EnhanceLife Outside the Workplace

Ensure access to high quality health care now and in the future

The community is fortunate to have two local nonprofi t hospitals and many specialists; however, a growing uninsured population means many do not have access to the health care

they need and unreimbursed care threatens the financial well-being of medical providers.

Projects Funding StatusVA Hospital Center of Excellence VA/Federal Phase II New Hillcrest Hospital Private Phase IIIExpansion of Providence Hospital Private Complete Family Health Center Dental Services Area Partners Complete MHMR Funding increases State/Federal GrowingHomeless Coalition Area Partners OngoingHealth Industry Alliance GW Chamber Phase II

Host, package, and market outdoor recreational sporting events

With fabulous sports facilities, Cameron Park, Lake Brazos and Lake Waco, and numerous golf courses, the community is well-equipped to be a top destination for

outdoor events.

Projects Funding StatusCameron Park Enhancements Bond/City Phase IWacoWeDoSports Website GW Chamber EvolvingRiverbend Ball Park Development City GrowingAsian Exhibit Cameron Park Zoo Private/City Phase IIBaylor Bear Force One Games Attendance Baylor/Community GrowingBaylor Football Campus Practice Facility Baylor Phase IIBike racks on Waco Transit Buses City Growing

Encourage diverse entertainment options, preferably on or near the river

Increasing the amount and types of entertainment will make the community more attractive to young adults. Putting live music and other recreational diversions near the river builds on the investment to create a dining and entertainment district that will draw locals and visitors alike.

Projects Funding StatusVarious Live Music Events Non-profit/private GrowingSummer Brazos Nights Downtown City/Partners On-GoingMCC River Sounds (on Brazos) MCC/Partners Growing

Continue to support abundant cultural opportunitiesThe community is rich in cultural resources, such as museums and live theater. Again, these

resources enhance life for local residents and also cause guests to visit the area. Selection as the site of the George W. Bush Presidential Library or designation of the Mammoth site as a

National Park would have huge implications for the community.

DevelopOur Distinct AdvantageContinue to develop and showcase

the Brazos River CorridorIntentional planning and investment will be required to capitalize on the unique opportunities

created by a river running through the heart of the community.

Projects Funding StatusCameron Park East Renovations Bond/City Phase I Texas Ranger Museum Expansion Bond/City Phase ITexas Ranger Headquarters City/State Phase ICameron Park Renovations Bond/City Phase INPS Brazos River Master Plan City/NPS/Partners Phase IBrazos River Development Plan Private Phase II-35 Suspension Bridge/Service Roads Private/TxDOT Concept

Promote the “Hometown Feel with Worldwide Opportunities”

The community is recognized as a great place to raise a family, with the easy friendliness of a smaller town and the

amenities and sophistication of a big city.

Projects Funding StatusWaco We Do Marketing GW Chamber Phase IICablevision HometownHero Awards Private OngoingThird Thursday Family Movies Private Phase I

Capitalize on our educational resources

With three institutions of higher learning, the community should benefit from research and development to

technology transfer and workforce development; from degrees in healthcare to creation of new drugs; from

education of teachers to the Physics Circus; from courses in cooking to courses in Italian; from collegiate athletics to

opera performances.

Projects Funding StatusMultiple EducationalCollaborations Higher Ed/ISDs IncreasingNew restaurants andcatering from TSTC TSTC/Private Phase II

Become recognized as a center for aviation commerce

Building on the synergy of numerous businesses in aviation, avionics, and related services, the community has the opportunity to develop an international reputation as a

center for expertise, engineering, and employment in this field.

