GMNP Update - December 1, 2025

GMNP UPDATE - DECEMBER 2025

Dear GMNP Members,

This has been a busy but exciting month. There have been so many summits and conferences happening that have allowed me to connect with many of you! There were so many highlights, but a couple stood out.

The Rural Democracy Summit—hosted by the West Central Initiative Foundation—in Morris brought together national and state leaders to provide insights and facilitate brainstorming about ways we could build a better future in west central Minnesota. It was a highlight to hear insights and advice from key leaders, and attendees left with ideas and inspiration.

I also spent time with several of you thinking about child care solutions—I joined the First Children Finance Foundation of the Future Summit, where we heard from leaders like Arthur Rolnick and GMNP member Mark Borseth about cutting-edge child care solutions. It was another inspirational event that left attendees with fresh ideas to address the child care shortage and connected leaders in this space.

I also saw many of you at the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities (CGMC) Fall Conference, where we got to hear a preview of the 2026 legislative session from lawmakers, discuss key issues for Greater Minnesota, and do some networking. It was great to see everyone who was able to attend!

Best,

Darielle Dannen

Executive Director, Greater Minnesota Partnership

UPDATES

Minnesota Chamber Foundation – 2026 Business Benchmarks Report Out Now

The Minnesota Chamber Foundation recently released their annual report looking at key economic indicators. This year’s report highlighted some headwinds for the state around the state’s workforce (which is shrinking), job growth (which is slowing), and GDP (which is dropping). This annual report is always a helpful look at the challenges the state is facing and is worth a read.

First Children’s Finance – Annual Child Care Supply/Demand Gap Analysis Out Now

One of the key data points I use when thinking about the state of child care in our state is to use the data from this report. Key takeaway from this year’s report—the Greater Minnesota child care shortage remains dire, with 42,581 child care slots short as of June 2025. It’s not the worst year for Greater Minnesota’s child care shortage, but these persistent gaps speak to the need for lawmakers to redouble their efforts to support tools and policies that will continue to close these gaps.

The summary report (year-over-year comparison) and the individual regional reports can be found here: https://www.ruralchildcare.org/data

EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

GMNP Membership Meeting - December 3 (via Zoom)

Join the GMNP for our annual membership meeting where members will hear an update on the Partnership, discuss the GMNP legislative agenda for the upcoming session, and approve the next GMNP Board of Directors and executive leadership. More agenda details to follow! Please register here to receive the meeting link.

GMNP Legislative Planning Session - December 5 (via Zoom)

During this event, we will brainstorm ideas for the 2026 legislative session and take your input and insights on some of the most pressing issues GMNP is working on—so bring your ideas to share! GMNP Executive Director Darielle Dannen, along with President Scott Marquart and Vice President Mark Borseth, will host this insightful and informational conversation and will be available for Q&A. From housing to child care, you won't want to miss this discussion! Please register here to receive the meeting link.

MEMBER RESOURCES

Partner Organization/Member Advocacy Training

MN Consortium of Community Developers (MCCD) and Northwest MN Foundation (NWMF) are hosting an advocacy training for those located in Northwest Minnesota on December 18th from 12:30pm – 3:30pm. This is the second year that they are offering this training and are excited to offer it again!

Register Here: https://NorthwestMNAdvocacyTraining.eventbrite.com

Date: December 18, 2025

Time: 12:30pm - 3:30pm

Location: Firefly Center for Art & Wellbeing, Fosston, MN

** Register before the end of the month to save 25% on registration

FUNDING RESOURCES

Child Care:

First Children’s Finance opened applications on December 1st for the next round of the Rural Child Care Innovation Program. Round 2: RCCIP Applications will be open December 1, 2025, and will be due January 26, 2026, by 5 pm CST. For more information about RCCIP, visit: https://www.ruralchildcare.org/get-involved

Workforce Training – Available Now

Cannabis Industry Training Program (CanTrain) – DEED is soliciting grant applications for the Cannabis Industry Training (CanTrain) Program, a competitive grant funding opportunity through DEED’s Office of Adult Career Pathways.
Minnesota Job Skills Partnership – Partnership and Pathways Programs – DEED is soliciting grant applications for grant funding for new and incumbent worker training programs.
Advancing the Future MedTech Workforce – DEED is soliciting grant applications for projects responding to the evolution of skillsets required as the MedTech sector embraces the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other advanced technology .

Economic Development – Available Now

Transportation Economic Development Infrastructure (TEDI) Program – Competitive grant program available to communities for road and public infrastructure projects that create jobs and support economic development.
Small Business Assistance Partnerships Program – DEED is seeking proposals from individual organizations, regional coalitions, and state-wide entrepreneurial support services providers to provide no-cost small business development and technical assistance services to entrepreneurs and small business owners, with a particular focus on underserved populations and geographies including individuals who are Black, Indigenous, people of color, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, low-income individuals, and includes people from rural Minnesota.
Minnesota Small Business Development Center – DEED is soliciting proposals from qualified organizations to be regional service center hosts and partners of the Minnesota Small Business Development Center (MnSBDC) Network.
Contamination Cleanup and Investigation and RAP Development Grant Program – This grant program assists local communities with the investigation and cleanup of soil, soil vapor, and groundwater contamination at previously or currently developed sites.
Small Cities Development Program – The Small Cities Development Program (SCDP) Unit is accepting Preliminary Proposals, the first stage in the grant application process, for eligible activities addressing community needs for owner-occupied housing rehabilitation, rental rehabilitation and/or commercial building rehabilitation or public facility improvements through SCDP under M.S. § 116J.401.

MPCA Grants – Available Now

Local climate action grants – Funding for planning and implementation projects that enable local jurisdictions to adapt to extreme weather events and a changing climate and/or reduce the local jurisdiction’s contributions to the causes of climate change. Application deadline December 23, 2025.
Planning grants for stormwater, wastewater and community resilience – Funding for climate planning projects to communities across the state. Application deadline December 11, 2025.
Brownfield Investigation Grants – Publicly or privately owned sites are eligible for grants that can help fund initial work on brownfield sites.
Environmental Assistance Loans – Provides financial assistance to accelerate the application and/or improvement of environmental processes and technologies.
Small Business Environmental Improvement Loans – Zero-percent interest loans for small businesses for capital equipment purchases that help the company meet or exceed environmental regulations.

CONTACT & CONNECT

Darielle Dannen, Executive Director

darielle@gmnp.org

(651) 259-1908

Emma Nelson, Membership & Operations

emma@gmnp.org

(651) 259-1936

Alex Wildfang, Media & Communications

ahwildfang@flaherty-hood.com

(651) 259-1917

Visit us online at www.gmnp.org

The Greater Minnesota Partnership advocates for public policies and investments that stimulate prosperity throughout Greater Minnesota.

Copyright © 2025 Flaherty & Hood, P.A., All rights reserved.

Visit us online at gmnp.org

Our mailing address is:
Greater Minnesota Partnership
525 Park St., Suite 470
St. Paul, MN 55103

Contact: info@gmnp.org or 651-259-1908