UMN Extension Community Development

06/18/2026

During this week's 2026 NACDEP conference, leadership and civic engagement educators Jody Horntvedt and Craig Campbell celebrate receiving the National Innovation and Creativity team award for their work with the Blandin Community Learning Network - Building Capacity for Change.

06/16/2026

Extension's Michael Darger shared his experienced about business transition on the Owners At Work podcast. https://z.umn.edu/bdnr

06/08/2026

About two-thirds of rural grocery owners expect to leave the business within the next decade—and many lack succession plans. MANNA Food Co-op uses a model that offers not only buying power but also shared knowledge. Owner Ryan Pesch hopes this approach helps keep the store open for years to come.

Ryan Pesch: "You just get the impression like it's just a desolate wasteland, people are hooked on opioids, everybody else is unemployed. And I just don't think that's true."

06/03/2026

Extension community economics educator Rani Bhattacharyya says manufacturers are increasingly using technology to improve wages and skills for employees—as well as increasing productivity. "Employers are looking to augment their workforces, not replace them," she says. https://z.umn.edu/bcsh

05/26/2026

The process of redesigning and innovating can feel daunting when working with partners on long-term impact. Extension's leadership and civic engagement staff worked with community program coordinators and local leadership to complete a multi-year "reimagining" of its county-based leadership cohorts. Here are four key lessons we learned for leading a community or program through a transition.

While the process to redesign and innovate may be daunting, change is often necessary when working with partners on long-term projects or impact. Discover helpful tips for leading a community or program through a transition.

05/12/2026

Extension's Brigid Tuck is always curious about what she'll discover when she conducts an economic impact analysis of festivals and events. The 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship was no exception. In a recent analysis of the event, she found the hockey tournament had a significant economic impact in Minnesota—generating $71.5 million in economic activity across the Twin Cities region. Minnesota Sports and Events

An Extension analysis shows strong economic returns with visitors at the heart of the event.

05/01/2026

🗓️ 📌 Where you live matters—especially when it comes to health. Join our next Breakfast Info Bites webinar on May 20 to learn about the unique health challenges that rural communities face and how we might improve our health systems.

What health issues are rural communities facing in the United States? Join Extension to learn about the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center's work.

04/22/2026

Extension's Ben Wi******er was interviewed by MPR News about important housing trends across the state.

A new report shows many parts of greater Minnesota are diversifying and growing. However, sustained population growth looks unlikely. A rural sociologist says housing has a lot to do with these trends.

04/15/2026

Small towns are woven throughout Minnesota. But people often wear many hats in these communities—and starting something new can feel tough. Insights from the Blandin Community Learning Network highlight what helps.

Especially when you're wearing many hats, it can be hard to step away from existing tasks and create energy for a new idea. Discover six ways to strengthen your engagement and keep momentum going.

04/10/2026

Need to develop new skills—or refresh existing ones—as you support local businesses and organizations? Join our May business retention and expansion (BRE) course. You'll go on practice visits to real businesses, learn from guest experts, and network with other economic developers. https://z.umn.edu/b841