• Mission • Vision • Values

 

Mission Statement: The Norman County EDA promotes the assets and opportunities available in Norman County, encouraging continual improvement of quality of life and quality of place throughout, and for, the current and future generations of the county.

 

Vision Statement: The Norman County EDA will develop short-term and long-term strategies that promote quality of life and quality of place. Strategies will capitalize on positive community and organizational partnerships and will support ongoing improvement and promotion of youth and family development, businesses, natural resources, parks, recreation, education, housing, infrastructure, community services for all ages, and business development.

 

Values Statement:

Community Involvement: The Norman County EDA values its positive, interactive relationship with citizens, government boards, businesses, schools, rural residents, and farmers who invest in the community. It will continually involve the community to formulate and implement projects. It will create opportunities for the above-named groups and individuals to donate time, talent, and treasure that positively affect the financial, recreational, educational, and overall wellness and expansion of opportunities in Norman County.

 

Land Use: The Norman County EDA will partner with applicable entities to promote balanced development, which is complementary to, and will maintain, the rural Minnesota character, community values, and proud heritage of Norman County. It will partner with communities to assure future land use project outcomes reflect the needs of the changing population. It will support the appropriate mix of business, commercial, and residential uses. It will promote a variety of residential development and business opportunities throughout the county.

 

Quality of Life: The Norman County EDA will work with residents, businesses, cities, county, and state entities to preserve community features which contribute to Norman County’s quality of life. It will preserve the natural and cultural features such as prime agricultural land, valuable woodlands, forest, and other valuable natural resources, while encouraging public and private partnerships designed to improve and upgrade the physical attractiveness of the county.

 

Quality of Place includes, but is not limited to:

Housing: The Norman County EDA will study and understand existing conditions and support actions on the projected housing needs of the county. It will engage, communicate, and support cities and citizens with existing local housing opportunities, work to provide a variety of choices for residential housing, and partner with other entities to create opportunities for a range of housing types including single and multi-family units.

 

Community Facilities and Infrastructure: The Norman County EDA will assist with plans for, and support, quality community facilities and services to effectively meet municipal, social, and educational needs of citizens and businesses in an efficient manner. It will work with communities and governments to identify infrastructure repair/replacement needs and, where possible, to assist with the pursuit of funding to make necessary repairs or replacements. To promote longevity, it will encourage public and private cooperation in planning and financing community facilities.

 

Natural Resources: The Norman County EDA will protect and enhance environmentally sensitive natural resource areas in order to maintain their ecological integrity and/or to promote public health and safety.

 

Open Spaces: The Norman County EDA will promote the protection and enhancement of valuable open space resources in the county. It will assist communities in providing an integrated network of open space areas and recreation facilities and will encourage new developments that protect and enhance natural and open space resources. It will preserve natural features such as prime agricultural land, woodlands, trails, rivers, and other open space resources.

 

Recreation: The Norman County EDA will work with communities and government organizations to provide recreation opportunities, programs, and facilities for the county’s existing and future residents of all age groups. It will encourage the long-term use, maintenance, and improvement of existing recreational facilities including city parks, woodland trails, indoor and outdoor recreational facilities, rivers, snowmobile trails, and the Agassiz Recreational Trail, and will encourage future projects.

 

Transportation: The Norman County EDA will participate in the planning of, and locating funding for, projects in partnership with organizations and local, county, and state governments to provide and maintain a transportation system which allows for efficient movement of people and goods. It will work to help provide adequate motorized and pedestrian access to places of employment, residential areas, commercial areas, and recreational opportunities.