Entrepreneurship Education Program RRRC supported event and was a guest speaker

19 You re Hired Camp Grafton Extended School Program STEM Education July 2015 Keeley acted as Judge for camp

20 Community Development Lead staff: Stacie Sevigny and Cheryl Osowski Services: Program management of Community Development Block Grant program and historic preservation commissions Grant writing and administration Research resource development Project planning Needs assessment 2016 Highlighted Goals Continue implementation of Cavalier Housing Rehab project Identify next community for rehab and begin funding development Implement McVille Street Lights and Aneta Fire Hydrant Projects Cultivate applications for 2016 CDBG Grant writing for at least three new projects Identify professional development opportunities including NDC Housing Development Finance Professional Continue implementation of geocaching of historic places in Walsh and Pembina Counties

21 Cavalier Housing Rehabilitation Project Federal Home Loan Bank Award $160,000 January 2015 Press Conference Nearly $470,000 (six grant awards) has been secured, 15 of 26 homes awarded construction contracts, project managed by Cavalier Housing Authority, 15% management budget secured Drew Olafson Chair Cavalier Housing Authority

22 Pembina and Walsh County Historic Preservation Commissions Joint Meeting January 2015 Completed in 2015: New joint brochure of historic places developed Initiated geo-caching of historic sites in both counties (linking historic preservation/tourism/recreation) Hosted statewide conference in Park River in August

23 Disaster Mitigation Projects Practice fire drill by Crystal Fire Department - home was part of FEMA Hazard Mitigation buyout program Emergency generator for water treatment plant in the City of Drayton Location of the early warning siren for fire and severe weather alerts in the City of Pekin RRRC provided grant writing and grant management services to these projects to assure compliance with all federal/state requirements.

24 RRRC staff provided grant writing services for OHF, ND Parks and Rec and Enbridge. Presented request to OHF Board in December Secured only Enbridge award in ND in 2015 which increased grant funding to 95%. Stump Lake Park Improvements Bank Stabilization Project (2016 construction) New Playground New Cafe

25 New Park River Community Park Groundbreaking Ceremony August 2015 RRRC staff provided grant writing and presentation development services for Outdoor Heritage Fund and attended OHF meeting(s). Secured $312,276 from OHF.

26 City of Crystal DETERMINATION AWARD RECIPIENT The streets of Crystal are alive again nomination citation City of Crystal Streets Paving Project August 2015 RRRC provided guidance on each step of the process relative to financing and CDBG funds awarded and managed CDBG funds

27 A few members of the Pembina Growth Committee Corie Koropatnicki, Chair Planning new daycare center June 2015 RRRC / PCJDA provided guidance, mentoring, community survey development and compilation, grant writing services. Secured funding from ND Dept of Commerce, Pembina County JDA, Pembina Growth Committee. Project will be executed in early 2016.

28 Drayton Park District 70 Unit RV Park Led by Ross Lambert Occupancy in September 2015 RRRC provided grant writing, presentation development and guidance. Secured $305,000 from OHF and $278,378 local/other funds. Ross Lambert: Catalyst Award Nominee

29 Municipal Survey Visit City of Tolna Vicky Engen, Auditor September 2015

30 City of Grafton Housing Rehabilitation Project Four year project completed in owner-occupied homes completed Yolanda Balderas points to new windows installed in her home BEFORE AFTER Roof, siding, windows, steps/landings

31 City of Grafton - Award Winning Project Over a three year period, the RRRC wrote multiple grant applications (USDA RD, CDBG, Federal Home Loan Bank, and local funds) which led to $500,000 invested in this project. Project was also a learning venture for changing RRRC staff and sustained approximately $15,000 shortfall in project management budget. Keith Lund, EDND President and RRRC member, presented award to Mayor West on November 10 Connie Ova, EDND President, presented Grafton Housing Rehab Project award to Dawn Keeley at EDND fall conference in Watford City Stacie Sevigny, project manager, provided final project report to City Council on November 10

32 Riparian Lead staff: Brent Wilde (hired in Jan 2015) Support the repair and restoration of riparian areas with four watersheds Program is currently in Phase 5 which will end mid-2017 Awarded $196,090 in four projects in 2015 with projects at various stages of implementation currently Feature stories on riparian projects 2016 Highlighted Goals: Continue implementation of Phase 5 projects and management Identify projects to exhaust funding Manage program within guidelines Engage Riparian Committee Identify scope, projects, and budget for Phase 6 with funding applications due fall 2016 for mid-2017 start dates CHALLENGE: depressed commodity prices and lack of natural disasters is impacting project flow for this program

33 Brent Wilde, RRRC Discussing riparian areas Walsh County Eco Ed Day September 2015

34 Regional Advocacy Lead staff: Dawn Keeley Services provided: Identifying and strategically relaying the needs within the region to potential state/federal partners Servant leadership building others up Engagement through: Economic Development Association of ND Valley Prosperity Partnership Sen. Heitkamp Strong and Safe Communities Task Force ND Community Foundation ND League of Cities National Association of Development Organizations Greater ND Chamber of Commerce Others as appropriate 2016 Highlighted Goals Continue partnerships with initiatives/organizations listed Seize opportunities to speak publicly which support regional and RRRC advocacy Continue strong social media and press relationships Plan and execute 2016 Ideas to Actions Summit Prepare, publish, and distribute 2015 annual reports for RRRC and Nelson and Pembina County JDAs Continue to ask the question What can we do to help?

