The Fay-Penn Economic Development Council is creating a first for Fayette County -- a 10-year strategic plan that will incorporate input from 15 communities in the county as well as an overall vision for the county.
Called 2020 Vision, the new comprehensive plan will be historic in another way. In addition to having separate sections based on visions from individual communities, input will be sought through a social networking Web site to be rolled out in October. Individuals can comment not only at the meetings, but anytime online.
At Friday's quarterly meeting, Bob Junk and Wanda Anker of Fay-Penn said the strategic plan will answer three questions: What do you value⢠How do you see the future⢠What's needed in your community?
The first phase of the plan has been completed. More than 170 people have completed leadership training.
The second phase is community meetings, beginning Oct. 6 in Menallen and ending Nov. 18 in Point Marion.
Vanderbilt's meeting is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 8 in the borough building. South Connellsville's meeting is from 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 13 in the borough building. Connellsville's is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 13 in Bud Murphy's. All meeting locations and times will be advertised.
Beginning in March, the meetings will be repeated, Junk said. "We're creating a marketing campaign, but the best way is word of mouth."
The 2020 Vision program's motto is "Putting unity back in the community." Anker said the meetings will identify visible outcomes and greater challenges that cannot always be seen, core issues and values. "Several communities have made a request for additional police officers for safety. The values are that respect is lacking." Out of such brainstorming, a community's vision statement will emerge.
The starting point for the brainstorming is a survey in which meeting attendees will be asked what they value most in their community, what are the biggest challenges facing their community, the purpose of their local community, values that serve as guiding principles in their lives and that govern their community, their vision of Fayette County in 2020 and specific projects to achieve their community vision.
Participants may choose from what they value in their community such as public safety, quality job opportunities, litter free, local government, safe neighborhoods and more, as well as adding their own ideas. Challenges include crime, disruptive youth, quality of housing, finding quality employees and more. Personal ideas are welcome. Guiding principles include honesty, responsibility, civility, open-mindedness, awareness, compassion, tolerance and more, as well as personal ideas.
Specific projects can be outlined in several quality-of-life categories, including agriculture, arts and culture, economic development, education, housing, infrastructure, recreation, tourism and work force development.
The second part of each meeting will consist of ideas for the county as a whole.
Fay-Penn President and CEO Michael Krajovic said, "What's the purpose of the community⢠Why are we living together in a community⢠What values do we need to be thinking about in our economic and educational systems⢠What are we trying to accomplish⢠I think it's improving the quality of life." Krajovic called the project "extremely ambitious."
Fay-Penn officials have set a minimum goal of 2,000 people total at the 15 meetings.
"The end result is a plan to develop individual projects in each community. The plans can be used at all government levels, federal, state, county and local. I would like us to catch up and become a national leader in quality-of-life issues," Krajovic said.
