Partial List of Projects
To accomplish the Partnership's mission of promoting sustainable development in northeast Minnesota, the Partnership supports a variety of targeted research and educational projects. A partial list of projects NMSDP has funded is below. By clicking on the title, you can read a brief description of the project.
- Cook County Dairy Feasibility Study
- Crane Lake Community Design and Land Swap
Northeast Minnesota Regional/community food system assessment and enhancement project (Northland Food and Farming Initiative)
Following our first annual planning retreat, the Northeast Region Sustainable Development Partnership designated "community food systems" as a top priority for our work. Our goal was to facilitate the development of a strong food system for Northeast Minnesota. This involved a multi-prong approach, that included (1) a comprehensive regional food systems assessment; (2) identification of activities and actions necessary to support community food system in our target area; (3) education; and (4) working with others to examine relevant policy questions/issues. The Board established a community food systems taskforce that developed an action plan for the project has worked with the project coordinator to implement this project. Click here to view their website.
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"Renewing the Countryside" project
With the Partnership's support, the Institute for Agriculture and Trade policy produced a rural sustainable development "atlas" that highlights a variety of initiates by individuals, families, communities, and organizations that are helping advance the sustainability of Minnesota and renewing Minnesota Countryside. The Atlas book captured in picture and words at least 200 examples of people who are putting their landscapes to work to produce quality products and services while generating income, building stronger local economies, preserving the natural environment, and improving their quality of life. These stories will broaden imaginations and offer inspiration to farmers and rural residents, especially at this time of social and economic stress, by providing concrete ideas for creating a vibrant future. Click here to view their website.
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Gunflint Trail forest restoration research and education project
The Northeast Partnership funded a forest restoration project along the Gunflint Trail by Mike Reichenbach (Extension Educator, Forest Economic Development), which addressed an immediate need created when a windstorm blew down more than 450,000 acres of this forest. This project was designed to not only help landowners in the Gunflint Trail recover from the windstorm, but also to help them develop a vision for sustainable management of their own forest/land. Landowners have changed the way they view and manage their property as a result of the windstorm. This project helped landowners create healthy forest, enhance recreational and aesthetic uses of the forest, and provide for the production of forest products that support the local economy.
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Sustainable Forestry Interpretive Site Project
The Sustainable Forestry Interpretive Site Project was designed to increase public awareness about Forestry in Minnesota through interpretation of Minnesota's forested landscape as viewed from a car. Forestry sites were selected along major travel routes and identified with numbered signs. Each number corresponds to a different forest type. The numbers and sign logo are visible from the road. Each forest type is described in a brochure. The brochure is available at tourist information centers, selected roadside pullouts, extension offices, and other public and private locations.
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Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe East Lake Center's Community Garden
The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe was interested in developing a Community Garden site at the East Lake Center in McGregor. Some of the objectives of this project were developing community unity, teaching invaluable work ethic and enjoying and sharing the rewards of the successful production of healthy, chemical-free fruits and vegetables. The Northeast Region Sustainable Development Partnership provided partial funding for this project. The plan was to develop a Community Garden located at the East Lake Center first. Ten garden sites may be developed later for tribal elders if the first phase goes well.
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Sustainable living case studies
Joseph and Mary Routh have lived on a small farm in Cook County since 1988. Through their interest in learning about and living a sustainable lifestyle they created a small business named Ways of Wisdom that is dedicated to educating people about sustainable living. Through a grant from the Northeast Minnesota Sustainable Development Partnership they studied five rural families in NE Minnesota that are striving to live sustainably. The case studies focused on how these families cope with such issues as food, energy, shelter, finances, community, transportation, and waste disposal. As the population of Minnesota grows there will be increased pressure on the rural/wilderness environment. In order to perpetuate both a healthy environment and maintain a balanced use of renewable resources it is vital that people have information on and examples of how to live sustainably in this part of the state. This study has provided people with information on how and why others have adapted their lifestyles to the unique nature of the north woods. The opportunity then will be to share this information with people who want to live more sustainably or gain a better understanding of why people choose to live this way. Click here to view their website. Click here to read the long report ; and here to read the short report .
