The first round of small communities have been selected to partner with the University of Minnesota (UMN) to build their futures together through the Empowering Small Minnesota Communities (ESMC) program.
Minnesota communities are receiving support through three ESMC pathways to work collaboratively with the College of Design, UMN Extension, Center for Transportation Studies, Center for Urban and Regional Affairs, the Humphrey School and others throughout the University of Minnesota.
Ten communities received immediate support through the Short-Term Project pathway. These projects involved University teams, including students and faculty, working with a community to deliver on a need a community has identified that could be completed in a short timeframe.
Fourteen communities are being supported by Tactical Action projects, which will foster community partnerships with University affiliates and faculty to address identified community infrastructure needs.
Another eleven communities are partnering with the Minnesota Design Center (MDC) on a community-engaged process called Community Futures. Communities participating in the process are working shoulder-to-shoulder with MDC affiliates to identify existing community assets, review comprehensive plans, and chart a path together for reimagining the future of their community.
Across all three pathways, the goal of ESMC is to help communities become well-positioned to pursue additional federal and state funding to address climate, infrastructure needs, and related actions that will bolster long-term resiliency.
Projects and sites include:
Short-Term Projects
Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Swift, and Yellow Medicine Counties—Working with the Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission, this short-term project developed a resource handout of funding, training, and other opportunities available to local food producers.
Blooming Prairie—Working with the City of Blooming Prairie, this short-term project focused on compiling a list of funding opportunities for playground renewal or rebuilding.
Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena Counties and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe reservation—Working with the Region 5 Development Commission, this short-term project worked to identify the differences between definitions of rural used by various federal and state agencies. Work is also underway on creating a grants and data library geared toward supporting smaller communities in their efforts to secure larger state and federal funding opportunities.
Chatfield, Whalan, and Caledonia and Fillmore and Houston Counties—Working with the nonprofit Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail, this short-term project assisted in the creation of a trail map using GIS.
Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, and Renville Counties—Working with the Mid-Minnesota Development Commission, this short-term project compiled data on the feasibility of a volunteer driving program, including demand, potential volunteer population, needed destinations, and a review of other volunteer driver programs in the state.
Lamberton—Working with the City of Lamberton, this short-term project created a visual rendering for a new municipal park.
Morton—Working with the City of Morton, this short-term project created a map showing restrictions or protections in an area proposed to be a part of a flood mitigation effort.
New Ulm—Working with the City of New Ulm, this short-term produced a solar suitability analysis for public buildings within the municipality.
Two Harbors, Silver Creek Township, Silver Bay, Town of Crystal Bay, Schroeder, Lutsen, Grand Marais, and Grand Portage—Working with a consortium of cities and counties and UMN Extension, this short-term project helped to document the estimated waste amounts and population impacts of summer tourism. This informed discussions about the evolution of a shared landfill and the possibility of supporting shared recycling and composting facilities.
Welcome—Working with the City of Welcome, this short-term project focused on supporting the community in tree-care and tree planting information in the face of emerald ash borer issues.
Tactical Actions
Battle Lake—Working with the City of Battle Lake, this tactical action project will focus on creating community-led design options for potential housing development properties in the city.
Bridgewater—Bridgewater Township hosts the landfill for Rice County. This landfill, like many others, is challenged with the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as "forever chemicals." The township and county are interested in finding an effective PFAS management and removal strategy to reduce the landfill's environmental impact. For this ESMC-funded project, the township, in collaboration with Rice County, will work with UMN researchers to test and evaluate strategies for mitigating, removing, and neutralizing PFAS from landfill leachate wastewater and potentially turn them into useful materials. In addition to exploring an effective treatment strategy that suits the landfill's scale, UMN researchers will analyze the economic feasibility of this strategy to support and guide the township and county's future investment in sustainable solutions.
Center City—Working with Center City, this tactical action project will focus on assisting the city with stormwater management possibilities and public trailhead design concepts for the Swedish Immigrant Trail on a piece of municipally owned land.
Chatfield, Whalan, and Caledonia and Fillmore and Houston Counties—Working with the nonprofit Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail, this tactical action project involves the development of trail design guidelines, support and strategy for collaboration with Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and facilitation tools and strategies for stakeholder and community engagement in the communities that the Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail will traverse.
Currie—Working with the Currie Area Revitalization Enterprise, this tactical action project will facilitate a community engagement effort to identify and prioritize potential future projects, with the goal of increasing commerce and tourism, revitalizing infrastructure, and creating recreational opportunities.
Knife River—The Knife River Recreation Council, in collaboration with leaders in the community, is focused on developing an accessible, community-based facility that will contribute to the well-being of individuals and families in the area.
Lindstrom—Working with the City of Lindstrom, this tactical action project will support efforts to connect a local beachfront park to the center of town, while also presenting strategies to improve stormwater control, shoreline restoration, and recreational amenities.
Mahnomen—Working with the City of Mahnomen, this tactical action project will focus on options to improve broadband connectivity to the community.
