UMN Extension Community Development

Looking for ways to support local entrepreneurs and grow your community? Join us at the 2026 Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities conference Sept. 17–18 in St. Joseph! Register today and be part of building stronger, more connected entrepreneurial communities. z.umn.edu/CEC2026
City of St. Joseph, MN Visit Joetown Greater St. Cloud Initiative Foundation College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University

Curious how economic impact studies are created? Join us Wednesday, Aug. 12 (12–1 p.m. CDT) to learn how they're developed, interpreted, and used to support funding, planning, and policy decisions.

Demystifying economic impact analysis: A blueprint for economic developers Community studies can support advocacy efforts and help secure projects — starting one doesn't need to feel daunting. Join and take a deep dive into the process.

What happens when a small town dreams big? Find out at this year's Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities conference Sept. 17-18 in St. Joseph! You'll spend two inspiring days learning from entrepreneurs and leaders who are growing thriving businesses, creating new opportunities, and transforming communities across Minnesota. z.umn.edu/CEC2026
Visit Joetown Greater St. Cloud Initiative Foundation City of St. Joseph, MN College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University

Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities - Visit Joetown Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities; CEC Conference 2026. Coming...

A fantastic new tool from our colleagues at the Tourism Center!

We're thrilled to announce that we now offer Minnesota communities a new report called an economic impact snapshot. It's designed for community leaders interested in estimating the tourism-related economic impact of festivals and events hosted in their communities. Learn more about our community impact snapshots at z.umn.edu/impactsnapshot.

Local festivals and community events do more than bring people together—they also strengthen local economies. But how do you measure impact in a credible way? Learn about our five tips for ensuring reliable economic impact data.

Understanding the economic value of your festival or event Local festivals and community events do more than draw a crowd. Learn ways to measure their impact to your local economy.

📢 If you're passionate about leading community transformation, we'd love to have you join us for our Gathering the Village 2026 learning cohort. This is a unique opportunity for leaders who care deeply about creating positive change in their community and are committed to developing skills to do so collaboratively. Applications ➡️ Friday, Aug. 7.

Gathering the Village 2026 learning cohort Make a difference in your community! Join and connect with others, collaborate on real challenges and grow skills to shape positive change.

📌🗓️ Are you an emerging leader in Northwest Minnesota who wants to make a difference in your community? If so, we invite you to apply for our next Growing Local Leadership program. (And if you know someone with the potential to lead, you can nominate them!) You'll learn how to become a changemaker in your community and build a strong leadership network. Applications due Tuesday, Sept. 1! z.umn.edu/growinglocalleadership

We're excited to feature a new breakout session track just for entrepreneurs at this year's Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities (CEC) conference in City of St. Joseph, MN! Topics will cover sustainable business growth, non-traditional financing, AI efficiencies, and founder well-being. To learn more about the conference and to register, visit z.umn.edu/CEC2026.

Transitioning your business—or stepping into one someone else has built—is more than a transaction. It's a deeply personal process with many moving parts. Extension recently asked business owners what it really looks like to hand off, or take over, a business. Join us Thursday, July 16 at noon (CST) to find out what they learned.

Stories of business transition from Minnesota – good and not-so-good Passing a business to a new owner or stepping into someone else's is more than a financial transaction. Join us as we dig into recent case studies of business owners and learn what worked for them – and what didn't.

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. Jody and Craig accepted the award on behalf of fellow educators Ellen Wolter and John Bennett who were also on the team, as well as Blandin Foundation colleagues.