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Improved Shoreland Management Through Local Shoreland Resource Networks
University of Minnesota Extension Service, with support from local agencies and organizations (NE Sustainable Development Partnership, county water plans, community education, soil and water conservation districts, zoning offices, and/or lake associations), conducted a series of two, research-based shoreland workshops for resource professionals in ten counties in northeastern Minnesota. The Shoreland Design Workshop and Shoreland Planting Techniques Workshop provided comprehensive, hands-on training that will enable attendees to cooperatively assist property owners in appropriate shoreland development and implementation of revegetation projects, as well as address local shoreland management needs within their county. A total of 200 local professionals (including individuals from the Master Gardener Program, the Shoreland Volunteer Program, the nursery and landscape industry, SWCD, NRCS, DNR, watershed management programs, zoning offices, and lake associations) within the ten counties received training during the two-year program. These workshops were scheduled in Morrison, Pine, Chisago, Itasca and St. Louis counties for 2000. An additional five counties were served in 2001.
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Northeastern Minnesota Industry Cluster study
The Northeastern Minnesota Industry Cluster Study sought to understand the region's workforce and industry clusters. The Humphrey Institute's State and Local Policy Program partnered with Dr. Richard Lichty of the University of Minnesota, Duluth's Bureau of Business and Economic Research worked to provide a comprehensive analysis of the northeast region's industries. The study applied an industry cluster framework to answer questions of workforce and skill requirements, competitive advantage and market share. Focus groups and interviews were conducted with workers, firms, industries and communities to understand regional workforce needs, assess competitive advantages and identify barriers to economic growth. The study attempted to ascertain why certain industries in the region establish and maintain a competitive advantage while others do not. The ultimate goals of this study were to foster industry cluster approach, to strengthen regional policy decisions through broad dissemination of clear information about the region's workforce and its industries to citizens, business leaders and policy makers and to combine the strengths of two University departments through a sustained partnership. The State and Local Policy Program has successfully conducted four similar projects in the Twin Cities, SW, SE and NW regions of Minnesota. Click here to view their website.
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Evaluation of the tourism market and development potential of the Grand Rapids regional area
With the Partnership's support, this study examined the situation and factors potentially contributing to the lack of growth of the tourism market in the Grand Rapids/Itasca County area, including those factors unique to the area with the intent of identification, evaluation, and correction (if possible.) The study framed an approach that was the first of its kind in Minnesota and is likely the first of its kind anywhere. Its uniqueness stems from a holistic, two-dimensional line of attack. First, demand issues were researched relative to consumer wants and needs. This included investigating concepts involving the tourism product life cycle. The second line of attack involved looking at the supply issues that are critical to a fully functioning economic system. Issues examined included, among others, community infrastructure and values, organizational readiness and cooperation, and comprehensive strategic planning. A sustainable community tourism development approach was tested and employed to assure delivery of sustainable, quality products that conform to community values and helps understanding of underlying problems.
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Designs for the Mesabi Trail Trailhead: Virginia and Eveleth sites
The Mesabi Trail will be the major recreational trail that crosses northeastern Minnesota. When completed, it will stretch 125-miles from Grand Rapids on the west to Ely on the east. A major investment by the State of Minnesota and local communities, the Mesabi Trail offers the potential to be the most popular recreational trail in the state, drawing tourists from great distances to enjoy its beautiful forests, scenic natural lakes, stunning pit lakes, picturesque mining landscapes, historic small towns, and recreational areas. In partnership with the Saint Louis & Lake County Regional Rail Authority and in consultation with identified community members and groups, the Department of Landscape Architecture created schematic designs for the major trailhead of Mesabi Trail at the sites that are being considered by the rail authority committee. The sites studied were the Mine View Site in Virginia, the Fayal Site in Eveleth, and Drive In Site in Eveleth. Both Eveleth and Virginia are key points of entry to the trail, and each city is interested in having this new facility. The design team will not select the site. This project sought to assist the site selection process by demonstrating the possibilities of each site under consideration through design. Schematic designs for three of the proposed sites were created for use by local citizens and the rail authority in their deliberations. Ecological and sustainable strategies were integrated into the designs. These designs will be used as a resource by the decision makers when they make their final site selection. Design drawings will also be used for fund raising for the facility.
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Northeastern Minnesota Cooperative Forestry Project
The planning phase of the Northeast Minnesota Co-operative Forestry Project is the first step in a long-term initiative to promote beneficial forms of landowner co-operation in our region. Co-operative forestry can provide economic and ecological benefits to individual landowners as well as communities and society as a whole. It can provide a financial incentive to maintain forestland rather than subdivide and sell it for development, it can stabilize communities traditionally dependent on forest products but now facing new pressures to alter the way they relate to their land, and it can make ecologically sound forest management more of a reality. NMSDP support helped us to determine what types of forestry co-ops are likely to succeed in Northeastern Minnesota and what roles the University of Minnesota Extension Service and collaborators can play to successfully facilitate the development of strong and stable co-ops in our region. In short, this project identified strategies to encourage greater communication and cooperation in forest management among private woodlot owners in Northeastern Minnesota. This was a University of Minnesota Extension Service project.
