Region Nine Development Commission Honored with 2025 Impact Award from the National Association of Development Organizations

Region Nine Development Commission based in Mankato has recently been recognized with a 2025 Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) for the Building a More Sustainable Model for Rural EMS in Region Nine project.

This project was a partnership between the University of Minnesota Extension – Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Region Nine Development Commission, and South Central EMS. The goal of the project was to find and develop strategies to address the root causes of poor recruitment and retention in the rural EMS profession. This included an environmental scan of recruitment and retention practices and conditions in rural EMS nationwide, a review of relevant literature, interviews with stakeholders and key informants, and both in-person and online listening sessions with EMS professionals and other relevant stakeholders.

“Access to reliable EMS services is vital to the health and resilience of rural communities in south central Minnesota. RNDC is honored to receive this national recognition and proud to have partnered with local and statewide leaders to help look for solutions for our EMS professionals. This award affirms the critical need to invest in the people and systems that keep our communities safe,” said RNDC Executive Director Nicole Griensewic.
Presented annually, the NADO Impact Awards honor regional development organizations and their partners for strengthening communities, building regional resilience, and enhancing local economies through innovative approaches to economic and community development. NADO is a Washington, DC-based membership association of regional development organizations that promotes programs and policies that strengthen local governments, communities, and economies.

These award-winning efforts will be recognized during NADO’s 2025 Annual Training Conference, held this coming October in Salt Lake City, Utah. All selected projects are featured in an interactive StoryMap that showcases summaries, images, and key partners. The map is available at www.nado.org/2025impactawards/.

“The Impact Awards are an annual reminder of the creativity and commitment that regional development organizations bring to their communities,” said 2024-2025 NADO President Rick Hunsaker, Executive Director of the Region XII Council of Governments in Iowa. “This year’s awardees show how local and regional partnerships, driven by vision and collaboration, can lead to lasting positive change across our country.”