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University of Minnesota Extension
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RSDP projects

Solar panels and wildflowers
Two farmers look over tomatoes in greenhouse
Adult students standing with instructor near a crop growing in a field with some large trees in the background.

Each year the University of Minnesota Extension Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP) support community-driven projects in our four focus areas. These projects foster innovation, deepen understanding and build relationships that empower Greater Minnesota communities to advance their future sustainability.

We support approximately 125-150 projects around the state in any given year. All of our projects connect community partners and ideas to University of Minnesota resources. In many cases, we link projects to students and faculty who can work with partners to shape and carry out their project vision. We work in partnership with communities, bringing together diverse teams who collaborate through the life of a project.

Community projects are reviewed and approved by our five regional boards. We also conduct food systems and clean energy work on a statewide basis. Learn more about how we work.


By the numbers 2024

In fiscal year 2024, RSDP:

  • Supported 119 place-based sustainability projects across Minnesota.
  • Engaged 224 community partners and 97 university partners.
  • Supported projects in 73 cities, towns and Native nations.
  • Developed research reports that were downloaded more than 24,000 times.
  • Engaged 24 university students in working with communities.
  • Supported communities with 17,930 volunteer hours contributed by board and work group members across Greater Minnesota. (2023 Federal Reporting)
  • Helped Minnesotans save or offset 19.4 billion BTUs of energy through the work of the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs). (2023 Federal Reporting)
  • Collected 750,000 seeds and planted 90,000 climate-smart tree seedlings through the Forest Assisted Migration Project.

Reviewed in 2024

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