Chaska, Minnesota | April 26 & 27, 2009

The theme for the 2009 leadership retreat was "Strong Leadership During Challenging Times." The sessions revolved around finding   opportunities throughout our challenging times and what that means to the various sectors within our community.

Part of the focus was understanding the priorities and updates essential to Envision2020, which became the new community vision and strategic planning process to follow ACT 2000, which began in the mid 1980s. Mankato and North Mankato were nationally recognized for ACT 2000, their long-range planning process.

Envision 2020 stakeholders have identified six major topics that are guiding the strategic planning process. In addition to redevelopment and revitalization of the community’s city center and riverfront -- the top issue identified by the 2005 ICLV – the main focal issues were taken from the Envision 2020 mission:

• Transportation

• Economic Development

• Livability

• Community Planning/ Regional Governance

• Health and Human Services

• Education

  
  

This year's areas of focus were chosen based on outcomes from previous trips and identified by the planning committee as essential bjectives that would benefit the community.          

2008-09 Planning Committee