Region Five Development Commission
Region Five Development Commission is a federally designated Economic Development District serving five counties in central Minnesota, delivering community planning, economic development, transportation coordination, and small-business lending through government grants and its affiliated NCEDA nonprofit.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1973
- HeadquartersStaples, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Region Five Development Commission does
Region Five Development Commission (R5DC) is a non-profit regional planning and development organization founded in 1973 and headquartered in Staples, Minnesota, with a secondary office in Baxter. It serves Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena counties in central Minnesota and operates as a federally designated Economic Development District (EDD) under the U.S. Economic Development Administration. Governance is provided by a 24-member commission representing counties, school boards, township boards, municipalities, tribal nations (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe), and Camp Ripley, with Cheryal Lee Hills serving as Executive Director of both R5DC and its affiliated nonprofit lending arm NCEDA.
R5DC delivers three core program areas: Community Development (comprehensive planning, energy and environment planning, agriculture and local foods, equity and welcoming communities, placemaking), Economic Development (the Comprehensive Regional Economic Development Strategy or CREDS, and business lending through NCEDA), and Transportation (Transportation Advisory Council, Area Transportation Partnership, Regional Transportation Coordinating Council, Safe Routes to School). Its affiliated 501(c)(3) North Central Economic Development Association (NCEDA), established in 1986 with U.S. Department of Commerce EDA support, administers gap loans, minority loans, and homeowner loans for well water and septic systems. Documented program outputs include the Solar Schools installation (1.5 MW across six arrays with 1,420 metric tons of annual CO2 reduction), eleven completed municipal comprehensive plans, and a 22-student meat processing cohort at Central Lakes College. The organization does not operate a proprietary technology platform; delivery is staff-led direct regional engagement with municipalities, counties, tribal nations, and partner organizations.
R5DC's business model is grant and contract funded rather than commercially priced. Federal pass-throughs from the U.S. EDA, USDA, U.S. Department of Energy, and Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT District 3) anchor the budget, supplemented by Minnesota state agency contracts and program-specific awards. NCEDA generates additional income from interest on its revolving loan fund and from technical assistance fees. No fees are charged for core planning and coordination services. The organization plans to relocate its headquarters to the Sourcewell building in Staples effective April 1, 2026, formalizing co-location with Sourcewell while R5DC maintains its independent governance. R5DC does not have private equity, venture capital, or external investor ownership.
Region Five Development Commission firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Region Five Development Commission
- Legal name
- Region Five Development Commission
- Website
- https://regionfive.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1973
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Region Five Development Commission is a federally designated Economic Development District serving five counties in central Minnesota, delivering community planning, economic development, transportation coordination, and small-business lending through government grants and its affiliated NCEDA nonprofit.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Region Five Development Commission industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Regional Planning and Development Services
- NAICS
- Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (9251), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (92512)
- SIC
- Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Urban & Regional Planning (Land Use, Zoning, Master Planning) (BPAIANAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Regional & Land Use Planning (BPAHAKAE), Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)
Keywords
Where Region Five Development Commission is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Staples
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Region Five Development Commission business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- NCEDA Business Lending: Nonprofit lending organization providing gap loans, minority loans, and homeowner loans for well water and septic systems. Established in 1986 as an affiliate of R5DC with support from U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration grant.
- Government Grants and Contracts: Funding from federal, state, and local government sources including EDA, MnDOT, USDA, and Minnesota state agencies for planning, economic development, and transportation programs.
- Technical Assistance Services: Provides business technical assistance, comprehensive planning, energy planning, and community development services to regional partners and communities.
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Region Five Development Commission product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Region Five Development Commission is a regional planning and development organization that delivers economic development, transportation planning, community development, comprehensive planning, and small business lending services for Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena counties in Central Minnesota. The organization functions as the designated Economic Development District (EDD) for the region, coordinating cross-county planning efforts and administering the NCEDA revolving loan fund for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Its core output is regional plans, strategies, and coordinated program services, not commercial products.
Product overview
Region Five Development Commission (R5DC) is a regional planning and development organization that is not a traditional technology product company. It offers a portfolio of community and economic development programs and services rather than a unified software product. Core offerings include Community Development (encompassing comprehensive planning, energy/environment planning, and equity initiatives), Economic Development (including CREDS strategy and NCEDA lending programs), and Transportation Planning (TAC, ATP, RTCC, Safe Routes to School). These programs are standalone initiatives rather than modules of a unified platform. Additional programs include Solar Schools, Agriculture & Local Foods, Military Connections, Welcoming Communities, Placemaking, and Community Bridgemakers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- NCEDA: North Central Economic Development Association - nonprofit lending arm and 501(c)(3) affiliate of Region Five Development Commission providing business loans, technical assistance, and household well water/septic loans.
