Sherburne County could soon be joining with three other counties to form an economic development district.

 

At a workshop meeting with the county commissioners Wednesday, county economic specialist Dan Weber said he met with representatives from Wright, Stearns and Benton counties Monday about forming a Regional Development Commission (RDC).

 

RDCs were established by statute in Minnesota in 1969 to provide technical assistance to local units of government.

 

RDCs provide many services, including community development, planning, grant writing and administration, environmental services, transportation planning, marketing and tourism.

 

There are currently nine  RDCs in the state covering 63 counties. In addition, the West Central Initiative covers another nine counties and the Metropolitan Council covers the seven Metro counties.  

Sherburne County is not part of an RDC.

 

“We are one of only two regions in the state that do not have this type of group,” said Weber.

 

Commissioner Felix Schmiesing said in the past there were meetings in St. Cloud about economic development and other issues, and it was assumed the group would be forming an RDC. But it never happened.

 

Weber said the RDC could be a big benefit to the county if there was ever a disaster.

 

“It provides a lot of federal funding.  For example, if Sherco was shut down, they would provide training for those employees that were out of a job and it would also provide benefits to expand industrial parks as well,” he said. “So it’s a little bit like an insurance policy.”

 

Weber said Benton County wasn’t part of an RDC when fire destroyed the Verso Paper Mill in Sartell in 2012. 

 

“So they weren’t eligible for a lot of funds that would have been available,” he said.

 

Commissioner Rachel Leonard asked if the RDC would be a taxing authority and whether county would be required to levy to support it.

 

Weber said the group would not have taxing authority and any money the county put in would be a contribution approved by the board.

 

“We would present a budget to you like the library does,” said Weber. “But we’re not at that point.”

 

Schmiesing asked whether the county could join an existing RDC if any of the other three counties weren’t interested.

 

Weber said RDC areas are set by state, so it would have to be brought before the legislature for redistricting.

 

He asked whether the board would be interested in exploring the possibility of forming a quad-county economic district. By consensus, the board agreed it was something worth looking into.

 

Weber will be presenting a resolution to that effect at the next board meeting. He said the economic development authorities from the other three counties will be doing the same thing.