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Last Updated April 28, 2010 The Town of St. Marys is undertaking a Community-Based Strategic Plan. The ultimate purpose of this initiative is to help shape the community's future, provide structure for mutually accepted goals and a common agenda, define the purpose of the community at large and its role in achieving stated goals and balance community goals with realistic local resources. What we’re doing and why: Strategic planning is one of the most important tools that a community can use for effective economic development and to enable communities to constructively deal with change in a positive and beneficial way. Rather than simply reacting to change, municipalities can examine issues and concerns with a goal toward creating a community that is both sustain-able and vibrant, providing opportunities for business and economic growth, and a healthy lifestyle while at the same time protecting its social and cultural connections. While economic development doesn?t necessarily imply growth or expansion, it does imply change. The decisions made or not made will shape how a community will develop and prosper in the future. A community based strategic plan therefore, provides an overall vision for a community and guides decision making that will move a community towards its desired goals. The plan will also prioritize the management and use of the community?s assets and its human, financial, physical and environmental resources. Where we’re at: The completed plan - Our St. Marys, Your Future - charts a course that will enable the community to better capitalize on its strengths and assets and effectively position the community within the broader and regional economy. The plan includes: clear goals, strategies for implementation and methods to evaluate the progress on attaining the goals and in achieving our long term vision. In the process of developing this strategy, the Town launched a broad-based and highly successful communication effort in order to ensure that the vision reflected for the community is a collective vision. Stakeholder interviews were conducted with local politicians, community leaders and the business community. In addition, 3 focus groups, including a youth symposium, attracted approximately 50 people and more than 250 people participated in an on-line survey where they were asked why they live in St.Marys, what should be done to strengthen the local economy and what the key priorities are for the community in the future? How we’re moving forward: Our vision: The Town of St. Marys will be a welcoming and progressive community that Our downtown will be a primary destination for residents and visitors providing a wide range Our commitment to being a sustainable community will be reflected in the range of For more details read the 2010 Community Based Strategic Plan - Executive Summary Robert Brindley |
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