During the 2024–2025 academic year, RCP is partnering with the City of Blaine, City of Chaska, City of New Brighton, City of Shoreview, Hennepin County, the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), and the Metropolitan Council on projects to advance community sustainability, equity, and resilience. You can learn more about the projects below.
Does your local government agency have a project idea to build community resilience that could benefit from research or technical assistance? Learn more about how to apply for an RCP Partnership!
Projects
- Project Categories: Housing
Research manufactured home replacement program design and funding options to help retain the community’s affordable housing stock
- Project Categories: Evaluation and Assessment | Transportation
Develop an evaluation program that establishes baseline data for pedestrian and bicycle usage so the City can track progress over time, assess unmet needs, and make strategic infrastructure investments
- Project Categories: Historical Inquiry | Community Outreach and Engagement
Research historic buildings in Chaska to support the City's goal of nominating more eligible properties to be added to the City’s local historic register.
- Project Categories: Community Outreach and Engagement | Economic Development and Employment
Create a placemaking/activation plan that can be used by the City, businesses, and the local business district as a guide and inspirational tool to foster social activity in newly constructed paseos to bring more people downtown to socialize, shop, eat, and explore.
- Project Categories: Housing | Policy Analysis & Public Policy
Determine the best strategic use for new Metro Area Sales and Use Tax for Housing fund to support affordable housing opportunities for residents of Chaska.
- Project Categories: Transportation | Community Outreach and Engagement
Create a traffic calming toolbox and evaluation process to help City staff identify possible engineering, education, enforcement, encouragement, and evaluation interventions in response to resident complaints.
- Project Categories: Climate Change | GIS & Technology
Create a baseline heat risk assessment, including public health indicators and impacts, and refine the County's climate vulnerability index.
- Project Categories: Transportation
Evaluate current fees, rates, and charges the MAC assesses to non-airline companies operating at Minneapolis–St. Paul airport, conduct a benchmarking review of rate structures at other large-hub airports, and recommend changes based on these insights.
- Project Categories: Human Resources & Administration | Economic Development and Employment
Develop a standardized set of criteria and triggers to guide the Metropolitan Airports Commission in making decisions about when to hire an employee, when to hire an external consultant or contractor, and when to change from a consultant to an employee.
- Project Categories: Community Outreach and Engagement | Housing
Investigate possible funding for manufactured home maintenance and outreach strategies that City staff could employ to reach residents and park owners and connect them to available programs and resources.
- Project Categories: Community Outreach and Engagement | Housing
Investigate barriers to participation in civic activities for multifamily housing residents and conduct case studies of successful city engagement strategies.