Projects Funding StatusWaco Aviation Alliance Private OngoingBellmead Commitment tofunding support City of Bellmead PendingWaco Regional Airport Expansion FAA/City Phase IIAirport Land Use Plan City Ongoing

Projects Funding StatusMammoth Site Baylor/City/Private/Fed Phase IIWacoWeDoArts Website GW Chamber OngoingHippodrome Revitalization/Renovation Hippodrome/Private Phase III-IIBranding the Brazos Public Art Private Phase I

Enhance all transportation infrastructure to assure access to and within the community

Major vehicular arteries must make it convenient for persons to go from the highway to the heart of the city and other parts of the community. Other transportation options should be

plentiful. Once in the community, streets should be easy to navigate, and public transportation should provide a good alternative to private vehicles.

Projects Funding StatusMetro Planning Organization Outreach City/County/TxDOT Phase II Transportation Service Marlin to Waco Waco Transit/Workforce Phase IIINew Environmentally Friendly City Buses City/Federal Phase IIFirst I-35 Flyover TxDOT CompleteSecond I-35 Flyover TxDOT Phase IAlternate transport options City/State/Feceral Concept Baylor to Downtown Noon Routes City/Baylor/Private Concept

IncreaseEconomic OpportunitiesCreate, grow, and attract businesses and jobs to retain our educated workforce and

accommodate returning talentPeople want good jobs for themselves and for their children. If their children

leave, they want their kids to be able to return and find good jobs. One way to increase opportunities is to encourage entrepreneurship and small

businesses.

Engage LeadersIdentify, recruit, develop, and engage leaders of

all ages and from all parts of the areaThis community’s diversity takes many forms--economic, ethnic, and religious,

among others. There is a desire to capitalize on that diversity in seeking leaders.

Projects Funding StatusCity Bond Election 100 Citizens Committee SuccessfulYoung Professionals Groups GW Chamber GrowingSchools Mammoth Site Fundraising WISD/KWB/Camp Fire Phase II Centex AA Chamber Leadership ProgramsCentex AA Chamber Phase II BU Student Initiatives Baylor/Community GrowingGW Chamber Higher Ed Annual Job Fair GW Chamber Phase I City Employee Leadership Program City Phase IIChurches’ Leadership Programs Community-wide OngoingLittle League, Rec. Centers, YMCA, etc Community-wide OngoingTeen Leadership Waco Camp Fire Ongoing

Develop a proactive attitude and encourage multiple vehicles for civic engagement

While some leaders are easy to spot, others may require intentional searching. There need to be new ways for identifying leaders and providing opportunities

for persons to grow into leadership roles.

Projects Funding StatusCommunity Visioning Project Community Volunteers Phase IIICity Bond Election Groups City/Volunteers Complete

Projects Funding StatusBusiness Retention Program GW Chamber GrowingBusiness Development Programs Centex AA Chamber Phase IIIWIF Industrial Park Expansion WIF Phase IISanderson Farms Private/City/County/WIF Phase III Caterpillar Expansions Private/City/County/WIF Phase INew Coca ColaDistribution Center Private/City/County/WIF Phase I Tractor Supply Co. Expansion Private/City/County/WIF Phase IVA Center of Excellence Federal VA Phase ISmall/Minority-OwnedBusiness Support Area Chambers OngoingJob Fair, Baylor Professional GW Chamber Phase ISummer Jobs Fair Workforce Board Phase I

Increase average incomesOne of the most important ways to make local jobs more

attractive is to increase compensation.

Projects Funding StatusWMCED Incentives tiedto wage/benefits Private/City/County OngoingTSTC Culinary ArtsBusiness Development TSTC/Private Increasing

Increase the overall level of education in McLennan County

Having a well-educated population makes it easier to attract good jobs. Conversely, students who drop out from school have limited financial

prospects.

