NEWS & EVENTS

CVP makes progress, considers sixth arts sector
By Mike Christopherson, Managing Editor
Crookston Daily Times

April 22, 2005 - Although the Crookston Vitality Project's involvement in the pursuit of a potential community center/arena in Crookston has garnered headlines of late, there are other things going on as the CVP seeks "An Emerging Road Map to the Future."

That was the title of a PowerPoint presentation that CVP Coordinator Angie Sip gave to the CVP Steering Committee last week. One new development in the PowerPoint, Sip said, is the exploration of a sixth sector group that would be known as "Theater and Arts."

Currently, the five original sector groups continue to meet. They're identifying goals and forming priority lists specific to their sector area.

An update:

Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources: Work continues on securing a feasibility study regarding a community center/arena in Crookston. The City Council is expected to select an architect next week.

Economic Vitality and Development: The top five goals include business retention and succession, additional industrial base, selective revitalization of historical buildings, affordable housing and recruiting a qualified labor force.

Education: Focus areas cover lifelong learning, and include pre-kindergarten, Early Birds, Head Start, K-12 (both traditional and non-traditional formalized education), post-secondary, collegiate and higher learning, community education and service learning. Action items discussed include promoting educational awareness, putting a positive face on education, surveying the community to determine educational needs and collaborating with a potential community center.

Healthcare and Human Services: Community strengths discussed include a pattern of working together and partnering in the areas of public health, mental health, corrections and social services; a community-oriented workforce, and; a rich mix of services for a county of Polk's size. Opportunities discussed include enhancing the hospital-based chemically dependent detox program that is unique for an area this rural; growing services through new investments in local facilities like the Villa St. Vincent, RiverView and Northwestern Mental Health Center; increasing services to smaller communities in the county and region, and; promoting a lifestyle for recruitment.

Community Leadership and Involvement: Its mission is "To create a community that welcomes, values and supports leadership and involvement, and nurtures a spirit of ownership and volunteerism through education, communication and collaboration." Goals include: Making the community more aware of current involvement opportunities; encouraging multicultural involvement and leadership, and; welcoming and motivating current and future citizens to increase involvement.