A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
What projects can help your rural community? Now is the time to speak up.
Every year, the University of Minnesota Extension invites ideas to promote sustainable development in outlying areas. Extension funds a number of proposals that enhance development in four areas: resilient communities, agriculture and food systems, clean energy, and natural resources. The deadline this year is Feb. 14.
Anybody can apply, and the procedure is facilitated by people who help you shape ideas that will succeed when applications are reviewed.
Last year, in Carlton County, several projects included a model for clean energy on an organic farm, gap funding for clean energy on tribal land, and tree seeding to adapt to climate change. A total of 14 projects were funded in the Northeast Region of Extension’s Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP).
To quote the Extension website, “RSDP brings together local talent and innovation with University knowledge and resources. Projects are supported through 5 community-driven regional boards and statewide focus area staff.”
Each region receives a comparable amount of funding, and there is funding for projects that address statewide issues.
Last year, RSDP supported 119 place-based projects, engaged 224 community partners and 97 university partners, and supported projects in 73 cities, towns, and native nations.
The website includes links to annual lists of projects going back 10 years. The URL is extension.umn.edu; search “RSDP Projects.”
At a meeting in Carlton last month, about 40 community leaders gathered to discuss what direction to take in using recent support from the Blandin Foundation, a private group with goals similar to those of RSDP. It seems that there is an opportunity for synergy between RSDP and the Blandin group to raise the quality of life and the profile of our community.
John Sanford “Sandy” Dugan and his wife are stewards of 54 acres in the Wrenshall area. They tend 2 acres as gardens and pollinator habitat; most of the land is rented out to grow forage for organic beef; a barn serves for occasional regional arts events. Contact Sandy at [email protected] or 218-461-5847.
