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Northwest Regional Development Commission outlines 2024 spending, local programs and Crookston projects
Summary
The Northwest RDC presented its 2024 annual budget, aging and economic‑development programs and said Polk County’s 2024 tax levy contribution was $121,525 of a regional levy used to match federal and state grant funding.
Darla Walder, executive with the Northwest Regional Development Commission (RDC), and transportation director Tim Finseth presented the RDC’s annual report to the Polk County board, reviewing the organization’s 2024 budget, aging services and recent local projects.
Walder said the RDC’s total 2024 budget was $8.65 million and that the 2025 proposed budget is about $7.69 million; the decline reflects the end of some COVID and ARPA funding streams for aging programs. She reported the RDC’s regional tax levy was $334,380 in 2024 across seven counties; Polk County’s share of that match was $121,525.
Walder highlighted aging and senior services that serve Polk County and the wider 21‑county area: the Senior LinkAge Line (toll‑free assistance and counseling), return‑to‑community supports that help older adults transition from institutional care to home, evidence‑based health programs, and a new RAPS grant (referrals for older adults with open vulnerable adult cases). She said Polk County’s the RDC‑supported services included 237 home‑delivered meals and facility services for dozens of older adults, and that Polk County discharges 49 older adults from institutional care through the RDC’s return‑to‑community program.
Tim Finseth reviewed transportation and economic development activity in Polk County. He said an approximately $7.1 million industrial project in Crookston has a pending EDA (Economic Development Administration) application that could fund roughly half the project; the RDC also secured about $1.1 million to help Crookston work on Highway 2 project‑related curb, sidewalk and related public improvements. He noted additional grants for Fosston (about $349,000 and $249,000) for sidewalks and trails, and described Safe Routes to School work and other local transportation grants under review.
Walder described a revolving loan fund (RLF) that has put about $7.73 million into Polk County projects historically. She also discussed senior‑focused programs and health insurance counseling that saved regional older adults an estimated $2.32 million during open‑enrollment counseling.
Commissioners thanked the RDC for the report and noted the return on local levy investment. Walder and Finseth answered technical questions and said they would follow up with staff on local project details.
