About
Empower Crookston program
Formed in October 2023, Empower Crookston is a partnership between five organizations that aims to improve Crookston's quality of life, economy, and affordability by taking advantage of federal and state funding. These dollars will be spent on improving existing homes through energy efficiency projects, revitalizing the historic downtown district, and supporting the local economy.
In October 2023, the Crookston City Council voted unanimously to proceed with the action necessary to be included as a participant in the Minnesota Priority Climate Action Plan, and in November, Empower Crookston submitted a $33 million proposal to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) for inclusion in the Plan.
July 2024 Update: The MPCA was not awarded the federal EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant. The Empower Crookston team is exploring additional funding options to bring residential energy upgrades to the community.
This group meets weekly and is always adding more community partners.
Potential projects for Empower Crookston
Specifically, Empower Crookston is seeking funding for the following:
energy audits, weatherization, air source heat pumps, electric appliances, and panel upgrades for 750 homes in EPA-designated eligible census tracts Wards 1 and 5, as well as Ward 4
a 4.8-megawatt wind/solar/battery system to power critical infrastructure such as the fire department, EMS, police, city hall, the hospital, and a 66-unit multi-family public housing building
a closed network geothermal heating system on the UMC campus
Minnesota Design Center Community Futures program
The Empowering Small Minnesota Communities (ESMC) program aims to encourage residential energy upgrades, economic development, enhancement of existing assets, and improved affordability and quality of life for communities under 15,000 residents. The program is through the University of Minnesota. More information can be found here.
As the ESMC website explains:
The goal? Lay the groundwork for competitive proposals that could be eligible for a wide range of funding opportunities.
How? By working together to creatively leverage community assets and ideas and strengthening projects and plans for resilient physical, social, and economic infrastructure.
Crookston can realize these benefits through both the Empower Crookston and Community Futures projects and can lead the way for revitalizing rural communities while achieving Minnesota’s decarbonization goals.
Potential Projects for ESMC program
The ESMC program focuses on enhancing and supporting Crookston's existing assets, and identifying new projects based on community feedback. Below is a list of some of the community feedback to date:
Increase the connectivity of existing trails, and add new trails
Improve the signage on trails
More community gardens
Accessible playgrounds and parks - for ALL ages
Support for the fine arts and cultural programs within the community
Collaborative engagement between the Crookston community, the University of Minnesota Crookston, the School District and all city departments
We are always looking for additional community input! Email empowercrookston@gmail.com or join us at the weekly 'Jolt & Jive' meetings at The Cove Youth Center, Thursdays @ 8 AM.
Community Asset Map
At the "I Love Crookston" event, city residents provided ideas they would like to see implemented in the town.
Click on a map dot to see each suggestion, drag to move, and use the + and – buttons to zoom.
The "person at work" symbols signify suggestions that a community member made.
The heart symbols signify parts of Crookston that community members love.
The star symbols were added to provide some landmark locations for orienting around the map.