What Southwest Regional Development Commission does

Southwest Regional Development Commission (SRDC) is a public regional development organization established in 1973 under the Minnesota Regional Development Act of 1969 and headquartered in Slayton, Minnesota. It operates as a federally designated Economic Development District under the U.S. Economic Development Administration and is governed by 37 regional commissioners representing nine counties (Cottonwood, Jackson, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, and Rock), 80 cities, 162 townships, 32 school districts, and the Lower Sioux Indian Community. The organization serves a region of approximately 117,000 people across 5,911 square miles of southwestern Minnesota.

SRDC's core service portfolio is organized into three lines: Economic Development (Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, DevelopMN, Revolving Loan Funds, Technical Assistance), Community Development (Planning Services, Initiatives & Collaboration), and Transportation Planning (Active Living & Trails Planning, Human Services Transit Coordination Planning, Safe Routes to School). The technology backbone is ArcGIS-based geospatial mapping for community, economic, and transportation planning, supplemented by Adobe Creative Cloud tools for design and communications. The Revolving Loan Fund program has deployed $11.7M+ across 186 businesses since 1995, with $83M+ in leveraged regional follow-on funding. PACE financing is administered in partnership with the Rural Minnesota Energy Board.

Revenue is generated primarily through federal grants (EDA, USDA Rural Development), state agency partnerships (MnDOT planning grants, DEED), and administrative fees from managed loan funds, including 1-1.5% origination fees on RLF loans and interest income. SRDC's GTM motion is sales-led and relationship-based, with services delivered directly through staff at the Slayton headquarters and on-site visits across the region, supplemented by partner referrals from state and federal agencies. SRDC also provides staffing and coordination services to multiple external entities (Rural Minnesota Energy Board, Southwest Solid Waste Commission, Southwest Clean Energy Resource Teams, Friends of the Casey Jones State Trail, RSVP), and in 1992 spawned the Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership as a separate entity to address regional affordable housing needs.

Name

Southwest Regional Development Commission

Legal name

Southwest Regional Development Commission

Website

https://swrdc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Southwest Regional Development Commission is a federally designated Economic Development District serving nine counties in southwestern Minnesota, providing economic, community, and transportation planning, gap financing through Revolving Loan Funds and PACE, and grant-writing technical assistance to local governments, businesses, and community organizations across the region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Economic and Community Development Services

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (925120), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Regional & Land Use Planning (BPAHAKAE), Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building & Policy Advisory Programs (BPADABAO), Real Estate Public-Private Partnership (PPP) & Infrastructure-Adjacent Real Estate Advisory (BPAJANAL), Rural, Tribal & Special-Population Housing Programs (FSALAKAL)

Keywords

• Regional economic development
• Community planning services
• Revolving loan fund administration
• Transportation planning
• Government technical assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Slayton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Federal and State Grant Administration: SRDC operates as a regional development organization funded through federal grants (EDA, USDA Rural Development), state agency partnerships (MnDOT planning grants), and administrative fees from loan programs. The commission leverages these funds to provide services to regional stakeholders.
2. Revolving Loan Fund Administration: SRDC administers multiple loan programs including the SRDC Revolving Loan Fund, PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy), Falcon Development Corporation RLF, Jackson County RLF, and Heron Lake RLF. Revenue is generated through origination fees (1-1.5% of loan proceeds) and interest on loans.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Southwest Regional Development Commission (SRDC) is a regional development organization that provides economic, community, and physical development services across nine counties in Southwest Minnesota. Its core offerings are planning and technical assistance programs (comprehensive and strategic planning, grant research and writing, GIS mapping, community engagement), transportation planning (active living, trails, Safe Routes to School), and business financing through administered revolving loan funds and PACE energy efficiency loans. Services are delivered primarily to government units, businesses, and community organizations in the region at low or no cost, supplemented by revenue from loan origination fees and interest.

