For more information, contact:
Dorothy Rosemeier, Executive Director
University of Minnesota West Central Partnership
680 80th Ave. SE  
De Graff, MN 56271            
Ph: 320-760-3735
Fax: 320-589-4870
email: rosemeie@umn.edu

U of M Mailing Address:
46352 State Hwy 329
Morris, MN 56267

Got an idea?  Click HERE for more information.

Buy Fresh Buy Local
Take the Challenge and become a Vocal Local!

Local Foods Guide in West Central Minnesota...be sure to check out this guide that showcases over 70 farmers in the region.

2009 Annual Newsletter...check out what happened this past year!

Serving 12 counties of the Upper Minnesota River Valley watershed including Big Stone, Chippewa, Douglas, Grant, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Pope, Renville, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, and Yellow Medicine.

The University of Minnesota West Central Partnership works with citizens in the watershed to create and sustain healthy ecosystems, strong local economies and vibrant, self-reliant communities.  Its mission--launching education and research that help people understand and achieve sustainability in their region--supports projects that demonstrate public purpose and is committed to building partnerships that connect the citizens of the watershed to local assets and the education, research and outreach resources of the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Donna Chollett, Associate Professor in Anthropology at U of M Morris completed surveys at two farmers markets in Willmar, MN to engage consumers and merchants on access, quanity and quality of locally grown foods in the community.   The surveys were part of a Local Foods Assessment project for Kandiyohi County.  Learn more through the report's results and recommendations.

Economic Impact Study of Minnesota Grape Growers was conducted in 2007 by Dr. William Gartner, UM's Department of Applied Economics, on the economic impact of the emerging Minnesota wine industry.  Click here to access the report.

Ben Winchester, UMM Center for Small Towns Data Analysis and Research, just completed a Dairy Labor Survey report, coordinated by the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota.

CERTS Funding avaiable for community energy projects.  Check out the web site on details.

Garden Goddess book is available at Barns & Noble book stores.....a project support by the West Central Partnership.

Home Grown Economy ITV session on Farm Bill took place on April 17.  Click here for the power point presentations entitled Sustainable Agriculture and Farm Bill on the Congressman Peterson's web site.

Incentives NOW for Residentail Clean Energy Projects was held on April 22.  Click here for the DSIRE web site to find out state and federal insentives for clean energy projects!

2007-08 Annual Meeting Project Posters

Community-based energy, protecting and enhancing natural resources, and community-based food and farming project reports on activities and results!