Projects
Dozens of communities around the state have partnered on projects through ESMC through two rounds of awards. Projects shown in the table below have been completed. Final deliverables are posted when available.
Article: Empowering Small Minnesota Communities Round 1 Awards (September 2024).
Article: Empowering Small Minnesota Communities Round 2 Awards (July 2025).
Community | ESMC Pathway/Round | Project Description | Deliverables and Related Materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| Badger (NE Region) | Community Futures/Round 1 | Broad focus on identifying community assets, and connecting to regional resources to support community needs related to housing and economic development | |
| The Bridge Center (Central Region) | Tactical Action/ Round 1 | Community and youth center development. Commercial kitchen for entrepreneurship and local businesses. | Final Report |
Bridgewater Township (SE Region) | Tactical Action/Round 1 | Sustainable landfill site management strategies | |
| Crystal Bay Township/Finland (NE Region) | Community Futures/ Round 1 | Developing community strategies to support expanding housing accesss; Strengthening capacity for sustainble community focus on housing; Building regional partnerships to support community housing strategies including a community land trust ownership model. | |
East Central Regional Development Commission (Central Region) | Tactical Action/Round 1 | Transportation needs and current services in Mille Lacs and Kanabec Counties and the 5-County East Central Region | |
| Knife River (NE Region) | Community Futures/Round 1 | Leveraging unique position along Lake Superior's North Shore with a community strategy that builds and strengthens partnerships to support community needs, with a focus on public/community space and natural assets | Final Report |
Lake Crystal (SE Region) | Tactical Action/Round 2 | Lake Crystal local energy action plan | Final Report |
Lindstrom (Metro Region) | Tactical Action/Round 1 | Beach Park strategic planning, design, stormwater, and connections to town. | |
| Milaca (Central Region) | Tactical Action/ Round 1 | Leveraging greenspace, industry park and downtown planning to coordinate on environmental and economic benefits | Final Report |
Morton (SW Region) | Tactical Action/Round 1 | Building community resourcefulness through engagement in Morton, Minnesota | |
Region 9 Development Commission (SW Region) | Tactical Action/Round 1 | Building a more sustainable model for rural EMS in Region 9: a report informed by a scan of the literature, community listening sessions, and key informant interviews. | Final Report |
Winnebago (Central Region) | Tactical Action/Round 1 | Southeast Minnesota community needs assessment. Regional survey about small community assets and infrastructure needs. |
Community | ESMC Pathway/Round | Project Description |
|---|---|---|
| Arrowhead Regional Development Organization | Tactical Action/ Round 2 | Access to rural healthcare |
| Atelier/Plainview | Tactical Action/ Round 1 | Atelier@1901 building and energy assessment. Welcoming communities programming |
| City of Battle Lake | Tactical Action/ Round 1 | Early stage community visioning and design solutions for housing and connected community needs. |
| Center City | Tactical Action/ Round 1 | Swedish Immigrant Trail trailhead design and connections to downtown, stormwater management, coordination and alignment with future Highway 8 reconstruction. |
| 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 Crookston | Community Futures/Round 1 | Broad focus on strengthening community infrastructure, collaboration and coordination. |
| CURE | Tactical Action/ Round 1 | Economic benefits of energy transition |
| Driftless (SE Region) | Tactical Action/Pilot | Hiker Experience, Landscape Position, and Design Standards for Driftless Area Hiking Trail Article: The new Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail takes its first steps |
| Embarrass Region Fair Association | Tactical Action/ Round 1 | Focus on plans for event center renovation and energy audit. |
| Friends of the Two Harbors Waterfront | Tactical Action/ Round 1 | Waterfront redevelopment planning Article: Two Harbors sees rare shot at remaking its Lake Superior waterfront |
| 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. |
| Headwaters Regional Development Commission | Community Futures/Round 1 | Broadly focused economic development and community planning |
| Henderson Chamber | Community Futures/ Round 2 | Early stage asset mapping and community strategy. Tied to coordinating on highway and other planning efforts. |
| 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 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. |
| Lower Sioux Indian Community | Tactical Action/ Round 2 | |
| City of Madelia | Tactical Action/ Round 2 | Park redevelopment and flood management (Watona Park) |
| City of Mahnomen | Tactical Action/ Round 1 | Broadband feasibility |
| City of Marshall | Tactical Action/ Round 2 | Parks master planning processes |
| 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. |
| Redwood Area Chamber and Tourism | Tactical Action/ Round 2 | Pedestrian infrastructure, walking routes, trails, and wayfinding |
| City of Rushford | Tactical Action/ Round 2 | Building reuse and plan and civic engagement/leadership development for community support for future event center |
| City of Sandstone | Community Futures/ Round 2 | Early stage asset mapping and community strategy. Streetscape plan. |
| City of Vergas | Tactical Action/ Round 1 | Energy benchmarking for municipal buildings and energy and resilience hub planning for community. |
| Warroad Community Development | Community Futures/Round 1 | Placemaking, economic development, greenspace and cultural space coordination |
| White Earth Land Recovery Project | Tactical Action/ Round 2 |