Planning & Building Better Communities
in Minnesota's Growth Corridor

Program Overview

GMHF is launching the Growth Corridor Initiative (GCI) at a critical moment in time for high-growth communities on the edge of the 7-county metropolitan area. While development pressures have been steadily increasing, communities have not yet lost the opportunity to conduct careful, community-driven decision making that will focus on results and the implementation of real projects that will set the stage for future growth.

A Principle Driven Initiative for High Growth Communities

Through partnering with interested communities, and serving as the catalyst for other philanthropic and local investment, the principles of GMHF’s Growth Corridor Initiative program are:

Planning:
Support effective, area-wide master planning that addresses needs in growing communities for affordable housing, economic development, transportation infrastructure, community facilities, open space and recreation, and preservation of natural systems.

Land Use:
Promote efficient land use patterns that support the growth of economically, environmentally, and socially healthy cities and towns.

Housing:
Encourage development of a variety of housing types, styles and price points that meet affordability and life-cycle housing needs of growing communities and reduce distances which workers must travel to reach employment.

Community Participation & Local Control:
Increase meaningful citizen participation throughout the community planning process to facilitate greater public education and awareness of local development issues.