Projects Funding StatusDual college credit enrollment MCC/TSTC/Area ISDs IncreasingAddress Health Care Workforce Shortage Hospitals/MCC/TSTC Phase I MCC Bond/Facilities Development Citizens/MCC Phase IIMCC/City Police Fire Training Facility MCC/City Phase IWISD Bond Election Citizens SuccessfulMISD Bond Election Citizens SuccessfulPublic Four Year Degree Plans MCC/State Universities IncreasingLibrary System Expansion Bond/Private Phase IGW Chamber Mentoring Program MCC/WISD Phase IIIBusiness League: IB Program Support Waco Business League Phase I

Campus Based Decision-Making Teams ISDs/Area Partners Increasing

Develop an understanding that the entire community shares responsibility for

educating every citizenTutoring and encouraging students to succeed in school, keeping them

engaged in learning, helping them see the relevance of educational attainment, and providing co-ops for exposure to the workplace are just a

few of the ways the general public can be involved in increasing the level of education for local students.

Projects Funding StatusMayor’s Education Initiative Education Partners Phase IICommunity Education Summit Education Committees Phase IOne Book, One Waco Literature Project GW Chamber/CRRC Phase II

Strengthenthe Heart of the Community

Continue development of the Brazos River Corridor all the way to I-35

This does not mean to limit development only as far as the Interstate, but to push forward with deliberate speed included in such development would be improving the Convention Center and

encouraging hotels for meetings.

Projects Funding StatusReconstruction of the Hilton Hotel Private/City Phase IIIReconstruction of the Convention Center Bond/City Phase IIBrazos River Corridor Master Plan NPS/City/Partners Phase IIDevelopment Planning along Brazos Private Phase

ISupport inner-city residential/commercial development on both sides of the river

Not only should the vibrancy of activity be stretched further along the river, but it should extend out away from the river, spreading far beyond Martin

Luther King Boulevard and University-Parks.

Projects Funding StatusStonehenge Development on Square Private/City Phase IAustin Avenue Lofts/Retail Private/City Phase IStudent Housing (by Marriott) Private/City Phase IElm Street Redevelopment Vision CenTex AA Chamber Phase IQuinn Campus Redevelopment Multiple Partners Phase IIRevitalization of the PID PID Property Owners Phase IIINew Downtown Merchants Association DT Business Owners Phase IINew GW Chamber Building GW Chamber/Private/City Phase IIIGW Chamber Urban Planner GW Chamber/Private/City Phase IIIBaylor University Expanding Vision to DT Baylor Phase I Riverside Apartment Homes on MLK Private/State/City Phase IIIOld Waco High School Lofts Private/State/City Phase IRoosevelt Hotel Office Development Private Phase IIBuzzard Billy’s move to the River Private Complete

Protect and develop infrastructure, e.g., transportation and water rights

Development in the heart of the community depends on investments in infrastructure such as the low water dam that will stabilize the level of Lake Brazos, the riverwalk, new and improved streets, and an abundant, clean

drinking water supply.

Projects Funding StatusLow Water Weir Dam City CompleteRiverwalk expansion Ft. Fisher to Ferrell City/TxDOT/Baylor Phase IIRebuilding University Parks Drive Area City Phase IIBarron’s Branch Proposed Development WISD/City ConceptReview of One-Way Streets City Phase IProtect Downtown Parking City Phase IINew Large Fire Station on Elm Street Bond/City Phase INew Police Station at Hillcrest Tower Bond/City Phase IMCC Police/Fire Training Center MCC/City Phase IIDAF Treatment Plant City Phase IINew, Environmentally Friendly Buses City/Federal Phase IIIMcLennan County Water District Regional/State Phase IIMetropolitan Planning Organization Area Elected Officials On-goingNew Bellmead City Hall City of Bellmead Complete

Formed Regional Water District Area partners Phase II

Celebrate the virtual “heart” exemplified through image, pride, and values

The community is characterized by many positive qualities and accomplishments that should be highlighted and promoted locally and

outside the area.

