Prior Manor – Scott County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (Scott County CDA)
Then…
Our story began in the early 1970s, when Scott County was home to approximately 35,000 residents. Recognizing the need for revitalization and affordable housing, the County Board established a Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA). The goal was twofold: to clear and redevelop blighted areas and to address the shortage of safe, sanitary, and affordable housing for veterans, servicemembers, and low-income individuals and families.
With a growing population and evolving community needs, the HRA laid the foundation for future housing initiatives, ensuring that all residents had access to a place they could truly call home.
The County Board appointed five members to serve as the Scott County HRA Board effective January 1, 1975. The original HRA Commissioners of William Chard (Belle Plaine), Walter Borkowski (New Prague), Marjorie Henderson (Shakopee), Keith Thorkelson (Prior Lake) and Sylester Wacker (Savage) held their first meeting on January 21, 1975 electing Marjorie Henderson, Board Chair.
The first two and a half decades the HRA began building rental units and providing housing assistance for individuals and families. In the 2000s, the HRA expanded its work to include homeownership services and economic development while changing our name to the Scott County Community Development Agency (CDA) to be more reflective of the work we do across the county.
Now…
Fast forward to today, Scott County has grown to over 150,000 residents in eight cities and 10 townships. The CDA has grown, too; though our focus and purpose remain to provide housing that is affordable, clear and redevelop blighted areas across the county and to attract, retain and support the growth of strong businesses.
Although we are often mistaken for a branch of Scott County government, the Scott County Community Development Agency (CDA) was created as a separate entity. While independent, we work in close collaboration with Scott County, as well as local cities, townships, and government agencies at the state and federal levels. These partnerships allow us to maximize the impact of our programs and initiatives, ensuring we can effectively support housing, economic development, and community growth throughout the county.
Legacy Central – New CDA Office
The CDA is more than rooftops and offers many resources for our community. Over the next several months we invite you to follow our story as we highlight our work from its origins to today, our impact and the team who are at the center.
