- Henry Luke was hired in April 2002 to
facilitate the Visioning Process for Rutherford County. Funding was
provided by seven Founding Partners including: Stonecutter Foundation,
Building Community, Inc., Committee of 100, Economic Development
Commission, Rutherford Hospital, Chamber of Commerce, and Isothermal
Community College.
- A diverse 35-person Steering Committee
representative of the community was selected to guide the process in May
2002.
- Henry Luke interviewed 140 individuals
on May 22-24, 2002.
- Over 400 people attended the Community
Meeting July 11, 2002. Thirteen groups identified 357 unique issues for
consideration by the Vision Task Force. The issues were summarized and
ranked by the groups, then combined to produce the top ten priority
issues. The top ten issues were in order: economic development,
education, quality of life, infrastructure, government, growth
management, health and medical services, housing, youth issues, and land
use planning. The participants also selected 21 additional members for
the Vision Task Force.
- The Steering Committee selected a
diverse Vision Task Force from all sectors and geographic areas of
Rutherford County from persons nominated by the Steering Committee,
Focus Group Interviewees, and the 21 individuals selected at the
Community Meeting.
- The 165-member Vision Task Force met
during July and August 2002 and distilled the 357 Focus Groups and
Community Meeting issues into 117 strategies contained in the Draft
Strategic Plan. They reached a consensus on the Draft Strategic Plan
document and it was distributed on August 26, 2002.
- Over eighty organizations and 2900
individuals throughout the community were presented with the Draft
document for review and comment during September and October 2002. "The
Daily Courier" distributed 16,000 copies of the draft, and 11,000 copies
of an overview sheet were sent home with all elementary student and
7,000 were distributed through utility bills.
- On October 28, 2002, a second
Community Meeting was held and 200 residents came and provided their
final input and comments for the Draft document.
- The Steering Committee approved the
final Vision document and print copies were distributed in November
2002.
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OUR VISION: Before
2022, Rutherford County will have:
- supportive growth and development of our
existing businesses and will have competitive economic development
programs that attract quality businesses, improve productivity, and
provide opportunities for all residents.
- stimulating education and
training for all county residents integrated with economic opportunities
and cultural values.
- a coordinated countywide system of
activities and services to enhance the physical, mental, emotional,
creative and spiritual quality of life of all residents.
- comprehensive infrastructure that
will improve transportation, water, sewer, housing, telecommunications
and the environment in a way that is supported by the people of
Rutherford County.
- governments that will be unified
while serving the best interests and needs of its citizens.
- creative and committed private sector
leadership that achieves Realize Rutherford.
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