Projects Funding StatusMetro Waco Community Website Vision Task Force ConceptWaco History Week Vision Project Vision Task Force ConceptBrazos Belle Removal City/Private Phase ICelebration of Cameron Park Centennial City/Community Phase IMcLennan County History Book County/Non Profit Phase I

Boards and Commissions City/Community OngoingCameron ParkCentennial Committee City/Community Phase IHabitat for Humanity Community OngoingUnited Way Committees Community EvolvingNon-Profit Boards Community EvolvingBaylor Habitat for Humanity Habitat GrowingLeadership Waco Alumni GW Chamber Ongoing New Chamber Committees GW Chamber/Private Phase IIYoung Professionals Committees/GW Chamber Phase IIICampfire Leadership Program Campfire/WISD Phase

IIILeverage current leaders’ ability to inspire future leaders

Many leaders are executives in the workplace, but perhaps more leaders serve as Little League coaches, Den Mothers, Sunday School teachers,

mentors, or counselors. Their roles and contributions need to be recognized, and their help is needed in guiding future leaders into pathways resulting in

community leadership.

Projects Funding StatusRevitalized Centex AA Chamber Centex AA Chamber Phase IICRRC Difference Maker Awards CRRC OngoingWaco Tribune-Herald Awards Waco Tribune-Herald Phase IIPhilanthropist of the Year Awards Fund Raisers Assn. AnnualHometown Hero Awards Private Annual Adopt a School Awards WISD/GW Chamber AnnualGirl ScoutsWomen of Distinction Awards Girl Scouts AnnualBoy Scouts Awards BS of America GrowingISD Distinguished Alumni Awards Area ISDs Ongoing

In early 2006, an Implementation Team was formed to further engage the community in carrying out the vision that was documented in the Community Visioning Project brochure. Teams of 5 to 25 people were charged with identifying existing organizations, institutions,

projects and strategies that are best positioned to accomplish the Project goals. The teams conducted research, reports were shared, and specific recommendations were made to the

Coordinating Committee, whose charge has been to keep the project moving.

A third committee, the Community Visioning Committee (CVC) meets twice annually and consists of members, by position, from organizations (Cities, Higher Ed, Hospitals, County, etc.) that oversee major community resources. This group has now assumed the role of a board and has selected co-chairs to carry forward the community visioning work. Some of the earlier teams are now transferring their work to related projects that have grown out of

the Visioning Project recommendations.

To celebrate the community partnerships that are helping the community reach its Vision goals, a Community Visioning Celebration and Expo, held on May 21, 2008, at the

McLennan Room at the Convention Center, marked a milestone for the Community Visioning Project. The impact of the Community Visioning Project was documented in the over 30

projects on Expo display and over 100 projects listed in this Progress Report.

Special thanks go to all the Participating Volunteers and Supporting Organizations that continue to make our community an even better place to live, work, play and leave a legacy.

A Report to the Community

Many Voices. One Visio

n.To take a more active role in the Community Visioning Project or for additional information, please visit: www.communityvisioningproject.org.

Email: CommunityVisioning@waco-texas.com Mail: Community Visioning Project P.O. Box 2570 Waco, Texas 76702

Additional thoughts, comments and suggestions are welcome.©2008

Celebr

ating life on the banks of the Brazo

s...

Participating Volunteers - Special thanks go to these and other community members who selflessly have given their time by serving on committees, helping plan events, making calls, and performing a myriad of other tasks. We hope this list includes most and is intended to represent and recognize all those who served as the ‘many voices’ coming together to reinforce our community’s ‘one vision.’ Your contributions continue to be felt and will long have an impact on making this an even greater community. Thank you.

Supporting Organizations - The organizations listed below deserve special gratitude for their contributions to the Community Visioning Project. These and others have donated valuable resources in support of this Project. While the list cannot really be complete, we trust that all organizations that have contributed must feel a deep sense of pride in the community that is so rapidly becoming a fulfillment of our shared Vision.

