2009 Active Projects

Polk County Cooperative Weed Management Area (PCCWMA) – Full proposal was submitted to National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for $45,000 for outreach and education, however; this grant request was not funded.  The Polk County PCCWMA will be meeting summer of 2008 to determine the next course of action in the plan for combating noxious weeds in the county.

2009 Northwest Minnesota Grazing Tour - Pembina Trail RC&D received a grant from the Minnesota Association of RC&D's and NRCS to conduct a grazing tour in 2009.  The grazing tour will be in Red Lake County and there will be a focus on managing invasive species within pastures.

Productive Conservation on Working Lands – Marketing Perennial Grasses -  Pembina Trail signed agreement for Market Development Study for value added biomass.  Received approval for grant in the amount of $19,500.  Project will assist perennial grass seed growers with marketing their crop to compete with Canadian and west coast growers and will also explore the true costs of production for growing perennial grasses as biomass crops for energy.  See above link to MN Turfseed Council for more information.

Power from the Prairie – Biomass Gasification project at the Northern Excellence Seed, LLC in Williams, MN (Giziibii RC&D is the lead) – Northern Excellence Seed facility in Williams, MN, wants to install a 100-kilowatt gasification power plant.  Giziibii was awarded $229,700 in Conservation Innovation Grant funds to install the biomass gasifier and contract with producers on 200 acres to experiment with growing crops for energy.  Giziibii has also been awarded $5,000 from NW CERTs to fund a portion of the producers’ tuition to participate in NCTC’s Farm Business Management course to determine the transportation and storage costs of growing biomass.  EERC and Giziibii finalized contract and proposal for technical services.  AURI is contributing $70,000 to the project to offset engineering costs from EERC.

Varnes Lutheran Church Project – This project seeks to move the Varnes Lutheran Church from rural Fertile, Minnesota to the Polk County Fairgrounds within the city limits of Fertile.  Much of the money for the church has been raised by congregation members ($30,000 so far).  The RC&D has applied for a grant through the Hartz Foundation and is working with the USDA's Rural Development office on a possible loan or grant through the Community Facilities Program.  Click here for pictures of the church being moved to the fairgrounds.

MN Historic NW – Communications and Outreach - The group has a new president, Dean Viken of Fosston, MN.  This project seeks to develop newsletters and upgrade computer equipment for the 13 historical organizations within the group covering northwest Minnesota.  Click here for the website.

City of Viking – Playground Improvements – GameTime playground equipment cost information was sent to Mayor Anderson.  The Mayor will ask the City Council to support setting aside $1,000 of the $10,000 needed to update the playground equipment to make it more safe for children. 

Marshall County Fairgrounds Restroom Project - Pembina Trail RC&D received a request for assistance to help Marshall county upgrade their bathroom facilities at the fairgrounds, making them handicap accessible.

Thief River Falls Archery Club, Inc. – This project seeks assistance in obtaining funds for a new indoor archery range building by December 2010. 

Platt Conservation and Nature Park - Bob Platt would like to donate some of his land to a public entity so the land can remain open to the public for education and conservation.  Mr. Platt requested assistance from the council to identify public entities that would be most suitable to manage and improve the property.

Heiberg Park Improvements - The City of Twin Valley is requesting assistance to find grant dollars to augment their current Heiberg Park.  The park is north of Twin Valley and the city would like to have year-round bathrooms facilities and six full service camper hookups.

Wild Rice River Rest Area - The Ada Area Promotions Committee is requesting assistance to transfer ownership of a piece of land that would be used as a rest area.  The parcel is adjacent to the Wild Rice River along MN Highway 9 south of Ada.  The rest area would include river access, year-round bathroom facilities and a picnic area.

Kittson County Veteran's Memorial - Dollars are needed to take down an old building on the property where the memorial will be built. 

Buy Fresh Buy Local (Northwest Minnesota Chapter) - Pembina Trail recently agreed to serve as fiscal agent for the chapter.  A council member will be assigned soon to attend meetings of the chapter.

The Pembina Trail (RC&D ) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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Last modified: 09/16/09