Alexandria area launches community stewardship program

excerpted from the Echo Press, 4-11-08

The Alexandria Area Economic Development Commission (AAEDC) hopes that a community stewardship program similar to Bemidji Leads! will help develop and define the area's direction. The program will be administered by the Center for Community Stewardship of Bemidji. The AAEDC received a $20,000 grant from the Otto Bremer Foundation as well as funding from West Central Initiative to implement the study locally.

The AAEDC will initially support and staff the program with the plan of it becoming a community venture. For more information on the program and how to get involved, contact Jason Murray, (320) 763-4545 or log onto http://www.stewardacademy.com/.

New York Mills group pursues thrift store idea as part of community visioning

excerpted from the New York Mills Herald, 8-30-07

Tod Cameron, superintendent of schools in New York Mills, has been leading a community-based think tank to bring new ideas to New York Mills, and at the same time help fight poverty in the area.

A small group met to discuss the thrift store idea, which came about through an action forum held in April. At the forum a top-seven list of ideas was established and ranked by participants. The list:

1. Recruitment of businesses;
2. Mentoring program;
3. Thrift store;
4. Job counseling;
5. Community pride, trash pick-up;
6. School business;
7. Community newsletter, information center.

On Oct. 27 at 6 p.m., NY Mills and the University of Minnesota Extension Office, which oversees the Horizons program, will hold a strategic and visioning meeting. If 150-200 people attend, the town stands to receive $10,000 from Horizons to improve the community.