Quarterly Update - March 2007

Over the past three months, December 2006 - February 2007, the ENVISION initiative has again been filled with high energy and commitment.

The task forces, P-16+ Education, Grow the Economy, Effective Regionalism and Quality of Life, continue to meet on a regular basis to address the issues identified in the ENVISION Community Strategic Plan. The Chamber’s Program of Work is being aligned with ENVISION goals and special ENVISION projects are being addressed by ad hoc committees.

All three entities have begun to break down into smaller groups to create partnerships with community organizations to address issues and also to involve additional volunteers.  Briefly,

 


P-16+ Education Task Force
Chair - Dr. Barbara Alford, In Sight Solutions, LLC

 

 

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GOAL:

Develop a quality, seamless P-16+ education structure for the Dothan City School System, Wallace Community College, Enterprise-Ozark Community College and Troy University Dothan that reflects special attention to workforce development.

Quarterly Update - March 2007:

The Task Force met three times and all three sessions focused on developing a Community-Wide Education Dialogue. The Dialogue was broken into four sections:

  • Current high school students (public and private);
  • Recent high school graduates enrolled in area colleges;
  • Parents of school-aged children (public and private); and
  • Employers---counselors/principals/department chairs/et al.

Each part of the “dialogue” also includes a call for volunteer information. Lists will be compiled and maintained.

As projects are determined (by the Task Force or by other entities involved in education), volunteers will be asked to participate in implementing ideas.

 

 

 
 
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Grow the Economy Task Force
Chair - Robert J. Theune, BD Ventures
   
GOAL:

Grow the Economy of Dothan and the Wiregrass region (City of Dothan, Houston, Geneva, Henry, Dale and Coffee counties.

Quarterly Update - March 2007:

The Task Force met twice during the second quarter and the meetings have centered on the two areas that the group will focus on in the immediate future:

  • Vision of Dothan in 2020; and
  • Addressing the pervasive poverty in the region.

The thought here is for the group to focus its attention on one future item and one present item.

 
 
 
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Effective Regionalism Task Force

 Chair – Michael D. Schmitz, Mike Schmitz Automotive Group
 
GOAL: Pursue effective regionalization (Wiregrass region, Southwest Georgia and Northwest Florida).


Quarterly Update - March 2007:

The Task Force met once during the second quarter and the issues covered included:

  • Reviewing the current status of the Joint Land Use Survey.
  • Reviewing the public transportation in the region; the Southeast Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission identified the five areas where a positive change could be made.
  • Southeast Alabama Council for Economic Development presented their 2007 Marketing Plan, which is expected to be adopted by the Task Force.
  • Reviewing a list of regional issues to be considered, the Task Force considered the following regional issues and will establish separate groups to address each:

    • Tourism
    • Water Resources
    • Ft. Rucker
    • Transportation Improvements  (roads & bridges)
    • Workforce Development
    • Regional Marketing Plan
    • Agriculture/Agribusiness

 
 
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Chair – Dr. Joseph L. Johnson, Evergreen Presbyterian Church
 
GOAL: Enhance Dothan and the Wiregrass region’s quality of life (City of Dothan, Houston, Henry, Dale, Geneva and Coffee counties).
   

Quarterly Update - March 2007:

The Task Force met four times during the second quarter period. Issues covered included:

  • To continue exploring the objective of “enhancing cultural amenities and the arts” in our region, the Task Force invited the following groups to speak with the group:
  • Southeast Alabama Regional Arts Alliance (Susan Bilyeu); and
  • Cultural Arts Center (J. E. Saliba) and the State Council on the Arts (Elaine Johnson). 
  • Dothan City Manager, Mike West, and the Director of Planning, Todd McDonald, discussed the Task Force’s objective to “encourage the revitalization of downtown Dothan.” 

  • The Task Force has begun to break down into smaller groups, such as Enhancing the Arts, Addressing the Needs of Senior Citizens and Poverty/Teen Pregnancy/Homelessness. It is during these work sessions that members will begin to define the specific actions to be taken to achieve these objectives.

 


Chamber Program of Work:

Twelve Chamber Program of Work committees, with responsibilities all related to ENVISION goals, are aligning existing and planned activities with the ENVISION initiative.

Ad Hoc Committees:

Sixteen ad hoc committees are organizing around ENVISION themes such as a regional leadership program, a regional clean-up campaign, economic and community development in rural areas, the Houston-Love Memorial Library, a regional recreation plan, a regional technology plan, regional incubators, “one-stop-shop” business permitting, affordable housing, a comprehensive program of social services and faith-based community development initiatives.



As all the activities identified above are being implemented, leaders and volunteers continue to come to the table prepared to "Create meaningful change in our community" in order "To grow the economy and grow the community."

Everyone in the community is a STAKEHOLDER in the ENVISION initiative, and to stay up-to-date on the activities, you are encouraged to visit the ENVISION web site as often as possible.