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