Mille Lacs and Kanabec Counties; Onamia/Milaca/Isle/Foreston/Wahkon/Vineland/Pease/Bock—Working with the nonprofit Lighthouse Family and Community Services, the East Central Regional Development Commission, and the East Central Regional Transportation Coordinating Council, this tactical action project will assist efforts to expand rural public transportation in the county by partnering with other service providers and identifying locations where buses can travel and routes can intersect.
Morton—Working with the City of Morton, this tactical action project will produce an analysis of existing stormwater and flood prevention initiatives, as well as develop additional options to address long-term challenges. It will also include an engagement and learning process to help the community prioritize proposed projects.
Plainview/Elgin/Millville—Working with community-based organization Atelier@1901, this tactical action project will focus on supporting community engagement in the creation of an inclusive and welcoming shared gathering space for all, especially members of the community that have been historically marginalized, including LGBTQI+ residents The project also involves the development of knowledge and tools to improve the energy efficiency of the building.
Two Harbors—Working with the community-based organization Friends of the Waterfront as well as the City of Two Harbors, this tactical action project will support the execution of a waterfront development plan.
Vergas—Working with the City of Vergas, this tactical action project will further develop their climate and energy action planning with a core focus on turning three to four of its municipally owned buildings into more sustainable, energy efficient facilities.
New Ulm and other Region Nine communities—Working with the Region Nine Economic Development Commission, this tactical action project will examine ways to strengthen rural emergency medical services through a needs assessment and exploration of future options to increase recruitment and retention of volunteer responders.
Winnebago—Working with the Winnebago Economic Development Authority, this tactical action project will use a survey to gather information about infrastructure assets of communities throughout southeast Minnesota in order to better understand existing assets and needs of these interconnected communities and support strategic infrastructure investment and collaboration in the future.
Community Futures Partners
Badger—Together with city officials, civic leaders, and community members, the focus for Badger is on long-term strategic planning for the community, building on the city’s recent water infrastructure improvements. Badger Futures will also be part of a cluster of three communities (Baudette, Badger, Warroad) along the Highway 11 Corridor. This will build capacity for deeper regional connections to develop across communities around shared infrastructure-related challenges and opportunities.
Baudette—The City of Baudette, in collaboration with the Headwaters Regional Development Commission, will build on a recent Community Action Plan to prioritize business development, workforce training, and other community needs into an actionable community strategy. Baudette Futures will also be part of a cluster of three communities (Baudette, Badger, Warroad) along the Highway 11 Corridor. This will build capacity for deeper regional connections to develop across communities around shared infrastructure-related challenges and opportunities.
Crookston—Collaborating across a range of community organizations and civic entities, the City of Crookston is focused on revitalization efforts for its downtown, empowering those that currently live within the community and highlighting local assets.
Crystal Bay Township/Finland—The community is working to develop a system where residents of Crystal Bay Township/Finland can afford to purchase or rent livable homes based on the economic realities of living in a small, very geographically remote area. Community land trust and other models of ownership may be developed as a vehicle for keeping homes in the pool of affordable housing for residents.
Embarrass—The Embarrass Regional Fair Association (a local non-profit), township leaders, and community members want to sustainably develop their social, historic, and environmental assets to create a resilient local and regional economy. The ESMC project provides information that will help them decide how to re-invigorate their existing fair building as a hub for new activities, invest in renewable energy, capitalize on their access to natural resources, and build on their rich Finnish heritage.
Harris—Thinking holistically, the City of Harris, civic leaders, and community members are developing a strategy to incorporate community development to enrich the lives of all current residents and newcomers to the area. This approach incorporates rural traditions with forward thinking about developing and coordinating resilient infrastructure improvements.
Milaca—Working with city officials and civic leaders, this community futures project is looking at how the city can leverage its many parks and recreational areas as well as reimagine a proposed industrial park to be more environmentally sustainable and economically viable.
Mountain Iron/Bois Forte Band of Ojibwe—Working with the Bois Forte Ojibwe community lead Waawaate Programs and the Northland Solar Commons Project, this community futures project will explore ways that a solar energy facility can create positive outcomes for Mountain Iron and the Bois Forte Band of Ojibwe through community wealth-building and equity-focused solar energy infrastructure projects.
Pelican Rapids—Through partnership with local nonprofit and community members, this project will focus on developing a strategic plan for a multiuse, multicultural nonprofit facility to serve community members, including an LGBTQ+ welcoming space, a youth center, a community kitchen, a senior gathering space, a food shelf, and potentially a commercial kitchen with a goal to serve as a resource for the growing number of Latino and Somali businesses.
Warroad—In collaboration with Warroad RiverPlace, Warroad Community Development has identified strategic and comprehensive planning needs, especially around issues of housing; long-term financial and technical needs; and needs around engaging diverse groups within Warroad. Warroad Futures will also be part of a cluster of three communities (Baudette, Badger, Warroad) along the Highway 11 Corridor. This will build capacity for deeper regional connections to develop across communities around shared infrastructure-related challenges and opportunities.