What are the challenges facing this community and the region?
- Unemployment
- Lack of Jobs/Opportunity
- High School dropout rate
- Limited tax base
- substance abuse
- Coal industry
- Affordable housing
- "Bad" health habits – smoking, sedentary lifestyle, heart disease and diabetes
- Family dynamics (grandparents raising grandchildren, single parent households, etc.)
- Stigma of area
What do you see as the assets and strengths of this community and the region?
- Location – access to roads
- Utilities
- School System and Educational opportunities
- Recreational Facilities
- Faith Community
- Rail System
- River
- Union College
- Logging Industry
- Outdoors – biking, fishing, hunting, walking
- High speed internet access
- Determined people who are mission oriented
- Low cost of living
- Agricultural community
- National Guard
- Local hospital
What is our community known for?
- Caring Community
- College
- Tradition and a community that appreciates history
- Mountains and lakes
- Beautiful surroundings
Why haven't you gotten there yet?
- Short –term planning/thinking
- Voter apathy
- Knee jerk reactions to situations
- Lack of strategic plan
- Lack of marketing ourselves and our community
- "Brain Drain" – youth are leaving and not returning
What are implementable ideas?
- Increase tourism to the community
- Invest in youth
- Offer affordable housing opportunities and public transportation
- Specific job training