Submit projects with specific tasks where University partners can assist within a time-limited scope (1-4 weeks). Good candidates for projects/tasks proposed for Short-term Task projects are those that are concrete and may add to a larger infrastructure project, plan, or proposal from the community. These projects will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis.
Examples: Gathering and analyzing socio-demographic data, GIS community mapping, policy research.
Project Pathways
There are three different pathways communities can pick from to engage in the program.
For reference, the communities that were selected in the first round are described here.
Learn More: Review Short-term Pathway Description
How to get started: Please fill out the ESMC Short-term Tasks Form.
Tactical Action Projects
We are not currently accepting proposals for Tactical Actions or Community Futures pathways. Future rounds of funding for these pathways will be re-opened in 2026.
Communities with a specific need or project to propose can apply for support from the University of Minnesota to further develop the effort. Applicant communities might come to the ESMC program with clearly-defined ideas and hoped-for outcomes. If selected, they would be engaged in the planning and implementation process throughout. Selected communities in this pathway will be matched with University resources that can support their specific project needs.
Projects in this category will involve working with University of Minnesota teams for approximately two to nine months, depending on project scope.
Examples: Evaluations of proposed infrastructure projects for feasibility or competitiveness for funding; compilation of community need assessments; evaluation of the community or economic impacts of infrastructure projects; development of designs for a proposed project, such as a park or stormwater management; community engagement activities for a proposed project.
Learn More: Review Tactical Action Pathway Description
How to get started: Please use the Tactical Action Application Form. These projects will be reviewed and accepted via the ESMC process.
Community Futures Partnership
We are not currently accepting proposals for Tactical Actions or Community Futures pathways. Future rounds of funding for these pathways will be re-opened in 2026.
Community Futures track is an opportunity for communities to address their future in compelling, realistic, practical, and implementable ways. The Minnesota Design Center in partnership with the community and the Regional Sustainable Development Partners (RSDP), the Resilient Communities Project (RCP) at the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA), works closely with communities to engage in a community-scale effort. In response to existing community assets, aspirations, needs, challenges, and previous work, design thinking creates a community strategy that moves the community forward and identifies individual fundable projects that support that strategy.
By better coordinating the community’s existing assets with planned and proposed projects, Community Futures work promotes more value from specific, fundable project investments. Community Futures work helps position communities to seek state and federal funding from existing federal and state funding sources and creates materials to enhance and support project funding requests. Due to the level of engagement and investment in Community Futures’ community work, some compensation for people’s time and community meeting expenses will be included in the work budget.
Learn More: Review Community Future Pathway Description
How to get started: Please use the Community Futures Application Form. These projects will be reviewed and accepted via the ESMC process.
Our Hopes for Engagement by Community Partners
Regardless of the project pathway you choose, we ask that community applicants identify key personnel as project lead(s) who are able to engage with University collaborators for the duration of the project.
Project leads and key community participants will be eligible for stipends/reimbursements to support their participation in tactical action and community futures pathways, given the likely long-term nature of those commitments. Stipends/reimbursements will be planned during the scoping phase for communities who are selected as finalists.
Contact Us Anytime!
Not sure where your idea fits? Contact an ESMC team member to connect and discuss.
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