About the NDDC

Our Mission

The Northfield Downtown Development Corporation (NDDC) in Northfield, Minnesota is an organization of dedicated residents who seek to realize their vision of a vibrant and vital downtown through direct and indirect investment, collaboration and cooperation with other public and private groups, and by creating awareness of the opportunities that downtown Northfield holds for the community as a whole.

Our Vision

The NDDC is committed to creating and sustaining a vibrant and vital downtown, one that embodies our community’s unique combination of heritage, culture, and social diversity.

This vision is based upon a number of values and beliefs. For example, we believe that our downtown:

  • serves as a symbol for Northfield as a whole
  • represents our heritage and our hope for the future
  • is the heart and soul of our life in community, the place where we make connections with each other and share a social and cultural life
  • is the center of retail and commercial services and a place for housing and recreation
  • is defined and enriched by its proximity to the Cannon River
  • has unlimited potential to be even more than what it is
  • is at a crossroads and that time is of the essence if we are to make decisions that will insure its future

We also believe:

  • the west side of downtown should be integrated into the east side and that a comprehensive plan be developed for the entire downtown area
  • the entire community must be involved in and informed about the creation of the new east-side and west-side downtown Northfield

We value:

  • the qualities of life that are created by our downtown and its people
  • the spirit of cooperation, collaboration and trust that will be necessary if we are to work together to create a stronger downtown
  • the creativity and imagination of all those who care about our downtown
  • the sense of community that is created by places that promote interaction, reflection, and tranquility

2008 NDDC Board of Directors

NDDC Staff

NDDC’s History

The Northfield Downtown Development Corporation (NDDC) is a nonprofit Minnesota corporation founded in May of 2000 by Northfield residents Bardwell Smith, Keith Covey, Brett Reese and Jim Braucher. Dave Lyon assisted them in their efforts.

The four founding members of the NDDC worked together on the long-range planning a development task force of the Northfield Chamber of Commerce. Over a twelve-month period, beginning in the summer of 1999, they considered ways to keep the downtown viable in the face of increased competition from fringe development and other economic forces. As a result of their thoughtful analysis and shared insights, they realized that an organization like the NDDC would be an effective way of working with other groups in the community to maintain the viability of our downtown business district and to make Northfield an even more remarkable place to live.

Since that time the NDDC has found support in all parts of the Northfield community including the City of Northfield which gave the organization $20,000 in its first year as seed money to help the NDDC become an established and effective organization. In addition, the organization received a $1,000 grant from the SE Minnesota Initiative Fund. These grants assisted in the hiring of a part-time research associate.

In 2003, the Board of Directors created three ad-hoc committees to be more issue-oriented groups than the standing committees (Nominating, Executive, Public Relations, Resource). The three committees are the Economic Viability Committee, the Arts and Recreation Committee, and the Economic Expansion and Redevelopment Committee.

The NDDC participated in the Downtown Strategies Committee process initiated by the Northfield City Council in 2003. The goal of this project is to develop a coherent and consistent plan for both structural and operational improvements in Downtown Northfield. The Committee is charged with forwarding its recommendations for change to the City Council in early 2004.

NDDC Goals

  1. Downtown Development
    The NDDC seeks to create and support quality, multi-purpose development in downtown Northfield. This means development that preserves the historic character of the downtown business district, honors Northfield’s valuable heritage, maintains density levels, more effectively utilizes current buildings, and expresses our community’s unique character and identity. It is also development that leaves the downtown accessible and convenient for business owners, suppliers, customers and the community as a whole.
  2. Growth
    The NDDC seeks to both fill in and expand the size of the central downtown business district. To this end, the NDDC encourages redevelopment west of the Cannon River, the current Middle School site, and other boundary areas as opportunities arise. It also means better utilization of current structures in the central business district.
  3. Trust and Cooperation
    The NDDC seeks to create trust and cooperation among all parties interested in the future of downtown Northfield. To this end the NDDC will initiate, facilitate and participate in collaborative efforts with such diverse entities as the EDA, the City Council, the Planning Commission, the Chamber of Commerce, downtown business and property owners and other agencies, entities and private citizens. In addition, the NDDC will engender trust by using the personal relationships, social and professional networks and the personal insights and experience of its members to augment the more formal efforts of others.
  4. Education and Understanding
    The NDDC seeks to create and communicate a true and detailed picture of downtown Northfield. To this end, the NDDC seeks to educate the citizens of Northfield about the value to the whole community of a vibrant and vital downtown and to create better understanding about the economic, political and social forces at work that affect this vitality and vibrancy.
  5. Advocate for Downtown Business and Property Owners
    The NDDC seeks to be an advocate for business and property owners in downtown Northfield. To this end the NDDC will conduct research projects, measure and report on the economic health of the downtown business community, provide networking and other associated opportunities that improve the flow of information about and among downtown businesses and develop financing opportunities that will assist business and property owners in undertaking new projects and development.
  6. Marketing Downtown
    The NDDC seeks to help develop the downtown Northfield “Brand,” that set of identifying characteristics that can be used to attract new businesses and customers. To this end we will work with the EDA and Chamber of Commerce to market the downtown locally, regionally and nationally as a unique place to live, work and recreate.
  7. A Significant Community Asset
    The NDDC seeks to position itself as a significant community asset, a dedicated group of residents that bring integrity, credibility and a set of remarkable skills and abilities to the significant challenges and opportunities that face downtown Northfield.