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Natural Resources Public Perception and Values Survey
Open space contributes greatly to the quality of urban life. Duluth has extensive open space, but much of this open space does not have formal protection and is being lost to development. There was no clear understanding of the value that Duluth's citizens place on open space or of the perceptions/misconceptions that citizens have about open space. A statistically valid mail survey was developed to evaluate citizens' values and perceptions about open space. Responses to the survey helped define community goals for open space protection and a written report documented these values and perceptions for use in the Duluth Area Natural Resources Inventory.
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Iron Trail 1% Food and Beverage Tax Study
Due to the economic downturn on the Iron Range brought about by the closure of LTV Steel and other mining company layoffs, tourism has become an important focus for Minnesota's Iron Range communities. With the completion of the Superior National Forest Scenic Byway in Fall 2001, a new "Iron Trail" offers a combination of scenic roads, mountain bike trails, hiking trails, and snowmobile trails which links Iron Range Cities from Hoyt Lakes to Hibbing with the popular North Shore tourist area. By completing the Iron Trail and developing its year-round recreational opportunities and amenities, ten communities along the Iron Trail are in the process of positioning themselves as an attractive tourist destination. However, because these communities have suffered the loss of their traditional source of economic development funds from the Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board, a new funding source for marketing the Iron Trail must now be identified. These ten communities must also identify a new revenue source for further developing the infrastructure of their communities. The Partnership funded the Iron Trail Assessment Project designed to: 1) study and report on the potential fiscal, sociological and environmental impacts of users within the region served by the Iron Trail Convention & Visitors Bureau; and 2) examine the feasibility of placing a new tax on food, beverage and hotel/motel facilities in the ten communities served by the Iron Trail.
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Ecological Footprints and the Grand Marais Alternative Energy Model
The Partnership helped the city of Grand Marais explore options for an electricity production. As part of this effort, the Partnership funded the Institute for Sustainable Future to create a computer simulation model illustrating the economic, social and environmental outcomes associated with a wide variety of electricity production methods. In an initial series of meetings with community leaders we gathered necessary information and develop the model. We planned to use the model to facilitate a decision making process that involved the entire community but were only able to hold limited number of meetings with primary stakeholders including city officials and local citizens/interests. The model as well as the dynamics of its use in the community setting could be a valuable tool for use in other communities throughout Minnesota struggling with similar electricity production situations.
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Tourism and Winter Trail-based Recreation: An economic and environmental comparison of motor and quiet sports
This project was designed to document and compare the impacts of snowmobiling and cross country skiing in a destination county. It measured the economic impacts and assessed the perceived social and environmental impacts of these activities. This study involved a survey of local residents in Cook County, Minnesota. An understanding of the differences between motor sports (snowmobiling) and a quiet sport (cross country skiing) is useful in planning future development, minimizing negative impacts, and improving marketing decisions.
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Crane Lake Local Form of Government
Crane Lake was, until recently, an unorganized area. The local form of government was the St. Louis County Board of Commissioners at the county seat in Duluth, Minnesota, which is 120 miles away. A Community Action Plan which researched the needs, strengths and weaknesses of the area was developed in 2001. The plan revealed that the number one wish of the citizens was the formation of a local form of government. A committee was empowered by the members of the community to research the different forms of government and recommend which form best suits the needs of Crane Lake. NMSDP helped the committee accomplish this goal. The information was presented to the community as a whole. On May 28, 2002, Crane Lake registered voters voted to become an incorporated township, and a local township form of government was formed.
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Sustainability Initiative
Mike Reichenbach is working with scenario planning to learn from the future. As stated by Richard Bawden, AM PhD, Michigan State University
"(i) participants learn about the advantages of 'trying to avoid getting the future wrong' in contrast to the seduction of trying to get it right (by planning it in the last possible detail) and (b) they also learn about the significant difference between the way the future might pan out as a function of the interactions of the various NSPECT, (Natural, Social, Political, Economic, Cultural and Technological) phenomena associated with these categories of influences.
In other words, when run as a reflexive learning process, it is possible to facilitate (a) learning through thinking differently about the future (and thus about the need for different forms of strategic thinking and methods of strategic development) the [I] in [I]NSPECT and (b) learning through thinking about different futures (and thus the need for new knowledge and new ways of knowing that are social, experiential, collective, and reflexive) the rest of NSPECT. "
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