Senate committee hears bill to expand university partnership program for small towns

Senate File 2203, a bill to continue and expand the Empowering Small Minnesota Communities (ESMC) program, was introduced Monday before the Minnesota Senate Transportation Committee with support from the bill sponsor and university partners. The committee heard testimony but did not take public testimony; members laid the bill on the table for possible inclusion in the omnibus.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Pappas, described ESMC as “a very well loved program” that pairs University of Minnesota units with small communities to identify and scope infrastructure projects. Kyle Shelton, director of the University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies, told the committee the program—initially funded by the legislature in 2023—works by “an asset based approach really driven by what the communities are identifying as their primary challenges.” Shelton said the university is working with about 45 communities across the state and that more than 30 participated in the program’s first round.

Jolene Brink, a Two Harbors resident and University of Minnesota Extension employee, testified remotely about ESMC work in her city, which she said has a population of 3,531 and hosts more than 1 million annual visitors on Highway 61. Brink said the program helped Two Harbors move toward an implementation plan for turning 40 acres of Agate Bay waterfront into public space. “Despite having the will and lots of heart and community support, [small communities] lack the capacity to develop resilient, sustainable, and adaptable infrastructure projects,” Brink said.

Committee members asked questions about eligibility and program scope. Senator Jasinski asked why the program’s eligibility threshold is set at a population of 15,000 rather than the more typical 5,000 used in transportation contexts. Shelton replied the program uses a 15,000 threshold to allow collaborative projects—where multiple small jurisdictions combine resources—to qualify, while expressing a stated preference to prioritize communities of 5,000 or fewer.

Senator Johnson Stewart offered historical context, saying very small communities often lack engineering capacity and that preparing competitive proposals for federal grants can cost “about $30,000” in up-front effort. No votes were recorded on final passage; the chair announced that Senate File 2203 was laid on the table for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. The committee will return for additional presentation, public testimony, and amendments at a later hearing.

Background: ESMC is described in testimony as a multi-unit University of Minnesota effort (Center for Transportation Studies, Minnesota Design Center, Extension, Humphrey School, Center for Urban and Regional Affairs) that helps communities scope projects and apply for state and federal funds. The committee packet included letters from participating communities and a statewide project map provided by the program.