“Working Together to Ensure a Thriving Community”

What is Vision 2020?

• A community-wide initiative to imagine and describe the

community we aspire to become by the year 2020

•“Working Together to Ensure a Thriving Community”

• Goal: Create a unified and shared vision for our community,

one that will encourage collaboration in the planning and use

of public and private resources.

• City/County Population Growth = MSA

• Diversity in Schools, New Facilities

• Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance

• RMH –$150M New Campus

• New Technology Park -SRI CADRE

• JMU – Centennial Strategic Plan ($100M capital

investments; expanded enrollment)

Impetus for Vision2020

Vision2020 - The Process:• June 2009 – 1st Vision2020 Summit

-Inform: overview of where we are now, 2020 demographics -Reflect: community leaders identified areas of need/focus/priorities

• Feb 2010 – Chamber Survey & Feedback- descriptions, vision, obstacles

• April 2010 – 2nd Community Leaders Session - drafted vision statement & four cornerstones

• October 2010 – 3rd Community Leaders Session

- developed strategies and action steps

Survey Says: 5 Words to DescribeHarrisonburg & Rockingham County

The Vision:

A community of unparalleled quality of life, where

natural beauty, friendly interdependent relationships

and diverse cultural, economic and educational

opportunities exist.

The Cornerstones:

1 – Comprehensive Community Plan

2 – Business Vitality & Entrepreneurship

3 – World Class Education & Workforce

4 – Community Leadership Development

Comprehensive Community Plan:

Goal: Creating a shared and unified vision, using

public and private resources in a collaborative manner

to serve as a core value of this vision.

Business Vitality & Entrepreneurship:

Goal: Sustaining a business environment that supports

entrepreneurship, and enables business growth.

World Class Education & Workforce:

Goal: Supporting a system of life-long learning, from

pre-K through post-graduate education, which

provides for a world class workforce and an educated

population.

Community Leadership Development:

Goal: Encouraging excellence in the development of

community leadership through mentorships with an

emphasis on community involvement, ethics, and

philanthropy

Recent Updates:• December - CEO Roundtable meeting (topics: Vision2020, collaboration,

workforce development)

• January - Workforce Development Resource Guide being developed by the HRCC for area businesses (based on Vision2020 and CEO identified needs)

• January – “Developing a Community Brand and Marketing Strategy for the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Metropolitan Area” initiated as a joint venture by Harrisonburg and Rockingham County

• February - SVP Workforce and Education Committee reconvened to discuss collaboration and workforce strategies

• March – BRCC hosting Business and Industry Summit called to identify area businesses’ employee skill needs and shortages and discuss education and training provider solutions

The Next Steps:

• Government Officials, Town Councils, Boards:

•Inform and advise

•Request support of Vision 2020 tenets

•Pledge of collaboration and future participation

• Formation of Vision2020 Steering Committee•Steward 4 cornerstones •Hold community accountable

For More Info:

Visit www.hrchamber.org/vision2020