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REV partner to stop expanding after 2026; Kasson will be supported through final year
Summary
Kasson’s REV partner, identified as Smith, told the EDA it will stop bringing new cities into the REV program after 2026; Kasson remains in the program for the rest of the year and will have a new coach, Mary Ay. EDA staff plan a Rev Core meeting and noted outstanding grant funds.
Kasson City Economic Development staff reported that Smith, the organization operating the REV (Rural Entrepreneurship Ventures) program, has decided not to add new cities after 2026 and will instead concentrate on other internal priorities. Coordinator said Smith will support Kasson through the remainder of 2026 and that the coach assigned to Kasson will step down; "Mary Ay is going to step in and be the coach instead for this final year," staff said.
EDA staff said they will schedule a Rev Core team meeting with local representatives, including John and Katie, to plan how to use remaining grant funds and to coordinate the program’s wind-down in Kasson. The Coordinator told the board that staff had also met with Ready and John Wade to press for more Ready engagement in Kasson, and that the EDA paid the first half of a $2,500 investment to Ready with the second half due later in 2026.
Why it matters: The REV program has been a source of small-business training and one-on-one counseling in Kasson; staff said the summer REV series averaged about 12 participants per session and that the city’s partnership with the Small Business Development Center in Rochester has grown. Without Smith onboarding new communities after 2026, Kasson staff said they want to ensure local entrepreneurs still receive support and that remaining grant funds are used before the program finishes its local engagement.
What’s next: Staff will convene the Rev Core team and follow up with Ready on the scope of its local work. The EDA packet also included Ready’s 2025 annual report for review.
Attribution: Comments on the REV program and the coaching change were made by the Coordinator. The meeting packet and Ready’s annual report were referenced by Ian during the EDA annual report presentation.
Ending: Staff said they will propose meeting times for the Rev Core team and return with a plan to use remaining funds and to document Ready’s role for the final year of local participation.
