In-progress Projects
Dozens of communities around the state have partnered on projects through ESMC through two rounds of awards. Projects listed below are currently in progress. To view completed projects, visit the Completed Projects page.
Article: Empowering Small Minnesota Communities Round 1 Awards (September 2024).
Article: Empowering Small Minnesota Communities Round 2 Awards (July 2025).
- Central region
- Metro/Multi-region
- Northeast region
- Northwest region
- Southeast region
- Southwest region
The Central region covers Becker, Benton, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Kannabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Otter Tail, Stearns, Todd, and Wadena counties. It also includes the tribal nations of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, and the White Earth Nation.
Community | ESMC Pathway/Round | Project Description |
|---|---|---|
| White Earth Land Recovery Project | Tactical Action/ Round 2 |
The Metro region covers Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington, and Wright counties. It also includes the tribal nation of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux (Dakota) Community.
Community | ESMC Pathway/Round | Project Description |
|---|---|---|
| City of Centerville | Community Futures/ Round 2 | Early stage asset mapping and community strategy. Includes community engagement around comprehensive plan and downtown development plan. |
| City of Harris | Community Futures/Round 1 | Connecting residential areas to downtown, city and regional parks, and Goose Creek via bike and pedestrian trails, as well as park improvements and enhancements. Elements of stormwater and water quality management. Identifying appropriate areas for future housing, commercial, and industrial development. |
The Northeast region covers Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, Pine, and St. Louis counties. It also includes the tribal nations of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa and the Grand Portage Band and the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.
Community | ESMC Pathway/Round | Project Description |
|---|---|---|
| Arrowhead Regional Development Organization | Tactical Action/ Round 2 | Access to rural healthcare |
| Embarrass Region Fair Association | Tactical Action/ Round 1 | Focus on plans for event center renovation and energy audit. |
| City of Hinckley | Community Futures/ Round 2 | Early stage asset mapping and community strategy. Broader economic development and toursim strategy. Ties to wayfinding and signage work. |
| City of Sandstone | Community Futures/ Round 2 | Early stage asset mapping and community strategy. Streetscape plan. |
The Northwest region covers Beltrami, Clay, Clearwater, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Noman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau, and Wilkin counties. It also includes the tribal nations of the Red Lake Nation and the White Earth Nation.
Community | ESMC Pathway/Round | Project Description |
|---|---|---|
| City of Crookston | Community Futures/Round 1 | Broad focus on strengthening community infrastructure, collaboration and coordination. |
| Headwaters Regional Development Commission | Community Futures/Round 1 | Broadly focused economic development and community planning |
| Warroad Community Development | Community Futures/Round 1 | Placemaking, economic development, greenspace and cultural space coordination |
The Southeast region covers Blue Earth, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Le Sueur, Mower, Nicollet, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, and Winona counties. It also includes the tribal nation of the Prairie Island Indian Community.
Community | ESMC Pathway/Round | Project Description |
|---|---|---|
| Atelier/Plainview | Tactical Action/ Round 1 | Atelier@1901 building and energy assessment. Welcoming communities programming |
| City of Kenyon | Community Futures/ Round 2 | Early stage asset mapping and community strategy. Focused on park and community amenity planning and connectivity between park/downtown and nearby housing developments. |
| Preston Historical Society | Community Futures/ Round 2 | Early stage asset mapping and community strategy. Oriented around regional trail connections for the Root River Trail and other interconnected planning. |
| City of Rushford | Tactical Action/ Round 2 | Building reuse and plan and civic engagement/leadership development for community support for future event center |
The Southwest region covers Big Stone, Brown, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Douglas, Grant, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Pope, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Sibley, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, Watonwan, and Yellow Medicine counties. It also includes the tribal nations of Upper Sioux Community Pezihutazizi Oyate and Cansa’yapi/Lower Sioux Indian Community.
Community | ESMC Pathway/Round | Project Description |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Sioux Indian Community | Tactical Action/ Round 2 | |
| City of Marshall | Tactical Action/ Round 2 | Parks master planning processes |