NJPA and R5DC Join Forces to Better Serve Central Minnesota Residents
New partnership represents a united, collaborative effort dedicated to providing service and efficiency to Region 5
Staples, Minn. (15 September 2016) – National Joint Powers Alliance (NJPA) and Region 5 Development Commission (R5DC) are proving their commitment to central Minnesota residents with a new planning partnership. Both organizations serve other government agencies in Region 5, which is made up of the following counties: Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena. The new partnership will focus on comprehensive planning for cities, counties, and townships.
The partnership represents a united, collaborative effort dedicated to providing the best possible service and efficiency to the region.
“Our agencies frequently share the mantra, ‘No single organization or person, however innovative or influential, could accomplish our goals alone,’” says Cheryal Lee Hills, executive director at R5DC. “NJPA and R5DC recognize we can be more strategic and intentional about how WE best serve the region, and this is a united venture we all look forward to.”
What is Comprehensive Planning?
Typical comprehensive plans provide general policy guidelines regarding transportation, utilities, land use, recreation, and housing over the next several years. The plans deal more with concepts, patterns, and visions than with specific short‐term rules and ordinances. Comprehensive planning is the process used to determine community‐development goals and aspirations, which will then guide future planning decisions.
Both agencies have completed numerous comprehensive plans for communities throughout the region. The groups assist local units of government in all aspects of comprehensive planning by:
- Gathering public input through workshops, task forces, and meetings
- Compiling and updating demographic data
- Guiding elected officials and planning staff with creating, adopting, and communicating comprehensive plans
NJPA Regional Program Director Paul Drange says, “NJPA has formed an invaluable relationship in working closely with R5DC. Our strategic goals in serving Region 5 align in many great ways. We are excited about the work that has been done but even more excited about what the future holds for Region 5 as R5DC and NJPA partner together.”
Sourcewell (formerly National Joint Powers Alliance) is a self-supporting government organization, partnering with education, government, and nonprofits to boost student and community success. Created in 1978 as one of Minnesota's nine service cooperatives, we offer training and shared services to our central-Minnesota members. Throughout North America, we offer a cooperative purchasing program with over 200 awarded vendors on contract. Sourcewell is driven by service and the ability to strategically reinvest in member communities.