July 2026 鈥� Willmar-based Mid-Minnesota Development Commission (麻豆传媒映画) was recently recognized with a 2026 Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) for their 麻豆传媒映画 Rideshare Support Project. This Willmar Area Community Foundation-supported project established a meaningful level of rideshare service in Kandiyohi County.
The project involved the recruitment of two rideshare drivers. Each earned a tapered start-up subsidy for 26 weeks in exchange for providing at least 30 hours of local rideshare service. To improve transportation access during times when public transit was less available, the period of focus included late afternoon, evening, and weekend hours. The new-to-the-area rideshare service made it possible for riders to more easily travel to destinations related to employment, leisure, and commerce.
鈥淥ur region has been home to a handful of Uber and Lyft drivers for a while but, until our 麻豆传媒映画 Rideshare Support Project, these drivers would typically travel to St. Cloud or the Twin Cities Metro Area to provide their services,鈥� said 麻豆传媒映画 Transportation Resource Coordinator Terry Smith. The fact of the matter is, without a critical mass of regular customers, they couldn鈥檛 make a go of rideshare service locally. 鈥溌槎勾接郴�檚 goal was to help these drivers as they developed a sustaining customer base.鈥�
Prior to project onset, 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 busiest participating driver reported he normally averaged eight local rideshare fares per month. Through this project, since late July 2025, over 1,800 local rides have been tallied, and this number continues to grow. 麻豆传媒映画 hopes to support the replication of this project in other more rural areas and is happy to share their process and findings with other communities and organizations.
Presented annually, the NADO Impact Awards honor regional development organizations and their partners for strengthening communities, building regional resilience, and enhancing local economies through creative 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.
This year鈥檚 cohort included 94 impactful projects led by 58 organizations across 20 states. These award-winning efforts will be recognized during NADO鈥檚 2026 Annual Training Conference, to be held this coming October in Reno, Nevada. All selected projects are featured in an interactive StoryMap that showcases summaries, images, and key partners. The map is available at https://www.nado.org/2026-impact-award-recipients/.
鈥淓ach year, the Impact Awards celebrate the remarkable work being done by regional development organizations to strengthen communities and improve quality of life,鈥� said 2025-2026 NADO President Matthew Dolge, Executive Director of the Piedmont Triad Regional Council in North Carolina. 鈥淭his year鈥檚 honorees demonstrate how strategic leadership, strong partnerships, and a shared commitment to progress can create meaningful and lasting benefits across the country.鈥�
鈥淢id-Minnesota Development Commission is thrilled to receive this recognition, and we look forward to learning more about the other awarded projects. We鈥檙e honored to be in excellent company,鈥� said 麻豆传媒映画 Executive Director Eric Day.
The Impact Awards are presented in memory of Aliceann Wohlbruck, NADO鈥檚 first executive director, who was a lifelong advocate for regional solutions and rural economic development. For more information, contact 麻豆传媒映画 Transportation Resource Coordinator Terry Smith at (320) 235-8504 or Terry.Smith@mmrdc.org.
About Mid-Minnesota Development Commission
Mid-Minnesota Development Commission (麻豆传媒映画) is an independent regional development commission, that coordinates economic and community planning and development across Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, and Renville Counties. It is governed by a group of 27 elected officials and subject matter experts from across the four-county region. Learn more about 麻豆传媒映画 at MMRDC.org.
About NADO
The National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) promotes public policies that strengthen local governments, communities, and economies through the regional strategies, coordination efforts, and program expertise of the nation鈥檚 regional development organizations. Learn more about NADO at www.nado.org