How to Apply
If you are interested in learning more about the program contact the ESMC team member for your area and schedule a meeting to determine how ESMC may assist your community.
Applicants interested in the Short-term Task Pathway may submit an intake form anytime. These proposals will be evaluated on a rolling basis by the ESMC program team and reviewed based on the same evaluation criteria as the other pathways. The ESMC program team will also base decisions on ESMC capacity for this part of the program.
A request for proposals for the Specific Projects and Community Strategies pathways opened on March 27, 2026. Applications were due on April 30, 2026. Selected proposals will be notified no later than July 31, 2026.
Once you have spoken with an ESMC area lead and submitted an intake form, you may submit a Specific Project or Community Strategies application.
Example Workflow for ESMC proposal process for open pathways
Here are the steps for application:
| Step | Short-Term Tasks | Specific Projects | Community Strategies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Recommended - Email your ESMC team contact to schedule a meeting with the ESMC team to confirm eligibility, discuss the proposed project, and determine how the ESMC program can assist the community or communities involved. Complete a general ESMC Round 3 Intake Form (live on March 27, 2026). | ||
| 2. | Submit Short-Term Tasks Application. | Submit a Specific Projects application describing the proposed project, the community or communities in which it is to take place. (Application live on March 27, 2026) | Submit a Community Strategies application describing community needs and interest. (Application live on March 27, 2026) |
| 3. | Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis by ESMC team. | For Specific Projects and Community Strategies, a review will be conducted by the ESMC team, incorporating feedback from community reviewers, to identify finalists. Review will be based on the criteria below. For Community Strategies applicants, the review may include a site visit with applicant. | |
| 4. | Selected applicants will develop a scope of work with UMN researchers. | Community project lead(s) for finalists will meet with UMN research team(s) for joint scoping and plan development. | Once identified, applicants selected for Community Strategies will work closely with the Minnesota Design Center and ESMC leads to develop next steps to initiate the effort. |
| 5. | Development of a statement of work by UMN research team(s); reviewed by the community. After it is approved by community project lead(s). | ||
| 6. | Short term task work begins when scope is complete. | Specific Project work begins. | Community Strategies work begins. |
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
Eligibility
Each applicant community must have fewer than 15,000 people based upon the 2020 US Census. Eligible applicants or team members include:
- Tribal Nations that share boundaries with the State of Minnesota
- Local units of government (county, city, township, school district, special districts such as watershed districts, regional development commissions)
- Nonprofit organizations and community-based organizations in partnership with a local unit of government. (Partnerships between governmental and non-governmental entities that demonstrate collaboration and community support are encouraged to apply.)
Collaboration among communities is encouraged. Collaborative proposals that seek to work across multiple jurisdictions are eligible as long as each proposed jurisdiction has an individual population of less than 15,000.
Community Strategies-only: Priority will be given to communities that have the capacity to engage in Community Strategies work but have limited staff capacity and/or financial resources (for example total tax base, poverty levels, size of jurisdictional workforce).
Selection Criteria
ESMC was created by a state statute (Chapter 68, Section 15, 2023) for “support and assistance to small communities that includes methods to incorporate consideration of sustainability, resiliency, and adaptation to the impacts of climate change; and identification and cross-sector analysis of any potential associated projects and efficiencies through coordinate investments in other infrastructure or assets.” This program was provided additional funding in the 2025 legislative session through Chapter 8, Section 8.
In response to this appropriation language, applications will be evaluated according to the following evaluation criteria.
Does the proposed effort…
- Improve planning and coordination for infrastructure improvements, so that projects deliver more value and better reflect community identity?
- Advance resilience and sustainability?
- Demonstrate a high level of innovation and community impact?
- Encompass a realistic and actionable scope?
- Aspire to a community-driven and collaborative process
- Engage historically underrepresented communities. This may include tribal nations, people of color, immigrants, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, women, and people with low incomes, etc.
- Include tangible engagement of residents impacted by the proposed effort?
- Is there a set of partners with the availability capacity to lead and implement the work locally, and partner with the UMN?
- Is the community at a stage with relationships, momentum, and interest that effort in the area will be impactful and timely?
- For Community Strategies pathway, reviews will prioritize communities that have projects or timely needs in one or more of the following focus areas for selection in order to better position the community for funding and partnership opportunities: Planned Infrastructure Projects, Water Issues, Environment-based Infrastructure Systems, and Future Re/development Projects.
- Fit with the University of Minnesota's mission and capabilities?