Products and services
- NCEDA Small Business Lending Program Administered by R5DC, the North Central Economic Development Association (NCEDA) revolving loan fund provides small business and entrepreneur loans to borrowers in Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena counties. The fund offers locally accessible patient capital for working capital, expansion, and startup costs in rural Central Minnesota, with underwriting decisions made by an internal loan committee.
- Transportation Planning Services Regional transportation planning services for the five-county region, anchored by the 2045 Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). Includes corridor studies, public engagement, and coordination with the Minnesota Department of Transportation and county highway departments on regional transportation priorities.
- Comprehensive Planning Services Comprehensive municipal and county planning services including land use planning, plan updates, and technical assistance for local governments in the five-county region whose in-house capacity is limited.
- Central Region Economic Development Strategy (CREDS) Regional economic development strategy and planning document providing coordinated economic development priorities for the five-county region. CREDS serves as the framework for regional economic development activities and supports grant applications and program alignment across the region.
- Military Connections Program Program supporting military service members, veterans, and their families in the five-county region with regional coordination, services, and community connections.
- Welcoming Communities Program Program supporting new Americans and immigrant communities across the five-county region, advancing inclusive community development in partnership with local governments and community-based organizations.
- Agriculture & Local Foods Program Program supporting regional food systems and agricultural economic development across the five-county region, working with farmers, agricultural partners, and local food enterprises.
- Solar Schools Program Program supporting K-12 schools and educators with solar energy and energy literacy across the five-county region, including curriculum support and community engagement on renewable energy.
- Safe Routes to School Program supporting safe walking and biking routes for K-12 students in the five-county region through planning, infrastructure coordination, and school district partnerships.
- Energy & Environment Planning Services Regional energy and environmental planning services for local governments in the five-county region, supporting clean energy transitions, environmental review coordination, and planning work tied to programs such as Solar Schools.
- Placemaking Services Community-based placemaking services supporting local governments and communities in the five-county region with place-based planning, community design, and revitalization initiatives.
- Community Bridgemakers Program Collaborative program supporting community development and bridge-building work across the five-county region, working with local governments and community partners on shared regional priorities.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1.5 MW solar capacity installed through Solar Schools project
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Region Five Development Commission
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Region Five Development Commission technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Region Five Development Commission partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- SourcewellcoreR5DC will relocate its headquarters to the Sourcewell building in Staples effective April 1, 2026. Sourcewell is a self-funded government agency that supports communities through grants and services to schools, cities, nonprofits, and public agencies. While organizations remain independent with separate governance, missions, and operations, co-location reflects shared commitment to public service and regional collaboration.
- Minnesota Farmers Union FoundationmajorR5DC assisted MN Farmers Union Foundation in securing EDA grant funding for mobile meat processing project ($2.9 million grant). NCEDA provided $300,000 loan to support the project. The initiative addresses meat processing bottlenecks for small and mid-sized farmers in the region.
- North Central Economic Development Association (NCEDA)coreNCEDA is a 501(c)(3) affiliate organization of R5DC established in 1986 following receipt of a U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration grant. NCEDA provides business loans (gap and minority loans), household well water and septic system loans, and extensive business technical assistance. NCEDA also administered Small Business Emergency Lending during COVID and CARES Act Grant Funding for Revolving Loan Funds.
- Initiative FoundationcoreInitiative Foundation partners with R5DC and Sourcewell on the Community Bridgemakers program, focusing on mental health, social cohesion, and workforce development in Central Minnesota. The collaborative brings together regional leaders to create systemic change through collective power and partnerships.
- Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT)coreR5DC coordinates regional transportation programs for MnDOT District 3, including the Transportation Advisory Council (TAC), Area Transportation Partnership (ATP), and Safe Routes to School programs. R5DC fulfills workplans for MnDOT in statewide and regional planning.
- Central Lakes CollegecorePartnership with Central Lakes College Staples Campus for agricultural programs including Meat Cutting & Butchery program, agricultural career exploration (ACRE program), and hosting Solar Schools installations. R5DC partnered with CLC to offer free tuition for 22 students in the meat processing program.
