ECOLIBRIUM3

ENERGY: IN 2025, ECOLIBRIUM3 HELPED OVER 170 HOUSEHOLDS REDUCE THEIR ENERGY COSTS THROUGH OUR ENERGY ASSESSMENT AND LOW-INCOME WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM. IN ADDITION TO UTILITY BILL CONSULTATIONS, A HOME ENERGY ANALYSIS, AND STEPS FOR INCREASING ENERGY EFFICIENCY, WE DEVELOPED AN IMPROVED AUDIT PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES AN ELECTRIFICATION ASSESSMENT, AUGMENTED WITH HEALTHY HOUSING, RAIN-READINESS, AND AGING-IN-PLACE RECOMMENDATIONS. THIS WILL IMPROVE HOUSING STOCK, ENHANCE HEALTH OUTCOMES, AND REDUCE ENERGY BURDENS. OUR COMMUNITY-OWNED, LOW-INCOME SOLAR PROJECT, THE LINCOLN PARK SOLAR GARDEN CONTINUES TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO SUPPORT A TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROJECT FOR VETERANS AND AN ENERGY FUND TO HELP LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS MAKE THEIR HOMES MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT. WE ALSO LAUNCHED AN ENERGY TRAINING CORPS, AN AMERICORPS PROGRAM THAT EQUIPS COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH ROBUST TRAINING AND ENERGY INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS TO PREPARE THEM FOR CAREERS IN THE GROWING ENERGY INDUSTRY. THIS 25+ MEMBER CREW WILL COMPLETE WORK THAT IMPROVES THE EFFICIENCY OF LOCAL HOUSING STOCK AND REDUCES UTILITY COSTS FOR RESIDENTS. ECOLIBRIUM3 ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE NATIONAL LAB OF THE ROCKIES TO EXPLORE THE TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY, LIFE-CYCLE IMPACTS, AND SOCIAL IMPACTS OF INDUSTRIAL INNOVATION IN NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: ALTHOUGH ECOLIBRIUM3 WORKS AT MULTIPLE SCALES, OUR DEEPEST WORK IS CENTERED ON THE TRADITIONALLY DISADVANTAGED LINCOLN PARK NEIGHBORHOOD. ECOLIBRIUM3 SERVES AS THE LEAD COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION WORKING TO ADVANCE HEALTH, SAFETY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND CONNECTEDNESS. IN 2025 WE COMPLETED THE RENOVATION OF THE LINCOLN PARK COMMUNITY CENTER. RENAMED THE LNPK HUB, THE REJUVENATED FACILITY SERVES AS AN EXPANDED COMMUNITY CENTER, HOSTS EVENTS AND MEETINGS, AND PROVIDES PUBLIC COMPUTER ACCESS. THE LNPK HUB HAS BEEN A HOME FOR OUR EXPANDED WELLNESS PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING WALKING WELLNESS UPLIFT, AN ELDER-CENTERED, HOLISTIC HEALTH CLASS. OVER THE SUMMER, WE TEAMED UP WITH HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS FOR INTERGENERATIONAL CONNECTION. SINCE THE START OF THIS PROGRAM, WE HAVE WORKED WITH 20 ELDERS AND 15 STUDENTS. THE HUB IS ALSO THE SITE FROM WHICH WE CO-LEAD THE DULUTH AGE FRIENDLY INITIATIVE TO ADVANCE A THRIVING COMMUNITY FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES. WE HAVE CONTINUED OUR SUPPORT OF THE ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION OF LINCOLN PARK THROUGH THE STRATEGIC MERGER OF ECOLIBRIUM3'S AWARD-WINNING MAIN STREET LINCOLN PARK WITH THE LINCOLN PARK BUSINESS GROUP. AND, WE COMPLETED THE RENOVATION OF A CONDEMNED HOME IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO EXPAND ACCESSIBLE HOUSING OPTIONS FOR OUR AMERICORPS MEMBERS. IN OCTOBER, WE ANNOUNCED THAT THE HOUSE IS NO LONGER CONDEMNED AND READY FOR AMERICORPS MEMBERS TO MOVE IN IN 2026. LASTLY, OUR ANNUAL ECOFEST CELEBRATION RESULTED IN OVER 225 VOLUNTEERS CLEANING OVER 4,000 POUNDS OF LITTER FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.