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   Central Minnesota residents with an idea to strengthen sustainability in their community can now apply for partnership support from the University of Minnesota Extension Central Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (Central RSDP).

   Central RSDP supports local innovation by connecting community ideas to University of Minnesota resources. Community members work on diverse project teams that research, design, and plan local sustainability projects with University students, faculty, and staff.

Central RSDP has several opportunities to support community-university partnerships. Residents and organizations are encouraged to submit their sustainability project ideas through the RSDP idea brief application. The RSDP annual call for ideas has supported hundreds of sustainability projects in the Central region for over twenty-five years. RSDP is also seeking applications from local farmers interested in building a deep winter greenhouse using the latest University researched design. Additionally, RSDP is launching a new program, “Empowering Small Minnesota Communities,” to help small Minnesota communities benefit from federal, state, and local investments. This program is seeking applications from communities interested in collaborating with the University to advance or plan projects that support sustainable economic, social, or transportation infrastructure.

   “Now more than ever we need ideas and expertise from community members across Central Minnesota to help their communities thrive in the face of change,” said Central RSDP Executive Director Molly Zins. “I encourage people to get in touch with me to talk about their ideas for making our communities more sustainable places.”

   Applications are being accepted through February 14. Visit the link z.umn.edu/RSDPIdeaBrief  to read more about the programs and to apply. Community members are encouraged to contact Zins directly at [email protected] or 218-828-2332 to discuss their ideas and ask any questions. Successful projects are selected by the Central RSDP community-university governing board through a competitive process. 

   The Central RSDP serves Becker, Benton, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Otter Tail, Stearns, Todd, and Wadena counties and the White Earth Nation, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe sovereign Native nations.

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