ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTION PLAN

The Miami Area Economic Development Service, Inc. has unveiled its Economic Development Action Plan for Miami/Ottawa County. Special thanks to Jim Fram with Community Growth Strategies, LLC for his efforts in crafting this important plan.

 

Now that the plan is complete, we shift our focus to education and implementation. We want to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to review the plan, comment on the plan and, most importantly, join us in the implementation of the plan.

 

Why is this plan important? Because today's environment requires a different development approach than in years past. Communities can no longer put a static plan together, drop it into their existing ecosystem, and expect development success.

 

Today, communities must constantly:

1. Review and adapt their community vision and strategic action plan.

2. Educate, engage, and develop more community leaders.

3. Collaborate across organizations to solve complex problems.

 

A recent excerpt from an upcoming eBook, “How To Win At Rural Economic Development,” makes this point: “Don't waste time putting together a vision and plan if you are not committed to changing/adapting how your community operates — specifically, how you think about your community, educate and develop leaders, and identify and collaboratively solve problems. You must be committed to adapting your systems and approach if you want to have real success improving your community.”

 

Our community can improve if we change how we think and operate. By doing so, we can become the community we have dreamed of being.

 

Will it be easy? Nothing worth achieving is ever easy. Will there be bumps in the road? All roads to success have their share of bumps.

 

But, here is the good news: Through innovative thinking, a good plan, and hard work, success is not only possible it is guaranteed. Remember: Think bigger. Act boldly. Engage partners.

 

Now is the time to go to work. Will you join the effort?