Extension Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships

U of M Extension RSDP accepting Idea Briefs, Farmer Climate Action Fund applications, and more!

Have a project idea?

Do you have an idea to improve sustainability in your community? University of Minnesota Extension Regional Sustainable Development Partnership has several opportunities to support community-university partnerships in 2025. 

Call for Ideas

Residents and organizations are encouraged to submit their sustainability project ideas through the RSDP idea brief application process now open. Please contact the RSDP Executive Director in your region directly to start a conversation.

Idea Briefs

Farmer Climate Action Fund

Funding is available for selected Northeast and West Central Minnesota counties and Tribal entities to support climate mitigation and adaptation, and regenerative on-farm initiatives and projects. Small grants will be awarded through a competitive process for projects identified and led by small farms that enhance their climate resiliency.

Priority will be given to shovel-ready projects that can be completed by December 31, 2025. The application deadline is February 14, 2025, with awards announced in early March.

Farmer Climate Action Fund

Empowering Small Minnesota Communities

The Empowering Small Minnesota Communities (ESMC) program is a new community-centered collaboration with the University of Minnesota to support small communities in becoming well-positioned to benefit from federal, state and local investments.

How? By working together to creatively leverage community assets and ideas and strengthening projects and plans for resilient physical, social, and economic infrastructure.

The goal? Lay the groundwork for competitive proposals that could be eligible for a wide range of funding opportunities.

Empowering Small Minnesota Communities

Submit and idea to RSDP

Ideas can be submitted at any time. Project decisions for the year are made between March and May.

 

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