Project Pathways

There are three different pathways communities can pick from to engage in the program.

For reference, the communities that were selected in the first and second rounds are described here.

Short-Term Tasks

Specific tasks where University partners can assist within a time-limited scope (1-4 weeks). Good candidates for projects/tasks proposed for Short-term Task projects are those that are concrete and may add to a larger infrastructure project, plan, or proposal from the community. These projects will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis;

Examples: Gathering and analyzing socio-demographic data, GIS community mapping, policy research.

Learn More: Review Short-term Pathway Description

How to get started: Please fill out the ESMC Short-term Tasks Form.

Specific Projects

A request for proposals for the Specific Projects and Community Strategies pathways will open on March 27, 2026. Applications are due on April 30, 2026. Selected proposals will be notified no later than July 31, 2026.

Communities with a specific need or project to propose can apply for support from the University of Minnesota to further develop the effort. Applicant communities might come to the ESMC program with clearly-defined ideas and hoped-for outcomes. If selected, they would be engaged in the planning and implementation process throughout.

Selected communities in this pathway will be matched with University resources that can support their specific project needs.

Projects in this category will involve working with University of Minnesota teams for approximately two to nine months, depending on project scope.

Examples: Evaluations of proposed infrastructure projects for feasibility or competitiveness for funding; compilation of community need assessments; evaluation of the community or economic impacts of infrastructure projects; development of designs for a proposed project, such as a park or stormwater management; community engagement activities for a proposed project.

Learn More: Review Specific Project Pathway Description

How to get started: Please use the Specific Project Application Form. These projects will be reviewed and accepted via the ESMC process.

Community Strategies

The Community Strategies track is an opportunity for communities to address their future in compelling, realistic, practical, and implementable ways. The Minnesota Design Center in partnership with the community and the Regional Sustainable Development Partners (RSDP) works closely with communities to engage in a community-scale effort. In response to existing community assets, aspirations, needs, challenges, and previous work, design thinking creates a community strategy that moves the community forward and identifies individual fundable projects that support that strategy.

By better coordinating the community’s existing assets with planned and proposed projects, Community Strategies work promotes more value from specific, fundable project investments. Community Strategies work helps position communities to seek state and federal funding from existing federal and state funding sources and creates materials to enhance and support project funding requests. Due to the level of engagement and investment in Community Strategies’ community work, some compensation for people’s time and community meeting expenses will be included in the work budget.

Learn More: Review Community Strategies Pathway Description

How to get started: Please use the Community Strategies Application Form.

These projects will be reviewed and accepted via the ESMC process.

Our Hopes for Engagement by Community Partners

Regardless of the project pathway you choose, we ask that community applicants identify key personnel as project lead(s) who are able to engage with University collaborators for the duration of the project.

Project leads and key community participants will be eligible for stipends/reimbursements to support their participation in Specific Projects and Community Strategies pathways, given the likely long-term nature of those commitments. Stipends/reimbursements will be planned during the scoping phase for communities who are selected as finalists.

Contact Us Anytime!

Not sure where your idea fits? Contact an ESMC team member to connect and discuss.