Region Five Five Counties. One Vision. One Source Events Calendar  |  Links & Resources
What We Do

Community Development

 

Community development is a broad term applied to the practices and academic disciplines of civic leaders, involved citizens and professionals to improve various aspects of local communities; ultimately to improve quality of life in our local communities.

Community development seeks to empower individuals and groups of people by providing these groups with the skills they need to affect change in their own communities. These skills are often concentrated around building local capacity through the formation and facilitation of local community groups working for a common goal.

This is done by providing technical assistance, resources, and information. In addition, information is available in topic areas such Hazard Mitigation, Comprehensive Planning, Zoning, Broadband usage, Sustainability, Local Foods, Energy, and the natural and human environment. A number of these topics are detailed below.

For specific information on these or any services provided by Region Five Development Commission please contact Tad Erickson at 218-894-3233 x5 or by email at terickson@regionfive.org.

Sustainable Regional Planning

R5DC Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Mission
To create a Community driven - University assisted partnership around planning sustainable regions that will integrate the disciplines of housing, transportation, natural environment (land use) and economic development (including energy and local foods) that will encompass in-reach strategies through HIGHLY involved civic engagement in efforts to build an inclusive region that will provide opportunities, be free from discrimination and improve the quality of life of ALL residents.

 

HUD livability principals

  • Provide more transportation choices.
  • Promote equitable, affordable housing.
  • Enhance economic competitiveness.
  • Support existing communities.
  • Coordinate policies and leverage investments.
  • Value communities and neighborhoods.

 

Regions guiding principals

  • Think regionally and inclusively.
  • Consolidation of available data.
  • Capitalize on assets, current plans and work in progress.
  • Balance redevelopment/development preservation opportunities through effective land-use planning.
  • Consider regionalization of services.
  • Connect:
    • More peope to well-paid jobs.
    • Active living opportunities to the region.
    • Broadband technology to entire region.

 

Preferred sustainability status
In 2010, a Consortium of organizations in the Region Five Development Commission service territory successfully applied for funding through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Sustainable Communities Planning Grant Program. As a result of its funding award, the Region Five area is now eligible for Preferred Sustainability Status (PSS), which allows other applicants within the region to qualify for up to two bonus points for select HUD programs during Federal Fiscal Year 2011. The primary contact regarding the PSS is the Region Five Development Commission.

Below is a link to Base Camp where you can find more information. http://basecamphq.com/

If you would like to participate in the Region Five Sustainable Communities Regional HUD planning grant via Base Camp, please contact Tad Erickson, Community and Economic Development Planner at 218.894.3233, or by email at terickson@regionfive.org