July 28, 2025
The second round of small communities have been selected to partner with the University of Minnesota to build their futures together through the Empowering Small Minnesota Communities (ESMC) program.
These Minnesota communities are receiving support through two different 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.
Read about Round 1 awardees
Seven 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 six 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 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:
Tactical Action Projects
Arrowhead Regional Development Organization (serving Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Koochiching, Itasca, Lake, St. Louis, and Pine counties)—This project will research and report on the socioeconomic impact of transportation gaps to accessing health care access in the Arrowhead region. The data collected will be used to inform policy changes to increase and improve non-emergency medical services in Minnesota. The work aims to identify both high-level solutions and new services or programs responsive to regional needs.
City of Lake Crystal—Extreme weather conditions and flooding in 2024 led to the failure of the Rapidan Dam, an important source of energy for the Lake Crystal community. The city is seeking data analysis assistance to support the development of The Lake Crystal Energy Plan 2040. The plan will include strategies, goals, and timetables for maintaining and upgrading existing equipment and facilities while also planning for future contracts, equipment, and system improvements.
Cities of Rushford, Peterson, and Rushford Village—The City of Rushford aims to transform a former grain coop site in the central downtown space into a vibrant green space and event venue. The site is ideally located, intersected by a state trail, near state highways, and adjacent to active and vacant commercial properties. By redeveloping this site, the community seeks to revitalize the region through increased economic growth, community cohesion, and improved quality of life. This project will provide nonprofit governance, economic analysis, marketing, and long-term funding strategies to continue momentum initiated by support from the Environmental Protection Agency-Technical Assistance to Brownfields Communities program and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Redwood Area Chamber and Tourism—The Redwood Falls community is partnering with the Minnesota Design Center to plan and develop community-wide walking routes. Technical assistance includes identifying trail infrastructure enhancements and providing program and graphic design assistance for signage, maps, and branding. Additionally, this project will provide strategic assistance with identifying and establishing connections to existing community assets that would mutually benefit from this effort.
City of Madelia—Madelia seeks to develop an innovative, sustainable plan for the land along the Watonwan River within Watona Park. This riverfront experienced historic flood levels in June 2024, requiring the city to clear several structures in the floodplain. With acres of open space now available, Madelia envisions transforming this vulnerable area into a multifunctional park that harmonizes flood management with community-oriented design. Thoughtfully designed green infrastructure will enhance recreational options in drier seasons while providing a dynamic, adaptable landscape that maintains visual appeal and usability. By adopting a low-maintenance, sustainable design, this project will not only enrich the city's recreational offerings but also serve as an example for other rural communities facing similar environmental challenges.
City of Marshall—Marshall seeks support for community engagement and long-term planning to contribute to a 15-year master parks plan for planning and completing improvements and guiding capital investments. The process and emerging plan will establish a clear vision for all of the city's parks and public spaces, guiding future maintenance, improvements, and potential development to ensure parks are well-positioned to meet both current and future community wants and needs. The ESMC team will collaborate closely with the Southwest Regional Development Commission and the city for this project.
White Earth Land Recovery Project—This project proposes renovating and revitalizing the building, equipment, and satellite sites owned or leased (i.e., community gardens, public radio tower) by WELRP to more fully serve its community. Utilizing a locally driven resilience planning process, the project seeks to identify and incorporate the social, ecological, and technical needs of the community. This project develops critical community infrastructure in the context of the recent "Future Weather Trends + Infrastructure" report to the Minnesota Legislature.
Community Futures
City of Centerville—Centerville is seeking assistance with public engagement in advance of a comprehensive plan update, with a focus on their downtown area. It has been 20 years since the Centerville Downtown Master Plan has been evaluated for its relevance. Since then, changing market conditions, community demographics, and resident needs have rendered the plan obsolete. The city recognizes the need to better understand residents' visions for the downtown and the larger community before embarking on future planning and infrastructure projects. The University will host community gatherings to assess community needs and assets, as well as identify and develop projects focused on the future of downtown Centerville within the context of the larger community.
City of Henderson—The community of Henderson is currently addressing critical issues of flooding and major roadway reconstruction projects. This has necessitated closing off two of four primary access points, directly impacting businesses that rely on tourism into 2026. At the same time, Henderson has demonstrated long-term resilience and has many unique assets that position the community for a vibrant future. This project seeks support to address current transportation impacts on the community's economy, develop short- and long-term strategies for tourism and economic development, and weave together community assets such as parks, trails, and ecological assets for long-term planning.
City of Hinckley—Hinckley seeks to establish a community wayfinding sign program to attract a more diverse range of businesses downtown while promoting recreational areas for both residents and visitors. Following a recommendation from a recent USDOT Thriving Communities Program assessment, the project will provide a wayfinding master signage plan that meets MnDOT requirements with optimal sign placements and appealing designs. This will be done with a view of the city’s relationship to the Kettle River, in cooperation with the neighboring City of Sandstone.
City of Kenyon—Kenyon has identified the need for safer routes to connect neighborhoods within their community, and to coordinate these solutions with existing and future infrastructure systems. This project will engage residents in informing and developing a comprehensive trail system throughout the city, including a dedicated biking and walking trail and a Safe Routes to School path. Building on past analysis by the Urban and Regional Studies Institute at Minnesota State University, the ESMC effort will also assess community needs and assets with regards to Kenyon’s Depot Park and other opportunities to work with natural assets and the special character of Kenyon.
City of Preston—This effort—led by the Preston Historical Society—will kickstart a crucial community engagement initiative for collaboration between nearby towns to establish trail connectivity for both residents and visitors. The project will also estimate the economic benefits of completing a link to nearby Forestville, explore and identify ways to close a remaining right-of-way "gap" to the city park, and partner with the Department of Natural Resources to obtain funding for trail acquisition, engineering, and construction.
City of Sandstone—Building on a downtown redevelopment plan previously created with the University's Humphrey School of Public Affairs, this project will engage with stakeholders to pursue the recommendation to develop a downtown streetscape plan. This plan will prioritize areas for beautification; utilize current vacant lots for green spaces with planters, shade, seating, and year-round activities (such as street curling); improve sidewalk network connectivity; update wayfinding signage; and connect trail systems to downtown. The final plan will be used to apply for funding to implement the plan.