Community Strategic Planning Process

Midland County. Together-Forward-Bold. vi·sion An exceptional place where everyone thrives. - A description of the desired future

Key Performance Areas

How did this start? Inspired by a peer community assessment of Columbus, Indiana in 2010, community leaders were brought together by a partnership of the Midland Area Chamber of Commerce, the City of Midland, and Midland Tomorrow for the purpose of determining to what extent local institutions, each with a stake in the long-term success of Midland, were aligned in their individual efforts to expand economic opportunities and prosperity for all residents and businesses.

pur·pose Our purpose: This group exists to enhance prosperity in Midland County by gathering key stakeholders to envision our best future through sharing ideas, building productive relationships and aligning economic development efforts. - the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists

Our Members Sharon Mortensen Midland Area Community Foundation Jeff Baker Dow Corning Corporation Maureen Donker Mayor, City of Midland Ann Fillmore United Way of Midland County Bridgette Gransden Midland County Mike Hayes Midland Center For The Arts Nancy Lamb The Dow Chemical Company Larry Lindsey Northwood University Jon Lynch City of Midland Marty McGuire Downtown Development Authority Sharon Mortensen Midland Area Community Foundation Linda Owen Ayre/Rhinehart Robert Rathbun Chemical Bank East Region Greg Rogers Mid-Michigan Medical Center-Midland John Searles Midland County ESA Michael Sharrow Midland Public Schools Robert Stafford Midland Area Chamber of Commerce Scott Walker Midland Tomorrow

Roadmap for Process

Exploring Our Future The process of developing a strategic plan explores three specific questions: What do we know to be true? Where are we? What do we hope will be true in the future? Where do we want to go? What must go well in order to make it so? How do we get there? In this way, Midland County’s Strategic Plan is a road map to move the community towards its intended vision.

Identify the Current State Prior to the visioning conference in May of 2014, information about the community was compiled. In incorporated both quantitative information and qualitative information from a survey. Environmental Scan Online Survey

Reviewed Environmental Scan Global Trends Midland Trends Visioning Conference Midland Treasures Reviewed Environmental Scan Global Trends Midland Trends

Share a Common History Visioning Conference Stories shared about Midland successes

Key Performance Areas: Visioning Conference Common Themes Key Performance Areas: Economic Development Education Transportation, Infrastructure, Technology, and Environment Arts and Culture Social Services, Poverty, Housing, and Mental and Physical Health Youth Retention and Engagement Public Safety Diversity Community Leadership

Summary of actions and comments Community Input Meetings in a box Survey responses Community open house Summary of actions and comments

Key Performance Areas and Descriptive Statements Action Conference Review of Input Key Performance Areas and Descriptive Statements Prioritize Action Items Top Action Items in Each Area

Key Performance Area: Economic Development

Key Performance Area: Education

Key Performance Area: Infrastructure and Environment

Key Performance Area: Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Recreation

Key Performance Area: Social Services, Poverty, Housing and Mental & Physical Health

Key Performance Area: Youth Engagement and Retention

Key Performance Area: Public Safety

Key Performance Area: Diversity

Key Performance Area: Community Leadership

Work Underway: Implementation Teams Chartering Teams Chartering teams Team captains Liaisons from Community Success Panel

Teams begin work on action plans What’s Next? Teams begin work on action plans Begin communication efforts in community Look for “low-hanging fruit” as efforts get underway

Midland County. Together-Forward-Bold. vi·sion An exceptional place where everyone thrives. - A description of the desired future

Community Success Panel – Exploring Our Future lead·er·ship Community Success Panel – Exploring Our Future - the act or an instance of leading www.midlandfoundation.org