20/20 plan unveiled

It's time to make a good place better.

That was the theme Thursday night as some of the hundreds of volunteers involved in the months-long Jay County 20/20 Vision process celebrated completion of a strategic plan to help guide the next 10 years.

"Now the hard work starts, which is implementation," said Doug Inman, executive director of The Portland Foundation, who co-chaired the effort with Stephanie Arnold.

The process, which began in July of 2009, was led by the foundation, the Jay County Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Jay County, and the Jay County Development Corporation. Financial support was also received from county government, Portland and Dunkirk city governments, and Bryant, Pennville, and Redkey town governments.

"The passion that you displayed was just amazing to me," said Derek Okubo, senior vice president of the National Civic League, who facilitated the process. "Jay County ranks way up there as far as what you have produced."

Noting that the National Civic League bestows the All-American City Awards each year, Okubo added, "I look forward to when I can see that shield here, Jay County as an All-American County, because the potential is here."

An implementation committee charged with bringing plans to fruition includes Inman, Arnold, Dillon Corn, Cory Harris, John Moore, Eric Reynolds, Eric Rogers, Mark Clemens, Terry Fennig, Mike Nixon, Emily Goodrich Roberts, Jane Ann Runyon, Ami Huffman, and Bill Bradley. That group is expected to grow in the weeks and months ahead.

The economic development study group was chaired by Mike Engels and April Wallischeck. The education study group was chaired by Mary Davis and Bruce Phillips. The health, wellness, and recreation study group was chaired by John Young and Cindy Strietelmeier. And the quality of life study group was chaired by Terry Fennig and Chuck Huffman.

The executive summary of the report follows. As space permits in the coming weeks, The Commercial Review will publish the entire report.

Economic Development

Vision: Jay County will be Indiana's model county in economic development and infrastructure using cutting edge technology.

Goals:

1 - Ensure that economic development is facilitated by robust information communication technology capacity.

2 - Increase the number of "shovel ready" business and housing sites.

3 - Use the passion, knowledge and ambition of residents to make Jay County a leader in alternative and renewable energy and demonstrate the resulting economic development opportunities derived from such leadership.

4 - Encourage agri-business development so as to address the current needs of both the agricultural and the non-agricultural sectors of Jay County, while maintaining flexibility to the changing face of Jay County agriculture for generations to come.

Education

Vision: Over the next decade, Jay County will become a leader in the State of Indiana in lifelong learning. In partnership with community members, Jay County will prepare its residents to be successful learners and exceptional contributors, not only in our communities, but also in the world at large.

Goals:

1 - Raise awareness of the vitally important partnership all members of the community play in recognizing, encouraging, and promoting the positive effects of education for individual success and community prosperity.

2 - Raise the reading and math skills of the youngest learners, so that all Jay County students meet or exceed grade level expectations by the end of third grade.

3 - Inspire learners and give each the tools needed to achieve a high school diploma as a basis for lifelong learning and the pursuit of post-secondary education.

4 - Increase the number of educational and enrichment opportunities in Jay County, as well as the number of citizens who take advantage of them.

Health, Wellness and Recreation

Vision: The citizens of Jay County will take advantage of a wide array of resources and opportunities to make choices that lead to physical, mental and emotional health.

Goals:

1 - Ensure that citizens have the information and support needed to recognize and understand healthy choices.

2 - Increase opportunities for citizens to act on healthy choices they make.

3 - Ensure that citizens have a safe community and clean environment for living out the healthy choices they make.

Quality of Life

Vision: Jay County will become a community of excellence, creating cultural vitality that will attract professionals and civic-minded individuals of all ages. Jay County will be a clean, attractive and welcoming county with gathering places for social interaction and connected neighborhoods supporting and serving one another.

Goals:

1 - Raise the community's expectations and standards for residential and commercial structures, resulting in a population increase, appropriate zoning standards, and an increase in property values.

2 - Develop places and programming to encourage social interaction and cultural vitality.

3 - Promote outdoor recreation to improve cultural and social interaction along with wellness.

4 - Develop better connections across the county, to facilitate neighborhoods serving each other and enjoying more social and recreational interaction.[[In-content Ad]]