Developing a Community Vision

by Colin Read, December 14, 2009

Communities are complex entities. Characterized by interests representing a wide diversity of thought and experience, and buffeted constantly by forces coming from every direction, our community rarely has an opportunity to actively define its future. Rather, communities often evolve through happenstance and serendipity, and cope with challenges coming from all directions. Once in a while, a community must come together to develop a common vision of its destiny, and to plan for a future that will outlive us all. Now is such a time.

In this country, in this state, and in this county at this moment, the times could not be more interesting. While an ordinary citizen can do little than be buffeted by the forces of global competition, national trends, or statewide politics, we can truly make a difference in our local community. This is such a moment.

TDC's Institute for Development and Economic Analysis recently invited more than forty community opinion-makers, recently arrived young professionals, and lifelong residents to be part of this dialog to solicit their views on some most important subjects at this point in our county's evolution. We provided each participant with research on a number of topics relevant to our future, and had asked more than forty participants to each engage in one of six discussion forums. Before the forum began, we briefed six facilitators that would focus discussion at their tables on the topics outlined below. On the day of the forum, I summarized some of the highlights of the data, and the larger group broke up into groups of seven. These individuals discussed their topics for more than an hour, and summarized their observations to the wider group in ten minute presentations.

Our goal was to initiate a greater and ongoing community discussion in this first of a regular series of community meetings. We engaged a cross section of stakeholders, with the goal less about presenting and more about listening to those aspects of our evolution upon which we can all agree. The lofty goal of eventually forging a vision for the year 2040 was constructed so we can focus on the longest of views. By doing so, we hoped participants would put aside their own preferences for the here and now and instead imagine what must be done to make this county sustainable and attractive for those that will follow us.

The six tables were each asked to focus on a different theme. These themes were government efficiency, the cost of doing business in Clinton County, workforce development needs, the Canadian connection, quality of life, and emerging county demographics.

While the tables covered these various topics, we noted afterward that a number of themes that came out time and time again. We have tabulated these themes below:

Rate Critical Issues were Raised at the Six Discussion Tables


While the same themes of the need to continue programs for economic development, to consolidate government and services, and promote county-wide community and economic development came up time and time again at the various tables, issues such as the demographic challenges facing rural communities, the need for a continued emphasis on workforce development, and the cost of doing business in New York were themes articulated at multiple tables.

In addition, the table on government efficiency expressed a concern that tax levies are rising at a rate much higher than both incomes and the cost of living. That group was concerned these taxes could act as an impediment to the growth that is necessary if we want to attract and retain young people on behalf of Clinton County. Another table addressed the cost of doing business in New York. They articulated that commerce thrives in an environment of innovation and entrepreneurship, and explored the ways this business spirit can be helped or hampered.

The table on workforce development and education recognized the need to attract individuals from outside the County to fuel our growth or sustenance. They proffered the suggestion that workforce and education should be much more closely linked in a way that recognizes twenty first century workforce needs. They concluded there is much that has been done and much that remains to be done to better integrate communities, businesses, agencies, and schools.

All the tables echoed the theme that was the subject of a group addressing quality of life. The table noted from the data that in some aspects our county quality of life is well and good, while in other dimensions we suffer from poverty or an aging population. We must explore ways to provide young professionals with a high quality of life because, given the emerging demographics, to do otherwise would leave a small cohort of working age people to provide our production and tax base for the future. The group noted the various qualities our community has to offer young professionals while it also recognized that challenges that could occur if there was a severe job and working age shortage going forward.

One of the highlights in Clinton County is our Canadian Connection. Our neighbors to the North have developed a strong and sustainable economy, and have recognized the strategic importance of Clinton County in creating markets for their goods. This table noted the historical serendipity that have allowed us to benefit from our location, and some of the advantages we have to offer. Certainly we prize this relationship. It remains perhaps the brightest spot of Clinton County’s evolution.

Finally, our last table noted that demographic trends ought to give us the greatest pause for concern. If we are unable to stem the dramatic outflow of young and middle aged cohorts, it is estimated that by the year 2030 we will have a shortage of almost 4,000 employees and 10,000 residents in the County, to add to the loss of 5,000 residents in the past twenty years. Clearly, a population aging at a much more dramatic rate than the rest of the State and the Country is our biggest challenge.

Our data came from the Census Bureau's census of government financing, various articles from the IDEA website, the Plattsburgh Press Republican, Strictly Business, the Community and Rural Development Institute of Cornell University, the New York State Commission on Property Tax Relief, the Assembly Minority Conference’s May 2008 report entitled "The State of New York Schools," and the Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness report of April 2008 entitled "21st Century Local Government."

We very much appreciated our group's willingness to engage in these important subjects, and we value their insights. There are other groups, of young professionals, health care and senior citizens advocates, and both business and non-for-profit groups whose future depends on a vibrant workforce. We intend to sponsor an ever-widening circle of future meetings and work with other such groups with the same goals in mind. Together, we can forge a consensus of possibilities for the year 2040 and can then begin to work back from 2040 to today to create a bright economic future.

 

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