Nort Johnson gave a presentation about what the Chamber of Commerce has been working on over the last few years and Vision 2040.
A Visionary Journey-
-2014- the city sponsored the development of a Community Vision for 2040. This was completed in 2015.
-2017-Chamber Board decides to play a role in pursuing parts of this vision
-Board extracts 12 priorities for consideration from the outcomes of the Vision 2040 project
-2018 Chamber establishes Vision Task Force-Kymn Anderson, Mike Richie, Tony Langerud, Jay Valentyn, Tricia Duncan, Casie Steeves, Rod Gramse and Nort Johnson.
2024-2025 Priorities-
1.Excellence in Education
2. Leadership Collaboration
3. A Fabulous Downtown
4. Housing- Home Ownership Options
5. Daycare/Early Childhood Education
Excellence in Education-
1. 7 Day period
2. Career Guidance Counselor
3. P-Tech Health Services
4. P-Tech Industrial Sciences
5. Cradle to Career
6.Student Retention Committee
7.Business/Education Relations
Leadership Collaboration-
Joint Boards- Faribault City Council and Administrator, School Board and Superintendent, Rice County Commission and Administrator, Economic Development Authority and Director, Housing and Redevelopment Authoriiy and Director, Faribault Industrial Corporation, Allina Health, Chamber Executive Committee, and Faribault Foundation Director.
Joint Board Shared Priorities-
-Supporting Human Capital (Housing, Education, daycare, healthcare, public inclusion opportunities, embrace diversity)
-Retention and Growth (Retain and grow business, expand tax base, tax reform and clean energy)
-Fabulous Downtown (Mainstreet program-Winterfest, Car Cruises, Ladies Nights and Chili Fest) (Faribault Downtown Central- Acquired 13 blighted buildings, new roofs, 32 dump trucks of debris removed, 200 black facades, 10 new businesses including United Way Bookstore, Ristrom Amplifiers, Painted Lady, Upper East Side, Skyland Travel, UPDS Studios)
-Housing (Home Ownership Focus, Committee Formed, Infill lots and acreage, land trust research in progress)