Product overview

Southwest Regional Development Commission (SRDC) is a regional development organization providing economic development, community development, and transportation planning services to nine counties in Southwest Minnesota. Rather than a unified software product, SRDC offers a portfolio of service programs including the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), DevelopMN regional planning initiative, Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) for business financing, Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) for energy efficiency, Technical Assistance, Planning Services, Transportation Planning, Active Living & Trails Planning, Safe Routes to School, and Community Development Services. These programs work together to connect government units, businesses, and communities with resources and planning services to promote regional growth and economic opportunity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) A federally required economic planning document developed by SRDC that serves as an economic roadmap for the Southwest Minnesota region, analyzing the regional economy and guiding goals, action plans, and investment priorities.
• Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Gap financing program providing loans from $5,000 to $100,000 for new or existing businesses in the nine-county region for fixed asset and working capital financing, designed to bridge the gap between owner financing and private lender financing. Administered by SRDC and partners including the SRDC RLF, Falcon Development Corporation RLF, Jackson County RLF, and Heron Lake RLF.
• Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Energy efficiency financing program administered by SRDC in partnership with the Rural Minnesota Energy Board that assists property owners with financing improvements that increase energy efficiency, repaid through property tax assessments.
• Technical Assistance Professional expertise and services including Federal EDA Planning & Grant Packaging, Economic Resiliency Planning, Workforce Development Collaboration, Grant Research, Project Management, Community Engagement/Visioning, Strategic Planning, Business Marketing & Communications, Mapping Services, and Policy Development & Advocacy.
• Planning Services Individualized planning services including Comprehensive Planning, Strategic Planning, Communications Planning, Land Use Planning, and Zoning Ordinances tailored to community needs.
• Transportation Planning Over 30 years of coordination of transportation programs including Active Living & Trails Planning, Safe Routes to School, Regional Trails Planning, Freight Planning, Transit Planning, Long-Range Planning, Highway Corridor Studies, and Sidewalk/Trail Infrastructure Planning, performed under an ongoing MnDOT planning grant.
• Active Living & Trails Planning Assistance to communities for building trails, sidewalks, and bike paths, and developing active living plans in partnership with the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP).
• Safe Routes to School Program encouraging children and community members to walk, bike, and roll more often through SRTS plans for communities within the nine-county region, along with grant writing and implementation assistance.
• Community Development Services Services improving quality of life including Planning Services, Technical Assistance, Community Engagement/Visioning, Grant Research & Writing, Communications & Marketing Assistance, Surveying, Mapping Services, Research & Data Analysis, Energy Planning, Welcoming Communities & DEI Initiatives, and Policy Development & Advocacy.
• DevelopMN Statewide planning initiative by the Minnesota Association of Development Organizations (MADO) that creates a common framework for regional economic development and identifies strategies to address challenges and opportunities in Greater Minnesota.

