Northeast RSDP

Our Northeast region spans a large, geographically diverse area that spans the North Shore, Iron Range and beyond. The Northeast RSDP service region includes all of Carlton, Cook, Lake and St. Louis counties and parts of Aitkin, Crow Wing, Itasca, Koochiching and Pine counties. It also includes these sovereign Native nations: Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, Fond du Lac Bands of Lake Superior Chippewa and the Grand Portage Bands of Lake Superior Chippewa.

We support projects in the areas of agriculture and food systems, resilient communities, clean energy and natural resources across the region. All projects we support are connected to University of Minnesota resources.

Ojibwe prophecy foretells a crossroads. At this point, humans can choose to turn away from a path of environmental degradation and toward one of stewardship of the earth and each other. If we choose the path of stewardship, the earth heals and all groups of people prosper together. With support from the Northeast RSDP, a group of Northeast Minnesotans hopes a Great Lakes Cultural Interpretive Center would help us choose the latter.

Northeast RSDP supported Monica Haynes, UMD Labovitz School of Business and Economics, Bureau of Business and Economic Research, and an undergraduate research team in developing The Economic Impact of the Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad on the City of Duluth study.

Graduate student Kate Stower conducted case study research on potential for adaptive reuse of historic buildings in rural Minnesota.

Learn more about projects supported by Northeast RSDP in our storymap.

You might be interested in these new and upcoming reports and happenings from the Northeast RSDP:

• Research by graduate student Kibum Noh on the application of food hub business models in Northeast Minnesota, supported by Northeast RSDP
• Itasca Area visitor profiles developed with support from Northeast RSDP
• Video photo collage of February 2017 open house at Organic Consumers Association Deep Winter Greenhouse in Finland, Minnesota
• RSDP Happenings profiles Northeast RSDP Board Chair Doug Franchot

Project ideas are submitted to one or more of RSDP’s regional boards based on the location of the project. These project ideas are reviewed based on the following shared criteria:

• Community members identify project goals in one or more of the four RSDP sustainable development focus areas.
• The project involves meaningful roles for both local community members and University of Minnesota faculty, staff and/or students.
• The project engages diverse populations and advances new community collaborations.
• The project supports environmental, social and economic sustainability for public purpose or benefit. Project learning or actions will be shared.
• Community partners provide leadership and support throughout the life of the project.
• Priority may be given to projects that leverage funds or other contributions.

Northeast RSDP board members

• Ryan Bergstrom, rbergstr@d.umn.edu - Duluth
• Dan Erkkila, erkkila@umn.edu - Grand Rapids
• Doug Franchot, dougfranchot@gmail.com - International Falls
• Deade Johnson, deadebox@hotmail.com - Two Harbors
• Njoki Kamau, mkamau@d.umn.edu - Duluth
• Jonna Korpi, jkorpi@d.umn.edu - Duluth
• Rumbidzai (Rumbi) Faith Masawi, faith.sawi@gmail.com - Duluth
• Nathan Nelson, nathan.nelson0823@gmail.com - Hinckley
• Yusef Orest, yorest@arrowhead.coop - Lutsen
• Allison Rian, allisonjrian@gmail.com - Aitkin