Volunteers Make it Possible. Lollie BergstadtAnthony BillingsDebra BishopCarol BoydMark BoydAngel BretonTrisha BrindleyLaveda BrownBoyce BrownDouglas BrownTai BrownRandall BrownJim BushLinda CatesCheo CavilSammy CitranoRick ClarkRodney ClarkMike ClarkBill CliftonTom CollinsPatrick ContrerasTerri CoxHeather CreedJoe CunninghamRamona Curtis

Ethel CurtisLarry CurtisTommye Lou DavisVidal de LeonDiane DeaverKathy DouthitVirginia DuPuyGale EdwardsGretchen EichenbergMito EspinozaTracie EvansMarcy FairclothBill FalcoBeverly FallonSusie FarleyKatherine FarleyMichael FarleyBryan FergusonVickie FloresBryan FonvilleFrancesca FragaRoland GoertzSomers GoodmanJim GrayLarry GrothGloria Guardiola

Dave GuyerKen HamptonMike HarderJaffus HardrickDeLeon HarrisSteve HarrisonRobert HawkinsJim HawkinsJohn HendricksonPeaches HenryPhil HerringRoland HernandezTaylor HobbsMike HolmesK. Paul HoltRichard HowellNoah HutchisonCarliss HydeJanice JacksonScott JamesLee Ann JamesGeorge JohnsonDannia JohnsonMerryl JonesGeorge KazanasKent Keahey

Rosalind Kennerson-BatyBroderick KnightHilary La BordeBrad LancasterMissy LarsonMark LaymonJames LeeKarla LeeperJim LewisJohn LilleyAnnette LindseyGlen LittlesFred LoaJewel LockridgeLisa LoveladyMaria MaldonadoStacy ManessJohnny MankinPaul Marable, Jr.Allan MarshallCecile MatushekRoseMary MayesMaggie McCarthyDoug McDurhamRobin McDurham

Chris McSwainDennis MichaelisCindy MichaelisMargaret MillsPaula MoerbeDon MoesAlex MontesMia Moody-HallEllie MorrisonMichael MorrisonBrandon MoseleyGordon NealBill NesbittJoe NesbittCharlie OlsonEd PageElizabeth PalaciosJohn PalmerScooter RadcliffeNelwyn ReaganJordan RippyGlenn RobinsonClifton RobinsonAl RodriguezGabrille RodriguezJoe Rodriguez

Regina RuddChris SadlerTom SalomeCarolyn ScottScotty ShawSharon ShieldsRobert Sloan, Jr.Elizabeth SmithSteve SmithRicardo SolisTom StantonMaggie StinnettSherri StreetElton Stuckly, Jr.Heyward TaylorAngela TekellAshley ThorntonDan TillySamuel TorresRosemary TownsendHomer TrevinoEdward VallejoJim VaughanMichael VivioShelia WaitsKeith Warren

Kathryn WeekleySteve WilliamsMatthew WilliamsChris WolfeJoAnne WrightYost ZakharyCommunity Visioning ProjectSupporting OrganizationsAmerican BankAntioch Baptist ChurchBaylor UniversityBledsoe-Miller Recreation CenterCalvary Baptist ChurchCenTex AA Chamber of CommerceCen-Tex Hispanic Chamber of CommerceChina Spring ISDCity of BellmeadCity of BellmeadCity of McGregorCity of RobinsonCity of RobinsonCity of WacoCooper FoundationDoris Miller YMCADuPuy OxygenExtraco Banks

Eric AbercrombieJoe AchorSharon AchorBryant AdamsRandy AlbersJim AlexanderCheryl AllenAshley AllisonKenneth AndersonRosalind AndersonAnn Claire AndersonCrystal AnthonyDelvin AtchisonWilbert AustinSherman AyresDaniella AzevedoJanet BagbySarah Bailey BirdScott BakerChristy BarberRoger BarkerGiGi BarnesBenji BauerLinda BeasleyGaylan BeaversJason Becker

Family Health CenterFestive OccasionsGreater Waco Chamber of CommerceHarrison CenterHillcrest HospitalHOT Workforce Development BoardInsurors of TexasMcLennan Community CollegeMidway ISDPollei Design WorksProvidence HospitalRapoport FoundationSacred Heart Catholic ChurchTSTCWaco FoundationWaco Tribune-Herald