Community Resilience
Prepare & Recover
The Community Resilience Program helps Central Minnesota communities, small businesses, nonprofits and local units of government prepare for and recover from extreme weather events. By combining community planning, business support and local energy solutions, we’re building stronger, more resilient places to live and work.
Join a Local Solar Cohort
Residents and businesses in Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison and Todd counties interested in reducing energy costs and increasing local energy production are encouraged to join the Fields and Forests 2026 Solar Co-op. By joining, participants receive vendor-neutral guidance, access to competitively bid installation proposals and support throughout the process, while benefiting from long-term savings on electricity and contributing to cleaner air, local job creation and greater community energy independence.
Become a Local Climate Leader
Climate change isn’t abstract anymore. It’s showing up in our weather, our economy and our communities. The question many people ask is simple: What can I actually do about it?
The Sept. 14 Community Climate Leaders program in Pine River answers that question.
This eight-week, hybrid program combines practical learning with local connection. You’ll build a clear understanding of climate impacts and gain the skills to take meaningful action in your community.
Disaster Preparedness
Goal: Strengthen emergency planning, hazard mitigation and long-term recovery readiness.
Clean Energy
Goal: Reduce risk and cost through efficiency, local clean energy and battery storage.
What is Community Resilience?
Community resilience is the ability of communities, businesses and organizations to anticipate, prepare for, withstand and recover from disruptions while strengthening local systems, relationships and long-term capacity.
Why Does It Matter?
Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and more damaging. Stronger storms, longer heatwaves, flooding and rising energy costs don’t just damage buildings—they disrupt lives, essential services and local economies.
Resilient communities prepare, adapt and recover—while building a more sustainable future for all.
- Community: strengthening social networks, infrastructure and local capacity
- Disaster: improving preparedness, response and recovery
- Energy: reducing risk through efficiency, local clean energy and battery storage
- Small business: helping local businesses survive disruptions and bounce back
Community Support
We work with local partners to …
- facilitate community engagement sessions and workshops
- support local resilience planning that addresses social, economic and environmental needs
- center equity and inclusion, ensuring vulnerable and historically underserved populations are supported
- strengthen networks between residents, nonprofits, businesses and local government.
Resilience Hubs
Resilience Hubs are trusted spaces—like senior centers, schools, or faith-based organizations—that strengthen community connections all year long and offer help and safety before, during and after a disaster.
Resilience Hubs can provide …
- backup electricity and clean water
- emergency supplies and phone charging
- heating or cooling during extreme temperatures
- information, services and support.
Community Resilience Plans
No community is too small to benefit from a plan. A resilience plan helps communities …
- understand their risks
- set clear goals for risk management and long-term resilience
- apply for funding to improve infrastructure and training
- coordinate across departments and with local partners on prevention, mitigation, response and recovery.
How to Get Involved or Access Support
Whether you’re a local resident, business owner, nonprofit or community leader:
- Apply for grants for community projects, resilience planning, energy upgrades or recovery efforts.
- Explore business services such as loans, microloans, technical assistance and business training for entrepreneurs.
- Engage in community-building efforts that range from renewable energy projects to disaster-preparedness planning and redevelopment.
- Start a donor-advised fund or contribute to an existing Partner Fund to direct local philanthropy toward resilience and sustainability.
There are resources to help. You’re not alone. We’re here to support community efforts to improve resiliency.
Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership
Adaptation Partnership, which offers research, resources and hands-on
support to help communities respond to changing climate conditions and
prepare for the years to come.
We're Here to Help!
Elizabeth Mboutchom is the regional contact for the Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership. Reach out to any member of the team for more information about Initiative Foundation programming, grants and resource opportunities!
Want to learn more about community resiliency? Download our fact sheet.
Elizabeth Mboutchom
Clean Energy & Community Resiliency Program Officer [email protected] (320) 631-2060
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The Initiative Foundation has awarded $67,100 through its Energy & Community Resiliency Planning Grant program to help six organizations prepare for the future through energy… Read More
7 Receive Energy Efficiency, Resiliency Planning Grants
The Initiative Foundation is proud to announce its first-ever round of energy efficiency and community resiliency planning grants, awarding a total of $97,000 to seven… Read More