To create this planning document, a Visioning Committee was assembled by CCEDP, composed of private citizens and local leaders assigned to guide and advise the initiative. In the development of this plan, the Visioning Committee followed a two-stage process:
- Take stock of where we are. Assemble a concise picture of the county’s economic situation by reviewing available data and holding a series of public meetings through which members of the public can provide input on their perceptions of the challenges and opportunities in the county. Additionally, online polls and comment boards were implemented using the initiative’s website and Facebook page.
- Envision actions to move us forward. After “key issues” had been distilled in the first stage, the Visioning Committee brought together key leaders and experts from the county with specific content knowledge of the key issues into Solutions Meetings. These leaders outlined action steps for addressing the county’s challenges.
Throughout the process, a primary emphasis has been to involve the public. Tremendous efforts have been made to publicize the project and invite input from a wide range of individuals, including private citizens, elected officials, business leaders, school officials, law enforcement officials and many others. The plan lays out the findings from the community engagement process and provides a plan for addressing the county’s key issues through collaboration.