Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships
The Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships work to sustain Minnesota’s natural resource-based communities and industries by addressing community-identified agriculture, natural resources, and tourism issues in partnership with the University of Minnesota. Three core goals shape the work of the Regional Partnerships, and form the basis on which we evaluate our effectiveness. These goals are:
- to build and strengthen effective relationships between citizens, communities, and their University of Minnesota;
- to promote active citizen leadership in strengthening the long-term social, economic, and environmental health of greater Minnesota; and
- to invest in research, education and outreach projects that advance the understanding and achievement of regional sustainability.
Funded by the Minnesota Legislature through appropriations made in 1997 and 1999, Regional Partnerships have been established in Northwest, Northeast, Central, West Central, and Southeast Minnesota. Additional Partnerships are anticipated in the future.
Each Regional Partnership has a board made up of citizens with backgrounds and interests in agriculture, natural resources, tourism, and sustainability as well as University faculty and staff from a wide range of departments. A Statewide Coordinating Committee composed of staff and citizens from each region, at-large citizen representatives, and representatives of the three Partnership colleges provides leadership for the program’s coordinated efforts. To date, the Regional Partnerships have funded over 182 projects for a total of approximately $3,000,000.
The five regions are also currently collaborating on three major Community/University Ventures. These Ventures represent thematic clusters of projects that have emerged from the five regions. The Ventures will bring together networks of partners inside and outside of the University to facilitate future program development in three key areas identified by the citizens of the five regions. Our three Community/University Ventures are: Energy Self Reliance, Local Food Economies, and Appreciating Rural Assets.
http://www.regionalpartnerships.umn.edu/about.html
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