Sarah Davis       JCGDA Executive Director

 

 

 

INITIAL SURVEY

 

The JCGDA Advisory committee conducted a county wide survey of all the local Chamber of Commerce Chapters.  The results affirm the call for the introduction of a formal planning process for the county.

 

A summary of the survey results include:

 

Communication

·       Organized process of inclusiveness

·       Respect of different goals but allow everyone input

·       More input should be gathered from across the county

 

Infrastructure Projects

·       Broad Band, analysis and implementation

·       Sewer, water, utilities

·       Roads, rails and port development

 

Business Development

·       Entrepreneurial and Small business growth should be a focus

·       Retention of and growth of local companies provide best opportunities for jobs

·       Attraction of dynamic, high tech/growth companies important for long term jobs

 

Workforce Development

·       County needs more diversity in work opportunities

·       Business growth, expansion and attraction will depend on workforce

·       Education attainment levels need to be improved

         

         

A CALL TO ACTION

 

We believe there should be a formal planning process that includes:

·       Public participation

·       Establishes community vision and shared goals

·       Informs community planners and

·       Affirms direction for the county

 

 

COUNTY VISION

 

A county vision will articulate the future development of all areas within the county.  The common vision, created together, will ensure participation in different regions reflecting the various goals that individuals articulate. 

 

 

A county vision inspires:

·       Economic activities

·       Facilitates a unity of purpose and

·       Provides long-term direction.

 

 

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

 

A comprehensive plan is a forecast of the future.  It becomes the strategic plan for infrastructure design, development and financing.  Developers within the county and those that come to build for businesses, housing and industrial projects will be able to identify where their projects best fit our county, thus easing the application process, compliance, lesson community and neighbor resistance and target growth to the areas we identify.

 

 

ACHIEVING OUR GOALS TOGETHER

 

By formalizing the planning process we expect to achieve the following:

 

Ensuring the implementation of our vision

·      

“Good fortune is what happens when opportunity meets with planning.”   Thomas A. Edison

By formalizing the planning process, across the county and reporting the results, we will ensure what we work on becomes reality. 

 

Allow proposals to be “tested” against politics and people

·       By formalizing the planning process, across the county, we will allow for our differences to be reflected in our long term plan.  We want our plan to reflect our differences, not allow our differences to undermine our success.

 

Keep taxes low

·       Infrastructure and Capital Improvement Projects can be scheduled.

·       Financing can be planned for the long-term, stabilizing tax rates.

·       Project coordination limits inconvenience by doing all improvements at one time.

 

 

NEXT STEPS

 

The economic consensus is that America is beginning to come out of the recession and economic growth will come but our economy has changed.  We each only have to look to ourselves, our friends or families to see this changing economy. 

 

Our survey of chamber members proves that many of our business and economic needs are similar but how we each grow and develop our future will be different. To begin to reshape our future together the JCGD Advisory committee recommends the following steps be taken beginning January 2010:

 

Embark on an official county wide Strategic Plan process 

·       This can be done in conjunction with the East/West Gateway and University Extension offices.  This planning process should be conducted beginning in early January, gather input, collect the results and return to the citizens a plan for the future.

 

Present planning outcomes across county

·       Present to the communities during the planning process, results and opportunities from the initial survey from the committee. 

·       Options can be presented, not as a final solution, but as a means to begin the conversations. 

·       An example could be the issue of communication by presenting web designs, prices and content examples to gather feedback as to how best to include all the communities.

 

Develop a business training program to grow the existing base of small businesses          

·       Identify partners who can conduct this training and schedule ongoing seminars to grow our own in Jefferson County.

 

Develop a county wide legislative package

·       This legislative package will include proposals from all areas of the county and schedule a “Jefferson County” day in Jefferson City. 

·       The message carried will be what “we” want, not what Jefferson City thinks we want.

 

Finally, the Jefferson County Growth and Development Association Advisory Committee believes that immediate implementation of these recommendations will achieve the most impact if more community groups are involved.  A formal invitation to leaders of our school districts, the community college, JCCP, and our public safety officials as well.

 

Working together we can identify what we want to achieve and truly speak for Jefferson County in, “One Voice, One Plan.”