1. Community Strategic Planning Process

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

3. Key Performance Areas

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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

7. Roadmap for Process

8. 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.

9. 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

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

11. Share a Common History Visioning Conference
Stories shared about Midland successes

12. 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

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

14. 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

15. Key Performance Area: Economic Development

16. Key Performance Area: Education

17. Key Performance Area: Infrastructure and Environment

18. Key Performance Area: Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Recreation

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

20. Key Performance Area: Youth Engagement and Retention

21. Key Performance Area: Public Safety

22. Key Performance Area: Diversity

23. Key Performance Area: Community Leadership

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

25. 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

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

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