Our mission as a company is to: "Develop housing, focused on older adults, which enriches and further engages them in their lifelong experiences within a community designed to appreciate beauty and the physical changes of aging. This mission will be fulfilled, in part, by affiliating these communities with colleges, universities, or educational organizations."

In the fall of 2000, accomplished entrepreneur Jon Petters was growing restless. He had sold his company, Irresistible Ink, to Hallmark Cards and was looking for a new challenge. Jon had always been intrigued with housing, having attended a school of architecture, sold real estate, and worked for a developer of hotels and housing. He became interested in the idea of homes for seniors when he began considering the limited options his own parents faced. Following an inspirational meeting around a fishing hole on a frozen St. Cloud Minnesota lake, Jon founded Collegeville Development Group. The company immediately focused on a new niche in the industry – the development of senior communities connected with a college or university environment, offering residents the cultural, recreational, educational, and in some cases, spiritual benefits of a college campus. Additionally, the homes would be built of high-quality construction, include universal design elements, emphasize environmental beauty, and offer first-class concierge service. The concept called Collegeville Communities® was born.

The first Collegeville Community, University Village of Winona, broke
ground September 2002. It offers exclusive access to campus courses
and activities at Saint Mary's University. The second Collegeville
Community, Village on the Cannon, broke ground July 2004 in
Northfield, Minnesota, the home of Carleton and St. Olaf colleges.

In October 2007, Jon sold his real estate holding shares to his brother, Tom Petters of Petters Group Worldwide. Jon & Colleen Petters continue to own Collegeville Communities and Collegeville Companies.

WHAT IS A COLLEGEVILLE COMMUNITY?
Collegeville Communities® are designed for active seniors who value the proximity and ease of access to the cultural and intellectual stimulation of a college campus, as well as the dynamics and opportunities of a university town. They are designed for persons over 55 who enjoy home ownership but who also appreciate membership in a housing association that performs many of the demanding responsibilities of home maintenance. Inherent in the Collegeville Communities® concept is the idea of community itself; a key criterion for most people.

THE DESIGN
Collegeville Communities® are developed to exude charm, quality, character and functionality, both within individual units and throughout the community as a whole. Collegeville Communities® housing features low-maintenance living and emphasizes distinctive architecture, generous natural lighting and amenities of comfort tailored to seniors. In addition, universal design features are barrier-free entries, lever door handles and wide doorways to ensure comfortable living for residents of all ages and abilities.