The CDA offers an educational scholarship opportunity for students who reside in a CDA rental property. Students are eligible if they are a first time college student, an adult returning to college, or someone trying to get certification to get a better job. Students are required to fill out an application and get recommendation letters from teachers, employers, or community…
Three past Scott County FAST-TRACK winners named as MN Cup Semi-finalists
The Scott County Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE) is pleased to announce that three Scott County CFE Business Partners and past FAST-TRACK Challenge winners have been selected as SEMI-FINALISTS for the MN CUP! Hundreds of applications were submitted for this state-wide business competition, a community-led, public-private partnership supporting Minnesota’s entrepreneurs. Click here to visit the Carlson School’s MN Cup website. Baby…
Investing in the Development of Workforce Rental Housing
The CDA’s INVEST Program meets our strategic goal of increasing workforce housing capacity by investing in the development or preservation of affordable workforce rental housing throughout Scott County. Funds are to be used as a source of gap financing that can, in turn, be used to leverage additional public and private sector funds. New this year: additional time-limited ARPA funding…
The Scott County CDA welcomes two new Commissioners!
On January 11, Chair Croatt had the pleasure of swearing in two new Commissioners for the CDA. Dale Gade is the new Commissioner for District III in Shakopee. Commissioner Gade lives in Shakopee and is a practicing civil engineer. He used to work for the City of Shakopee and now works in a private consulting firm. Commissioner Gade has two…
Scott County 2021 FAST-TRACK Challenge Winners Announced
The FAST-TRACK Challenge is pleased to announce Steelhead Outdoors, Prior Lake, is the 2021 FAST-TRACK Challenge 1st place winner! Second place was presented to Baby Know, based in Shakopee, third place honors went to Mash, who is proposing to build a facility in Savage, and fourth place was awarded to Chefs Crest, also based in Savage. The winners were among…
Bill Jaffa Announces Retirement After 36 Years with the Scott County Community Development Agency
Bill started at the CDA (then HRA-Housing and Redevelopment Authority) in 1985 as the Community Development Director and then was promoted to the Executive Director just a year later. Before coming to the Agency, Bill went to college for secondary teaching, coached Golden Gloves boxing through the Minneapolis Model Cities program, and was a Chamber President. We bet back then,…
FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR 2021 FAST-TRACK CHALLENGE
Scott County FAST-TRACK Challenge 2021 Finalists Announced The Scott County Center for Entrepreneurship will be hosting the 5th Annual Scott County FAST-TRACK Challenge on Thursday, October 21, 2021. This year’s applicants are featuring projects in the health/wellness space, tech and manufacturing areas. Applications were received from entrepreneurs in several Scott County communities including Elko New Market, Prior Lake, Savage and…
First homebuyer Community Land Trust Program!
As I stopped in to see Nimo, she was painting and working to get her home ready to move in. Her five kids have picked out their bedrooms and can’t wait to move in! Nimo stated that she has always wanted to own a house, but more importantly wanted her kids to have a backyard. Nimo feels the Community Land…
Educational Scholarships Awarded!
This year, we were able to provide an educational scholarship to three great students at different stages of their educational careers. Students are participants of a CDA rental assistance program. Abdikadir just graduated from high school and is on his way to St. Thomas in the fall. Abdikadir’s educational goals have been influenced by the pandemic. He wants to major…
COMPETE FOR $15,000 IN START-UP CASH & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR YOUR NEW BUSINESS AT THE 5TH ANNUAL SCOTT COUNTY FAST-TRACK BUSINESS CHALLENGE
Thanks to generous sponsors, winners of the FAST-TRACK Challenge will be provided start-up funds and professional business services to help fast-track their business to success. *New this year* A student division has been added to this year’s event!