Quantifiable outcome

• $11.7+ million in RLF loans deployed since 1995
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRDC works closely with the federal Economic Development Administration to provide economic development assistance, access EDA grants, and implement regional development programs. SRDC is a federally designated Economic Development District.
• U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRDC collaborates with USDA Rural Development to provide assistance to communities for business development, infrastructure, and rural economic initiatives.
• Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRDC works closely with Minnesota DEED and other state agencies to ensure communities can be responsive to business and community needs.
• Minnesota Association of Development Organizations (MADO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRDC is a member of MADO, working alongside nine other Regional Development Organizations across Minnesota to promote and create economic prosperity in Greater Minnesota through the DevelopMN initiative.
• Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRDC has an ongoing MnDOT planning grant for transportation planning coordination. SRDC is a member of Area Transportation Partnerships 7 & 8 and Transportation Alternatives Program Subcommittees, leads the region's Transportation Advisory Committee, and serves as liaison between MnDOT and regional transportation projects.
• Rural Minnesota Energy Board (RMEB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRDC provides staffing and coordination for RMEB, an 18-county joint powers board collaborating on energy-related information, policy, planning, and implementation. SRDC administers the PACE program for RMEB member counties.
• Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRDC staffs the Southwest Clean Energy Resource Teams coordinator. CERTs is a statewide public-private partnership connecting individuals and communities with resources for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. SRDC has been a partner since 2004.
• Minnesota GreenStep CitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRDC is a partner in Minnesota GreenStep Cities, a voluntary challenge and assistance program helping cities achieve sustainability goals. SRDC provides assistance to interested cities and supports current members.
• Southwest Solid Waste CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRDC provides staffing and coordination for the 12-county Southwest Regional Solid Waste Commission, working on solid waste and recycling issues to protect the region's environment while providing necessary public services.
• Southwest Minnesota Housing PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRDC created the Housing Partnership in 1992 with three Community Action Agencies to address affordable housing needs. The Partnership has since expanded to south-central Minnesota and shares a building with SRDC.
• Explore Southwest MinnesotaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRDC provides staffing and coordination services for Explore Southwest Minnesota, a collaborative effort to market and promote tourism and recruitment efforts in the region.
• Friends of the Casey Jones State TrailminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRDC provides staffing and outreach services for Friends of the Casey Jones State Trail, advocating for community access to and development of a quality, connected state trail in Southwest Minnesota.
• Southwest Health and Human ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRDC collaborates with Southwest Health and Human Services on regional initiatives and projects affecting the region.
• Southwest Minnesota Private Industry CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRDC works with the Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council on workforce development and economic initiatives.
• National Association of Development Organizations (NADO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRDC is a member of NADO, which promotes regional strategies, partnerships, and solutions to strengthen economic competitiveness and quality of life across America's local communities.
• Minnesota Rural Broadband CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRDC is an active member and the Executive Director serves as Chair of the Minnesota Rural Broadband Coalition, working to ensure everyone in Minnesota can access affordable broadband networks.
• Small Business Development CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSRDC connects potential new businesses with small business development partners to support regional entrepreneurship.
• Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRDC works closely with SHIP to support community-driven solutions for active living and active transportation initiatives across the region.
• University of Minnesota Extension Regional Sustainable Development PartnershipsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRDC partners with the Southwest Regional Sustainable Development Partnership (RSDP), one of five regional partnerships connecting local communities with University of Minnesota resources for sustainable development.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Region 5 Development Commission: MADO-member Regional Development Commission serving central Minnesota with comparable economic and community development programming, including CEDS, RLF administration, and transportation planning. Operates under the identical Minnesota Regional Development Act framework as SRDC.
• Northwest Minnesota Regional Development Commission: One of ten MADO-affiliated Regional Development Commissions in Minnesota, providing the same suite of economic development, planning, and revolving loan fund services to its multi-county region in northwest Minnesota. Closest structural peer — same enabling statute, same federal EDD designation, same service mix.
• Mid-Minnesota Development Commission: Another MADO peer organization providing regional planning, economic development, and loan fund administration across central Minnesota counties. Previous employer of SRDC Executive Director Jayme Trusty, indicating direct organizational and operational comparability.
• West Central Initiative: West-central Minnesota regional development foundation serving a multi-county area with economic development, planning, and grant-making functions overlapping SRDC's portfolio, though organized as a private foundation rather than a state-authorized commission.
• Arrowhead Regional Development Commission: Northeast Minnesota RDC and MADO member with matching EDD designation, regional planning responsibilities, and revolving loan fund operations. Comparable in service breadth and rural-region focus.
• Headwaters Regional Development Commission: MADO-affiliated RDC in north-central Minnesota offering the standard portfolio of community planning, economic development strategy, and grant administration services. Directly comparable in mandate, scale, and funding model.
• East Central Regional Development Commission: MADO-member RDC with parallel economic development, planning, and transportation service offerings in east-central Minnesota. Functions as a near-clone of SRDC's operating model under the same state statutory framework.

Regional players

• Initiative Foundation: Central Minnesota regional foundation providing economic development grants, lending, and community development programming. Overlaps with SRDC's RLF and community development services but operates as a private nonprofit with different funding constraints.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/602475013462068

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Southwest Regional Development Commission