Community News—The City of Eden Prairie
Sept/Oct 2002

With the opening of the new millennium, a group that included local business leaders, city and public school officials,  and the Chamber of Commerce decided it was time to both recognize and cultivate the City's reputation as a haven for high-tech industry.

Joe Stoebner, Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce member and president of AVI Systems, believed the time was ripe for City leaders to take a more active role in building Eden Prairie's high-tech future. Stoebner gathered a small group of Eden Prairie business and community leaders, and some months and many meetings later the volunteer organization was born.

The result  was the formation of the Habitat for Technology, whose mission is to maintain and build the City's standing as a mecca for technology businesses, both computer/internet-related ventures and firms that utilize high technology as part of their work.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the formerly quiet little suburb of Eden Prairie began to see unprecedented growth, in residential population and in business choosing to locate here. City officials credit easy accessibility to the area (via 494), plenty of available space for growth, and great schools for this trend.

The Habitat has created a strong connection between local businesses and the City's educational institutions. Working with the Eden Prairie High School and Hennepin Technical College's Eden Prairie campus, the Habitat for Technology draws from the local student population to fill technology internships with local businesses as well as with the City.

Another major Habitat initiative includes a Web portal developed by Eden Prairie-based Endurant, which assisted in the development of the City's new Website. In addition to offering a plethora of information on City services, including economic incentives, the portal will eventually host websites for local Businesses.