35 Sen. Heitkamp Cyber Security Roundtable Strong and Safe Communities Task Force Grand Forks June 2015 Dawn Keeley, member delivered feedback from regional businesses on this topic

36 RRRC Board of Directors met with Sheri Geisen and Keith Reitmeier, Job Service North Dakota; and Paul Lucy and Al Anderson, ND Department of Commerce August 2015

37 RRRC Initiated Inaugural Ideas to Actions Summit Replaced RRRC annual meeting with outward focus on the region Ideas to Actions Summit was held on November 4 as first event in new Grafton Performing Arts Center 150+ attendees, raised more than $10,000 public/private sponsors Four awards presented (16 nominations received); hand-crafted artistic awards by Jason Lindell, Sundog Glass Design, Park River Theme was showcasing small community successful projects, people, and ideas Our example of being servant leaders in the region - servant-leaders share power, put the needs of others first and help their people develop and perform as highly as possible

38 Ideas to Actions Summit Photos

39 Our Award Winners: Celebrating ideas, leaders, and projects NORTH STAR AWARD Bernie Kringstad Kringstad Ironworks CATALYST AWARD Corie Koropatnicki Pembina Growth Committee and Pembina City Council DETERMINATION AWARD City of Crystal Mayor Ganssle and Alva Brown, Auditor INTREPID AWARD Tom Swoyer Grand Sky Development

40 Management Lead staff: Dawn Keeley and Lori Estad Manage the organization and finances Cultivate win-win partnerships Policy review and updates completed in 2015 Financial Management Bylaws Officer Job Descriptions Engage Board and staff in developing strategic vision and direction for the organization Hired and training two new staff in 2015 (Wilde and Suda) to restore staffing level to long-term level Goals for 2016 Continue training and mentoring of new staff Rewrite of personnel policies (current handbook is circa 2002) Continue to cultivate adequate funding to support existing structure Continue strong public advocacy and positive messaging of the RRRC and its work Develop guest speaker series for RRRC Board meetings Cultivate stronger Board engagement Successfully manage the organization and finances and develop strategic direction and opportunities Strengthen the RRRC business model

41 How our time is invested

42 Our perpetual issue: Too much work, not enough $ In 2015, we secured short-term funding to restore long-term staffing level Staff to provide services is our largest expense (like most non-profit organizations): 64% through October 2015 County contributions (our only source of baseline funding) was $107,000 in 2015 or 21% of our revenue through October Inadequate baseline funding leads to volatility in staffing and causes revolving door and continual investment in learning curve Ideally, baseline funding would be between 30-50% County contributions are used for matching funds for EDA Planning Grant, Riparian Program, Historic Preservation Commissions, Business Retention and Expansion Program (software) as well as some advocacy work In 2014, the RRRC invested $35,000 more than funding supported in Walsh County Efforts to increase county funding were successful in only Grand Forks County (doubled contribution in 2015) Executive Committee will continue to strategize on our business model

43 Red River Regional Council Board and Staff Frost Fire June 2015

44 RRRC Retreat Words Create Worlds June 2015 The Red River Regional Council is the preferred partner in building healthy, vibrant, and connected communities. - Proposed mission statement

45 New Opportunities: Under Development Partial list of new RRRC opportunities currently being explored by management and Executive Committee Develop regional recreation/tourism development task force and staff Support rural GF County communities, explore development partnership and possible county JDA Develop co-work facility in Grafton with RRRC as anchor and program development to support youth and adult entrepreneurship Cultivate development staff support through relationship with state department(s) Prepare county disaster mitigation plans (all counties required to update every five years to maintain FEMA funding eligibility and plans funded largely by FEMA) Develop a regional community foundation to support development staff and philanthropic platform to support projects in the region Explore housing development opportunities for small-scale projects in rural communities Continue to cultivate the need for a task force and leadership on maintaining and diversifying the Life Skills and Transition Center Campus

46 We encourage your engagement and feedback You have before you a highly qualified, passionate professional team intentionally designed to bring our organization to new heights We want our passion to be infectious What is it about your community and our region that makes your heart sing? How can you assist in spreading our positive messages? How can you assist in refining our business model to make it healthy, sustainable, and expandable to support higher impact? How do we strengthen Board member engagement? How do we continue to encourage visionary leadership within the region? Looking forward, engaging potential, and delivering results