2019-2024 Economic Development Strategic Plan

What the City Missed (Part III of weaknesses) Responses to this question help in understanding (a) where the community feels it lost, (b) the types of projects the community may have opposed previously but remain open-minded and (c) what the community is likely to identify as its target industries.

The three-part process of looking at weaknesses demonstrates one of the more critical challenges faced by economic developers – how to reconcile the outcomes a community desires with the fears assigned to projects as they are proposed. This specific part of the assessment often invokes “hindsight” and open-mindedness, but caution is still required as communication is critical to overcoming the community’s known fears.

And the Vision Should be. . . (Opportunities) Responses to this question represent general expectations and priorities that should be considered with an economic development plan. However, economic development goals should ultimately be aligned with the economic development assets of the community and the role of the City

Responses highlight priorities such as “new industry” and “workforce” but they also demonstrate the importance of connecting investments in such things as art and murals to how they improve the City’s position in attracting new industry and workforce.

Page | 19