Executive Summary - Community Success Process for the Ann Arbor Region
The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners has devoted resources to engage community leaders in a Community Success Process. This Process will develop a long-term strategy for regional success in the areas of economic development, talent development, and quality of place.
Background
In the process of developing the 2008-2009 budgets, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners (BOC) asked staff to develop an “economic development” budget. After interviewing several community leaders, it became apparent that encouraging economic development was more complex than funding agencies and activities, particularly with the challenges our region faces. In response, the Board of Commissioners allocated resources and directed staff to design a long-term Success Strategy for the region. Staff will guide community leaders through a Community Success Process from January to November, 2008, resulting in a “Community Success Strategy” to bring all sectors together behind a cohesive vision of the region’s future.
Process
The Community Success Process will consist of a series of Workshops and Work Group meetings to consider current initiatives and activities throughout the region, identify existing community assets, describe future scenarios that we wish to see, develop a vision and story for the region, and determine what actions we need to take to achieve success on a long-term basis. The seven Work Groups are organized by success areas: Economic Development, Talent Development, Transportation, Human Services, Arts and Culture, Land Use and Housing, and Recreation and Open Space. Staff will support Work Groups, facilitate Workshops, and synthesize information to produce interim reports and a final strategy to present to the broader community.
Outcomes
A Long-Range Success Plan for the region will result from the Community Success Process. The Process itself will bring leaders together to consider their own efforts in a regional context , and to envision a holistic approach to regional vibrancy.
Read Overview and Scope of Work
For more information about the Community Success Process, please contact Tony VanDerworp, Washtenaw County Director of Planning and Environment at vanderworpa@ewashtenaw.org or Catherine Jones at jonesca@ewashtenaw.org