Quarterly Update - June 2007

During the past three months, March - May 2007, the ENVISION initiative has continued to take vast steps forward and has made major accomplishments in addressing the key issues identified in the ENVISION Community Strategic Plan.

All four task forces, P-16+ Education, Grow the Economy, Effective Regionalism and Quality of Life, are continuing to meet on a regular basis in order to maintain a steady momentum respective to their issues. Also,theChamber continues to align its Program of Work with ENVISION’s goals. In brief,

 

a a a a


P-16+ Education Task Force
Chair - Dr. Barbara Alford, In Sight Solutions, LLC
   
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 - June 2007:

The Task Force recently completed a Community-Wide Education Dialogue and presented its findings to the Dothan City and Houston County Boards of Education. An Executive Summary was made available to the media and community via publication on the ENVISION web site. The findings were also presented to the community through radio programs on News Talk Radio 1450 WWNT in Dothan and The Rose WRJM in Ozark, and through media coverage by the Dothan Eagle, WTVY–TV News, WDHN–TV News and The Houston Newspaper Online.

The Task Force met individually with school superintendents Dr. Sam Nichols, Dothan City, and Tim Pitchford, Houston County, to add their impressions and suggestions to the data already collected via research and public input. Three primary themes leading to projects emerged, and these will be the focus of Task Force activity for the next three years:

Project #1:

Using the WorkKeys initiative as a center point, expand and strengthen the business/industry–education interaction into meaningful, sustained partnerships that increase student interest, persistence, performance and placement.

 
Project #2: 

Sponsor an annual Arts Festival that will showcase student art in the broadest possible sense. The festival would involve as many students, parents and teachers in Dothan-Houston County as possible and would demonstrate that “art” is an integral part of everyone’s life.

 

The Task Force is developing an implementation plan for both of the above projects to be presented to the ENVISION Steering Committee at their July meeting. Similar strategies for Project #3 will be presented as they are decided. The Task Force will be seeking leaders for Projects #1 and #2, and will invite community volunteers to join the planning teams and action groups for each of these projects. Start-up for Projects #1 and #2 will be in early July 2007.

 
Project #3:

This project is actually being determined and directed by a student team consisting of student leaders from Dothan City and Houston County high schools. The team has identified a need to create active mentor/outreach programs in each of their high schools, bringing together students who need assistance with students who are willing and eager to provide assistance. Students for Students (S4S) will provide academic aid, advice, friendship, mentoring and (where needed) referral for fellow students. Their goal is to ensure that all students attending area high schools interact in meaningful ways with at least one other student on their campus – thereby increasing the prospects of student success, graduation and satisfaction.

 

The students will work this summer to gain administrative approvals on their campuses, select their teacher–sponsors, identify and recruit initial members of the S4S mentor squads at their schools, design logos/fliers/t-shirts and have the programs ready in each high school by the beginning of Fall Term 2007. They plan to be able to explain S4S to parents and students at their high school freshman orientation programs. The leaders will meet twice during the summer to share ideas and to insure that the program continues to enjoy the city–county unity that has gotten it to this point. (Note: one of the area private schools is likely to join the project in a few weeks.)

 

.


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 - June 2007:

The Task Force continues to address the issues identified under their goal in the ENVISION Community Strategic Plan and may address the following possible projects:

  • Develop a Dothan 2030 Plan, a regional road map to economic growth and diversification;

  • Support a business friendly environment that encourages innovation, creativity, entrepreneurship and start-up of small businesses;

  • Create a recognition program for area businesses with quality assurance programs and best practice models; and

  • Develop a viable marketing plan for the region.

 

 
.


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 - June 2007:

There are now 53 stakeholders in the eight-county region who have made a commitment to work together to grow the region. Since the last update, the Task Force has been busy organizing the following work committees:

Agriculture/Agribusiness........................... Dr. Arthur Moore
Beautification (litter cleanup).................... Dr. Jack Sasser, Wiregrass Rehabilitation Center, Inc.
Emergency Management.......................... Clark Matthews/Bruce McNeal, Houston Cty. Emergency Management Healthcare................................................ Ronnie Dean, Southeast Alabama Medical Center
Houston Love Memorial Library................ Betty Forbes, Houston Love Memorial Library
Incubator................................................... Dr. Steve Turkoski, Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce
Public Safety............................................. Chief John Powell, Dothan City Police Department
Recreation/Leisure Services...................... Ann Rumble, City of Dothan Leisure Services
Rural Economic Development................... Tucson Roberts, Covington Cty. Economic Development Commission
Social Services.......................................... Walter Hill, Wiregrass United Was
Technology................................................ Wes Grant, Dothan Technology Center     
Tourism...................................................... Robert Hendrix, Dothan Area Convention and Visitors Bureau

The Task Force held meetings with each of the above committees and there was much enthusiasm from the leaders to get started with their work.

Besides the work committees, there are also four special areas that will be monitored and reports will be brought to the Task Force with suggestions as to how the Task Force may participate when needed. The four areas are:

Fort Rucker................................................. Mayor Kenneth Boswell, City of Enterprise
Transportation............................................ Mayor Bob Bunting, City of Ozark
Water.......................................................... Mayor Pat Thomas, City of Dothan
Workforce Development............................. Dr. Linda Young, Wallace Community College
                                                                    Dr. Mathew Hughes, Enterprise-Ozark Community College

 
 
.

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 - June 2007:

The Task Force met five times over the past quarter and continues its work in sub-committees to forge ahead with specific goals and objectives. The sub-committees and to-date specific action plans are:

Enhancing the Arts/Downtown Revitalization

  • Advocate for the arts in the public schools and support the recent announcement of music instructors being added to the Dothan City School System for the academic year 2007–08;

  • Encourage the formation of a new arts organization to market and promote existing arts organizations, book entertainment, coordinate booking of the Opera House, etc.; and

  • Encourage construction of a new performing arts center (long-range).

Addressing the Needs of Senior Citizens

  • Become an active partner with the Southeast Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission in expanding much needed transportation services in the community (fixed route bus system);

  • Encourage a feasibility study to assess the development potential of a senior–citizen–specific residential community;

  • Initiate and lead efforts to have Dothan officially designated as a “Senior Friendly Community;” and

  • Encourage continuing support for the Senior Resource Center, established by Southern Alabama Regional Council on Aging.

Neighborhood Restoration

Areas of concern are housing, accountability within neighborhoods, homelessness, literacy, job training and teen awareness of drug issues, pregnancy, etc.

  • Work to identify a list of community resources and providers;

  • Tour communities in Districts 1, 2 and part of 3 to identify a neighborhood as well as the issues in the neighborhood;

  • Develop a capacity building strategy and work for its implementation to better ensure sustainability; and

  • Encourage the establishment of a Neighborhood Authority to gain funding for and to coordinate the restoration of identified neighborhoods. Work would include house repair/renovation and/or building of new homes as well as job training.

 


Chamber Program of Work:

A Young Professionals’ Reception held at the Dothan Country Club recently drew a large number of individuals together from around the area. Hosted by the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce and ENVISION initiative, the casual and informal business activity attracted more than 85 young professionals. The two-hour reception was held as an initial opportunity for the community’s best and brightest to meet and join other young professionals like themselves for hor d’oeuvres and refreshments.

Once organized, the group will determine its own future in ways that will benefit the participants, as well as the community in general. Another Young Professionals’ activity is planned for Thursday, August 2, at the Wiregrass Museum of Art & Conference Center; the time is yet to be determined.

 

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, www.envisiondothan.com, as often as possible.