- Sprout MNcoreSprout MN is the regional food hub and key partner in local foods initiatives including VetCSA program providing CSA food packages to veterans, North Central Regional USDA Food Business Center activities, and AgVet program for veteran agricultural career exploration. Sprout MN aggregates food from 80+ local growers.
- Xcel Energy Renewable Development FundmajorPartner in Solar Schools project providing 1.5 MW of solar capacity across three school districts. Xcel Energy contributed through the Renewable Development Fund alongside Minnesota Public Utilities, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, and other partners.
- Rural Renewable Energy AllianceminorPartner in Solar Schools initiative contributing to renewable energy capacity expansion in the five-county region.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Region Five Development Commission competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mid-Minnesota Regional Development Commission: A Minnesota regional development commission serving a multi-county region with parallel planning, economic development, transportation, and community development programs funded through EDA, MnDOT, and state partners.
- West Central Initiative: A regional community foundation and development organization serving west central Minnesota with planning, lending, and program funding that closely mirrors R5DC's combined planning + NCEDA lending model.
- Headwaters Regional Development Commission: A neighboring Minnesota regional development commission serving a rural multi-county region with planning, economic development, and transportation programs funded through the same federal and state sources as R5DC.
- Arrowhead Regional Development Commission: A MN regional development commission (Region 3) that operates the same EDD model as R5DC, providing planning, transportation, and community and economic development services to its member counties in northeast Minnesota.
- East Central Regional Development Commission: Another MN regional development commission with EDD designation, providing comprehensive planning, economic development, and transportation services to its member counties — directly analogous structure and funding stack to R5DC.
- Northwest Regional Development Commission: One of Minnesota's other legislatively chartered regional development commissions, also an EDD serving a multi-county region in northwest Minnesota. Directly comparable mission, funding model (EDA/MnDOT/state grants), and service mix to R5DC.
- Southwest Regional Development Commission: A Minnesota regional development commission providing comprehensive planning, economic development, and transportation coordination to its member counties in southwest Minnesota under the same EDD framework as R5DC.
- Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission: A MN regional development commission that operates with the same EDD designation, governance structure, and federal/state funding stack as R5DC, serving rural counties in the upper Minnesota River valley.
Others
- Initiative Foundation: A regional community foundation serving central Minnesota that co-leads the Community Bridgemakers program with R5DC and Sourcewell. Operates as a partner in workforce, mental health, and equity programming, addressing the same constituents as R5DC through philanthropic rather than public funding.
- Sourcewell: A self-funded Minnesota government agency that operates cooperative purchasing, grants, and services for schools, cities, nonprofits, and public agencies. R5DC is relocating its headquarters into the Sourcewell building in 2026, making it both a strategic partner and a structural peer in the regional public service ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Region Five Development Commission social profiles
Digital presenceRegion Five Development Commission financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Region Five Development Commission leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Region Five Development Commission subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Region Five Development Commission funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
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Region Five Development Commission M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Region Five Development Commission
What does Region Five Development Commission do?
Region Five Development Commission is a regional planning and development organization that delivers economic development, transportation planning, community development, comprehensive planning, and small business lending services for Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena counties in Central Minnesota. The organization functions as the designated Economic Development District (EDD) for the region, coordinating cross-county planning efforts and administering the NCEDA revolving loan fund for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Its core output is regional plans, strategies, and coordinated program services, not commercial products.
Is Region Five Development Commission a public or private company?
Region Five Development Commission is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Region Five Development Commission founded?
Region Five Development Commission was founded in 1973. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Region Five Development Commission based?
Region Five Development Commission is headquartered in Staples, United States, in the North America region.
How does Region Five Development Commission make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. NCEDA Business Lending is the primary driver. The others are government Grants and Contracts and technical Assistance Services.
Who are Region Five Development Commission's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mid-Minnesota Regional Development Commission, West Central Initiative, Headwaters Regional Development Commission, Arrowhead Regional Development Commission, East Central Regional Development Commission, Northwest Regional Development Commission, Southwest Regional Development Commission and Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission. Others are Initiative Foundation and Sourcewell.
Does Region Five Development Commission have an API?
No public API is recorded for Region Five Development Commission.
What industry is Region Five Development Commission in?
Region Five Development Commission's product category is Regional Planning and Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIANAD, Urban & Regional Planning (Land Use, Zoning, Master Planning), with a secondary code of BPAHAKAE, Regional & Land Use Planning. Its NAICS code is 9251 and its SIC code is 6552.