Newsletter

Henry Luke- Newsletter  #46-COMMUNITY VISIONING RESULTS
January 2005
 

LUKEVISION- Celebrating 21 years of building Community Vision, we now have links to Visions or Strategic Plans for over 55 communities or regions on our web site, including the communities below.  Visit at http://www.lukevision.com/communities.htm 

WICHITA, KANSAS- Recognizing the need for new levels of leadership to produce change, the Wichita Area Chamber of Commerce changed its annual meeting format on December 2, 2004. The Chamber President, Bryan Derreberry described in a newspaper article that the new approach was a gift to the area. http://www.kansas.com/mld/eagle/news/editorial/10306273.htm As a result, there were 3,200 people attending the Chamber's annual meeting with former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliano as the keynote speaker.  He described the seven requirements to be an effective leader.  This exciting evening provided an exclamation point to a year of change. 

Wichita adopted the name "Air Capital" in the 1920's.  Raytheon Aircraft, Cessna Aircraft, and Bombardier Aerospace Learjet are headquartered in Wichita and Boeing has a major presence.  During the mid 1990's, the aviation industry and Wichita had robust growth, but in 1999, taxable retail sales declined.  Because of the national recession beginning in 2000 and 9/11, taxable retail sales in 2004 will still be below the 1998 level. The high pay transportation equipment manufacturing job sector lost 33% of its jobs between December 1998 and February 2004.

            The governments of the City of Wichita and Sedgwick County plus regional governments and the private sector are collaborating to re-energize the 580,000-population region.  In the first quarter of 2004, the public and private sector formed the Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition (GWEDC) and committed to a five-year budget of $5 million.  The GWEDC is a part of the Chamber of Commerce.

            In May 2004, six Founding Partners began Visioneering Wichita to create the future for the regional community. The six were: City of Wichita, Wichita Downtown Development Corporation, Kansas Health Foundation, Sedgwick County, Wichita Area Chamber of Commerce, and Wichita Community Foundation.  Almost 9,000 people have provided input into the final Vision document for the Wichita MSA.  It was approved by the Steering Committee December 6, 2004 and is available at http://www.visioneeringwichita.com./

The implementation process began in December 7, 2004 and will continue over the long term.  A 50-person Steering committee with co-chairs, Carlos Mayans-Wichita City Mayor, Tom Winters-Sedgwick County Commission Chair, and Harvey Sorensen-Partner of Foulston-Siefkin LLP are providing leadership. The Wichita Area Chamber of Commerce provides the staff for Visioneering Wichita.  Long-term Chamber staff member, Suzie Ahlstrand is the Executive Director.  On Friday, December 3, 2004, she was named as one of the top Women Executives in Wichita.

The City of Wichita and Sedgwick County collaborated to place construction of a downtown arena on the November 2, 2004 ballot.  The private sector provided $350,000 for a promotion campaign supporting the vote and it passed. http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/special_packages/election2004/10084635.htm

The 2004 year has been an energizing year for the Wichita MSA as they have prepared for the future.  Henry Luke's 21 years of experience with over 55 communities indicates that the Wichita MSA will achieve its Vision.  

HAMPTON ROADS, VA-The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce led an interregional visit to Nashville, TN October 14-16, 2004.  The Hampton Roads MSA (Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Newport News, VA) has 1.6 million population with sixteen independent cities and counties. The focus of their visit was regional economic development, multi-jurisdictional regionalism, community branding, professional sports and the role of Vanderbilt University. Hampton Roads Plan 2007 can be accessed at  http://www.lukevision.com/Norfolk/cover.htm

DALTON, GA-Approximately 200 business education and community leaders met recently for the Education Revolution Summit.  This was an opportunity to refocus and update education in the Dalton MSA and recognize that it's not a "school problem", but a community problem.  Thomas Meredith, Chancellor of the University System of Georgia, was the keynote speaker. Target Tomorrow, Dalton's Vision can be accessed at http://www.targettomorrow.com/

RUTHERFORD COUNTY, NC-Realize Rutherford had their 2nd annual meeting celebrating accomplishments for the year. Two key successes spotlighted were opening of the KidSenses Children's InterACTIVE Museum and an ongoing mentoring program in the school system.  A quick hitting "Celebration of Achievement" highlighted the result from 21 other groups.

            Fifteen out of eighteen public schools in Rutherford County met the 'No Child Left Behind '2002-2003 when only four out of eighteen schools made Adequate Yearly Progress as defined by the state.  http://www.lukevision.com/PDFs/Rutherford.pdf

                                                                                                The Digital Courier

MOBILE, AL-For seventeen years, the Mobile Chamber of Commerce has led a delegation of community business and government leaders to cities outside Coastal Alabama to study a city with similar issues.  In June 2004, the visit was to Tampa, FL.  Key components studied were the cruise ship industry, the importance of the downtown business improvement district and the concept of merging their existing university and cancer research institute with the community.  The Tampa leaders said the Tampa Bay area wouldn't be where it is today without a positive relationship between the university and business community.  Mobile Mayor, Mike Dow was quoted in the Mobile Register, "we have been visiting other cities for seventeen years, and we always bring something good" back to work on in Mobile.  http://www.mobilechamber.com/envision/

UNION COUNTY, NC-Two local school bond issues passed in 2004 providing $149.5 million for superior education facilities.

BAY COUNTY, FL-Panama City Beach's 17.5 miles of developable beachfront is being transformed from its traditional line-up of aging mom-and-pop hotels, snack huts and bikini bars.  Some 31 condominium projects with about 10,000 units are underway or planned.

                                                                                                Florida Trend-June 2004
Design is underway for a new $24-million Academic Center at the Florida State University, Panama City Campus. 

POLK COUNTY-FL-Despite three hurricanes in the county, Polk Vision has signed up over 125 Vision Partners to help with implementation. http://www.polkvision.com/

MEMPHIS, TN-The State of Tennessee announced a $10 million state investment in the Memphis Biotech Foundation (MBF).  The City of Memphis has committed to a $5 million investment.  The entire $15 million will be used to help create a new bioscience research park that, when completed, will be valued at an estimated $300 million.

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 Henry Luke