Project Schedule

Progress Updates

January 2026 Update

The vision and goals for the Winona County Comprehensive Plan are beginning to take shape! The draft goal survey closed at the end of December, and 52 community members provided feedback on the draft goals. The feedback received during the survey will be used to refine and finalize the plan goals.

The Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee met on January 13th to discuss the Comprehensive Plan vision and the agricultural, natural, and cultural resources chapter. The group provided feedback on the overarching vision structure and contents. The group also held an in-depth discussion on the objectives for the agricultural, natural, and cultural resources chapter. The discussion touched on challenges Winona County is facing, what has been tried in the past, and what the County should prioritize over the next 20 years. Using the feedback provided by steering committee members, the project team will draft objectives, implementation actions, and chapter text for the agricultural, natural, and cultural resources chapter. A similar process will be used for the other chapters of the plan.

The graphic below displays the goal structure of the 2045 Winona County Comprehensive Plan.

November 2025 Update

The first round of engagement events was wrapped up last month. In total, the project team engaged over 500 community members since the summer, using both online and in-person means. Using the feedback received at these events, the project team has worked with the Steering Committee to develop nine draft goals for the updated plan, which are available for review on the Share Your Ideas Page.

After we hear from you regarding the draft goals for the Plan, we will dive into the details and identify specific objectives that will support each goal. Then, we will propose implementation actions to address each objective, helping to achieve the overall goals of the plan. Once these are ready, we will share the drafts with the community and provide additional opportunities for comment.

September 2025 Update

Phase one of public engagement activities, focused on existing conditions and visioning, wrapped up this month. On September 10th, the planning team hosted an open house at the Stockton City Hall and Community Center. The open house utilized a variety of activities to understand what areas Winona County should focus investment on over the next 20 years. A summary of the feedback gathered at the event is available here. On September 12th, the first community survey concluded. In total, 315 Winona County stakeholders responded to the survey, representing residents and workers from across the county. All of the survey data has been summarized in the community survey results summary.

Moving forward, work will focus on generating a plan vision and goals, utilizing the feedback gathered during the first phase of engagement.

August 2025 Update

Public engagement events have been in full swing during July and August! The first community survey was launched at the beginning of July and will be open through the end of August. Two pop-up events were held at the Winona County Fair and Family Night at the Farm to publicize the survey and gather key information from stakeholders. The planning team hosted a workshop at the Township Officers Meeting on August 13th to better understand the unique needs of Winona County townships. Public engagement activities at this stage of the planning process are focused on gathering information about existing conditions and high-level visioning (where stakeholders want to see Winona County in 2045). The information gathered through public engagement shapes the Comprehensive Plan goals and priorities.

June 2025 Update

The first Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee meeting was held this month, marking the beginning of the public engagement process. Stakeholders from across Winona County met with County and consultant staff to discuss the planning process, existing conditions, and key challenges faced by the County. The Steering Committee will continue to meet throughout the planning process to provide insight, establish a vision and goals, review Plan materials, and guide the planning process.

The analysis of existing conditions and data continues after receiving valuable feedback and suggestions from the Steering Committee. The County will be hosting a booth to at the Winona County Fair in July to gather feedback for the Comprehensive Plan.

May 2025 Progress Update

The County is currently at the beginning steps of developing the Comprehensive Plan. Current work includes understanding existing conditions and gathering valuable data that will be used throughout the planning process. Next steps include holding the first meeting of the Steering Committee, launching the first community survey, and establishing a plan vision.