Stevens FORWARD!

Sponsored by the Stevens County Board of Commissioners, Stevens FORWARD! is an effort to create a brighter future for all residents of the county community: Alberta, Chokio, Donnelly, Hancock, and Morris.

We believe the best days of our community are ahead of us, and the best way to get there is to get on the same page regarding what we want and how to best work together.

Since 2007, a group of two-dozen local citizens serving as "stewards" have spent many hours learning about and discussing the economic, cultural, social, and educational issues that affect our county. From these ideas, thoughts, and dreams we crafted a written Destiny Statement (a vision for our collective future) and identified Destiny Drivers, the goals that will help us realize our vision.

Funded through a variety of public and private sources including the county, the five cities, the townships, the University of Minnesota, Morris, financial institutions, and other local businesses, this initiative represents a genuine spirit of partnership and collaboration.

Stevens County stands at the threshold of a new era. IT is up to all of us, as citizens, to make sure we cross over that threshold and enter our destiny. If we take hold of what we have and build upon it, we can make this county a shining example of innovation, progressive thinking, and creative use of the resources we possess.

This is a bold new initiative with long reaching possibilities. Those of us who have labored long in the Stevens FORWARD! initiative, and those who have caught the vision for this county, are determined to take control of our future and move this county to the next level.