Behind the Scenes at Scott
Meet the devoted collective who are continuously working to improve the way we live, learn, and earn in Scott County. We know that the road isn’t always smooth, yet we are determined to find ways to make things work for everyone. It’s who we are, and why we’re here.
All Together Now
We’re proud of where we came from and proud of where we’re going.
We believe in our people and our plans. Every day, smart, caring, ambitious people show up to do the work that needs to happen to solve our biggest challenges, strengthen our economy, and give every Scott County resident the support they need to thrive. It’s why you’re reading this, right now.
For four years, a cooperative of public and private organizations—as diverse as the Scott County CDA and Mystic Lake—have been meeting monthly as a group to make the most of everything the county has to offer: housing, jobs, entertainment, and more. It confirmed what we already had a hunch about: Scott County is pretty great (see what we did there?).
And we also realized, the trick to supporting sustained economic development and vitality—that is, help people love the place they live and work—is to:
- Let people know these opportunities exist
- Connect people to said opportunities
- Increase these opportunities so everyone can thrive
Meet the Team
If Scott has it all, shouldn’t everyone share in it? We sure think so!
The private and public resources that collaborate to bring Great Scott together span partnerships across a broad perspective. It’s how we work together to overcome challenges, celebrate our victories, and make sure we’re including all voices in a collective direction. All of this is easier thanks to this group’s hard work and the potential in Scott County.
Barb Dahl
The co-chair of the Workforce Readiness workgroup and the behind-the-curtain of Great Scott, Barb shares her community know-how to help us lead Scott into the future. From 9-5, she oversees the Scott Co. Mental Health, Economic Assistance, and Adult Service departments.
Stacy Crakes
Stacy landed in Scott to lead business development and economic development for the CDA. Two fast facts about her? She's a registered civil engineer and came within a whisker of being on the USA Women's National volleyball team. Spike!
Scott County CDA
The CDA knows that when people have access to a good salary and a safe home, everyone wins. A vital part of the community for over 45 years, the CDA helps low- to moderate-income families build self-sufficiency and advances possibilities for economic growth.
Scott Spotlight
We feature people, places, and things that make Scott stand out, whether it’s the best barista who always gets your coffee order just right, a little-known hiking trail with scenic views, or the best menu item at your favorite diner. In other words, don’t let our hidden gems be hidden! Share your best Scott secrets with the community. Make an intro or drop us a line to nominate your favorite Scott things with us.
Let's Talk
Focus groups informed us that there is a lack of community resources, and employers mentioned that they wish we had more ways to connect jobs to people. We’ve designed a unique place that plays upon private and public partnerships and best practices from other communities and we’re always looking for people and businesses to help accelerate our efforts (hey, that’s you!). If you’d like to find out how to sponsor Great Scott, drop us a line.
What's Happening
We collaborated with the Chambers of Commerce in Shakopee and Prior Lake, Scott County, and also the county library resources to pull together a master calendar of events all around Scott. Bookmark it to check-in and never miss a thing! Got something cool to do or see? Submit your events for us to post, too.
Stay in Touch, OK?
From time to time, we send out community updates, job alerts, volunteer opportunities, and lots of other helpful Scott info. No spam, just lots of ideas about things to do and people to meet. Drop-in your email address, and we’ll add your name to the list.