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household income is $34,603. Most families here own their own home (78 per- cent) and have children under the age of 18 (86 percent). More than 84 percent of • the population over 25 has graduated from high school, 36 percent have attended college. While the population over 16 falls into a range of occupational groups, the following categories stand out: 21 percent executive, managerial or profes- sional; 18.5 percent administrative support; and nearly 26 percent in manufactur- ing (precision production, craft or machine operation). These figures paint a picture of an area where the people have a great deal in common. A growing population means more people, and more people-means more demand for both private and public resources. Young parents with children in the formative years expect good schools, safe housing, easy commuting, and a variety of recreational and entertainment opportunities. Because these are young families with many day-to-day activities and responsi- bilities competing for their time, many of them are not likely to be interested in supporting a program of this nature. The prevalent 30-year-old head of household in Coon Rapids is not as likely to look at his or her community in the same long- range fashion as the prevalent 40 to 50-year-old homeowner in the south-west areas. There is also the possibility that certain segments of the public would oppose the basic pro-development thrust of the Project North mission. It could successfully be argued that the residents category must always be consid- ered the top priority for an effort of this kind. It goes without saying that, long run, you had better have the folks behind you in government programs such as these. It is also prohibitively expensive and inefficient to attempt to reach and enlist the support of all the citizens of your area by conventional methods (adver- tising). Therefore, it is critical that affordable means be found to inform and educate the people of your area as to the reasons for the progress of the Project North efforts. E.) Economic Development Entities The Northern Mayors Association has undertaken a task that extends beyond the scope of bringing their combined political weight behind public development issues. They also see the need and advantage to their individual committees in using the Association to augment and assist local, private development efforts. Accordingly, we have included these local development entities as a separate public with special needs and concerns. The overriding consideration in the execution of programs is that each community will insist upon their autonomy and that everything that is developed by Project North must supplement and augment local efforts. f 12 Northern Mayors Association