MINOT, ND- On September 13, 2000, the Minot Visioning Process celebrated the first 18 months of implementation with a Town Hall meeting. Eighteen Vision Partners described progress on strategies, Henry Luke presented an update on the Key Benchmarks and the Benchmark team Chair described the "review, revise, and refocus" process to be used in the next three months to ensure the alignment of Benchmarks and interdependence of all Vision elements.

WILKES, NC- Ground breaking ceremonies were held on September 9, 2000 for four new middle schools. The schools approved in November 1999, were designed and will be constructed simultaneously using an innovative money saving design. Construction is underway to complete four-laning Highway 421 from Winston-Salem to Wilkes. Increasing the length of the Wilkes runway has been funded to allow fully loaded corporate jets to take off and fly non-stop to the West Coast. These three infrastructure projects were a major part of Wilkes Vision 2020 existing business retention strategies. They are all underway less than two years after beginning to develop the plan.

WILKES, NC-The Lowe’s Corporation Headquarters are in Wilkes, NC. On September 19, 2000, about 125 employees of 75 companies that supply services to Lowe’s paid over $400,000 to participate in a golf tournament to benefit the new Wilkes YMCA. Lowe’s added enough to make the total contribution $1 million. Lowe’s COO, Larry Stone said, "This is a way for the company to boost quality of life in Wilkes, which is a primary goal of Wilkes Vision 2020." Lowe’s employs over 2,000 people in Wilkes and is the 15^th largest retailer in the United States.

RICHMOND, VA- On September 20, 2000, 550 people attended a Visioning Summit to review the progress since the 1991 Visioning Process and chart, the next great decade. The Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce and Greater Richmond Partnership hosted the Summit and were joined by 61 supported sponsors from the region. Highlights resulting from the 1991 Vision were described, including the Virginia Bio-Technology Research Park, Engineering School at Virginia Commonwealth University, the formation of the Greater Richmond Partnership Economic development organization, a regional water agreement and pursuit of high speed rail service between Richmond and Washington, DC. Henry Luke, who guided the 1991 Vision Process, led the Summit. Former Ambassador, Andrew Young was the Keynote Speaker and R. Byron Pipes, PhD discussed the future impact of education technology.

MEMPHIS, TN-On August 25, Henry Luke led the MEMPHIS 2005 Steering committee in a Strategic Goals review. On October 16-17, there will be a review of the entire plan. This will lead to an adoption of the MEMPHIS 2005 Plan on November 6 for the second five years through 2005.

SAGINAW, MI-On September 26, 2000, there were 615 people present for the first public summit to begin the Saginaw County Vision 2020 process. Progress can be followed at www.saginawcountyvision2020.org .

TUSCALOOSA, AL-On August 28, 2000, Mercedes announced that it will double its manufacturing operation in Tuscaloosa County, AL. As many as 2,000 jobs will be added with the $600 million expansion. The plant now has 1,900 workers and opened in 1997. The state of Alabama is providing an incentives package totaling $119 million.

NORTH CAROLINA-The 2000-2001 North Carolina high school freshman class must select from one of four areas of study: University Prep, College Tech Prep, Career Prep and an occupation course for learning disabled. The decision isn’t irreversible and applies to all students expecting to graduate 2004 and afterwards.

UNION COUNTY, NC-There will be a Union County $55 million School Bond Referendum on November 7, 2000. A $52.7 million bond issue referendum was passed in 1998 for school construction.

JACKSONVILLE, FL-On September 5, 2000, Duval County voters approved a ½ ¢ infrastructure sales tax to help fund the $2.2 billion "BETTER JACKSONVILLE PLAN". All the projects receiving the money were identified and were carefully spread all over the county. Mayor John Delaney made hundreds of presentation on the plan and the private sector financed a media campaign supporting the new tax. As a result, most of the precincts voted in favor of the new tax.

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA-In partnership with CISCO, Georgia Perimeter College will establish training labs at its Rockdale Center and Decatur campus. The program is co-sponsored by AT&T and will lead to CISCO certifications. In addition, the college will manage an online curriculum developed by CISCO, and will support approximately ten local academies.

ROANOKE, VA-Hyperlink to http://www.roanoke.com/roatimes/news/story97926.html  for an article describing the progress of the Carilion Bio-Medical Institute. CBI was mentioned in the last two newsletters.

Past Collaborative Implementation Reports (Newsletter) can be reviewed by choosing one of the links below.

Henry Luke

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