University of Minnesota Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships

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University of Minnesota Regional Sustainable
Development Partnerships

• Connecting the citizens of Minnesota to their
  land-grant university

The Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships
bring citizens and University faculty and
students together to strengthen rural
Minnesota. President Bob Brunininks
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Purpose

• To support sustainable development in greater
  Minnesota by directing University resources to
  address community-identified research, education,
  and
• outreach needs in the areas of
• agriculture, natural resources, and tourism
• on an on-going, long-term basis

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Regional Partnership Service Area
The Minnesota State Legislature launched the
first three Regional Partnerships in 1997--
Southeast, Northeast, and Central Regions.
In 1999, Regional Partnerships were added in
Northwest, West Central and statewide office.
Each partnership region receives annual funding
to direct operations, fund research and education
outreach projects.

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Structure

• We are a program with the U of M in partnership
  with five regional Board of Directors
• Sponsored by U of M Extension, College of Food
  Agriculture and Natural Resources (CFANs),
  Agriculture Experiment Station
• Statewide director, three state-wide program
  coordinators, five executive directors and 100
  regional board members across the state
• Statewide coordinating committee

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• We base our work on three core principles

Building and strengthening PARTNERSHIPS between
communities and University of Minnesota
Promoting active citizen leadership in
strengthening the long-term social, economic, and
environmental health of greater Minnesota
Invest in research, education, and outreach
projects that advance regional sustainability
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Process

• Citizen and/or faculty propose an idea
• Convene groups of citizens and faculty to explore
  ideas
• Staff and/or board members work with proposers to
  develop the idea into a research or education
  project with University resources
• Project proposal comes before board for final
  approval and seed funding
• Project implemented
• Project evaluation, report results throughout
  region and state

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• Each year we leverage approximately 1.2
  million of state funds to attract resources from
  other organizations, in-kind contributions and
  volunteer time.

• Supporting over 200 community-based projects in
  areas of energy, agriculture and local foods,
  natural resources, tourism and community
  vitality.

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Advancing Regional Sustainability

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Community Based Energy
In 2001, the Regional Partnership launched a
statewide conference entitled Sharing the Load
Local Energy Generation and Distribution. Over
300 people attended.
This program lead to many community energy
research projects including the Morris wind
turbine and the formation of CERTs.
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Local Foods and Agriculture
Since 1998, the Regional Partnerships work
around local foods has ranged from creating local
food networks to establishing farmers markets,
researching food production methods, branding
regional food systems, and getting local food
into local schools.

• Farm to SchoolWillmar Public School

• Wine Growers of Upper MN River Valley

• Dairy Apprenticeship Farm Transfer pilot

• Greenhouse Book project

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Natural Resources Water Quality
Since 1998, the Regional Partnerships have
focused research and educational outreach on
improving and maintaining our natural resources.
Projects have ranges from water quality with
potato production to shoreline protection.

• Pope County Phosphorus Index Application and
  Study Circle Dialogue

• Increasing grazing practices and perennialization
  in Chippewa Watershed

• Agro-forestry production to reduce pollution for
  vulnerable areas

• 2050 Scenario Planning to inform Statewide
  Conservation Plan

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Sustainable Tourism
Sustainable tourism is represented across the
regions through a number of projects including
nature base tourism inventory and economic
analysis, trails and design work with the U of M
Changing Landscapes, and visitor profiles
conducted by U of M Tourism Center and Green
Routes with Renewing the Countryside.

• Meander visitor profile and marketing plan

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Community Vitality
Since its inception, the Regional Partnerships
have supported projects that build capacity in
citizens and communities to address critical
sustainable development issues from organizing a
new township to conducting study circles around
ag and rural policy.

• Formed a Healthcare Purchasing Alliance to
  address healthcare coverage for small businesses
  and farmers in west central Minnesota

My involvement with the West Central Regional
Sustainable Development Partnership has led my
research to become more applied.....This new line
of investigation has led to testifying at the
Minnesota Legislature on behalf of rural
conditions. I found that most policies do not
recognize the rural difference or challenges, as
most policies are developed with Metro lenses.
Healthcare coverage, especially, was an eye
opener. In the West Central Minnesota area 75
percent of businesses employ fewer than 10
people. Yet, waivers and tax breaks are given
only to those employing 50 or more leaving out
much of rural Minnesota. Greg Thorson,
University of Minnesota, Morris
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Proposed Regional Coverage

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Thank you for your time

• Questions?
• www.regionalpartnerships.umn.edu
• Dorothy Rosemeier, WCRSDP Executive Director,
  320-760-3735
• rosemeie_at_umn.edu
• or
• Kathy Draeger, Statewide Director, 612-625-3148
• KDraeger_at_umn.edu