Quality of Place

Each community has their own story. These stories are investments that build upon each community’s unique assets and in turn act as engines to support a way of life that strengthens their community and the region. We listened, and profiled residents from all 65 communities that make up the Five Counties in Region Five.  In addition, we listened to the stories of both the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwa and Camp Ripley Military Base. Together we co-constructed profiles of what is working well, what is valued, aspirations for each community and ultimately created a foundation for a community profile. Their stories represent the positive core of their community and are told on these pages.

When listening and profiling each community’s unique story, we captured the people, history, and hopeful visions.  We looked at a wide variety of assets within each community including:

• Natural Capital Assets - (examples: parks, trails, local foods, agriculture) 
• Cultural Capital Assets - (examples: community festivals, immigrant/emerging populations, youth & senior activities)
• Human Capital Assets - (examples: community college, prevenative and existing care)
• Social Capital Assets - (examples: community clubs, foundations, advocacy groups, non-profits)
• Political Assets - (examples: elected officials, shared purchasing and training, municipal services)
• Financial Assets - (examples: banks, RLFs, other lending sources)
• Built Capital Assets - (examples: housing stock, technology, transportation infrastructureure, tourism, manufacturing)

Click the community’s name to read their story.