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proportion of representation for this area will be increased by a factor of at least one third (1/3). • It is critical to the success of the Northern Mayors Association program that the area legislators be brought into the information loop as early as possible and that they come to feel a sense of proprietorship in the program. We strongly believe that area legislators and the natural legislative allies of your efforts must be an important focus of the Project North effort. C.) Businesses/ Community Development Organizations The 40 communities of the northern suburbs boast a number of already well-es- tablished businesses and community organizations.Project North chances of suc- cess will be enhanced if they have the involvement and support of this key public as well. There are now approximately 111 businesses with over 100 employees in the northern suburban area. Business and private community development groups include the North Metro Convention and Tourism Bureau, the Anoka County Chamber of Commerce (task force), the North Metro Crossing Coalition, the North Metro Traffic Task Force, Anoka County Economic Development Partner- ship, the North Hennepin and Greater Minneapolis Chambers of Commerce, and several city Chambers of Commerce. These groups represent those who stand to benefit most immediately and directly if Project North is successful. There is every reason to believe that if they are ap- proached in the right way with the right message that their support and resources can be enlisted in the effort. D.) The Residents of Project North The area covered by Project North has quietly become the fastest growing region in the Twin Cities Metropolitan area. For example, Champlin in northwest Henne- pin County grew from just 2,275 residents in 1970 to nearly 13,000 in 1986. Just to the east in Coon Rapids, population increased 46 percent from 1970 to 1987, from 30, 505 people to 44,599. Brooklyn Park doubled in size going from 26,230 residents in 1970 to 52,392 in 1987. And Maple Grove has posted a stunning 433 percent population increase from 1970 to 1987. Even further east where popula- tion growth has not been quite so dramatic,communities like Roseville and New Brighton are predicting steady growth well into the 1990s. While this trend is ex- pected to slow somewhat in the future, population forecasts for the year 2000 show that the 11 cities in Anoka County will grow by 147.8 percent. Marketing data for the area shows that the Project North region is made up generally of young, middle class families. The average age is 30, and the median i 11 Northern Mayors Association