Top 5 Priorities Selected for Dalton-Whitfield Archway Partnership

Last fall, nearly 300 Dalton-Whitfield community members assembled at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center to take part in a Listening Session hosted by the University of Georgia’s Archway Partnership. At the Listening Session, participants discussed the Dalton-Whitfield community and the opportunities and challenges it currently faces. The comments from the Listening Session were recorded in the Dalton-Whitfield Listening Session Report.

Following the Listening Session, members of the Dalton-Whitfield Archway Executive Committee analyzed the report, consulted with community members about issues in the report, and discussed the best ways to address the significant community needs identified during the Listening Session. Based on their investigation and analysis, the Executive Committee identified the following five initial priorities for the Dalton-Whitfield Archway Partnership:

1. Develop a Community Vision: Over the next several months, the Executive Committee will work with trained facilitators from the University System of Georgia to understand what community members want Dalton-Whitfield to look like in 10-15 years. After soliciting community feedback and analyzing existing visioning documents, the Executive Committee will create a document that highlights shared community goals and includes a detailed implementation plan. The Executive Committee will then incorporate this vision into its work plan and will work with other entities and organizations to make the vision a reality.
2. Enhance Internal and External Public Awareness of Dalton-Whitfield: The Listening Session Report indicates that many misperceptions negatively impact citizens’ and visitors’ experiences in the Dalton-Whitfield community. Accordingly, the second priority articulated by the Archway Executive Committee is the need for a public awareness campaign that enables the community to capitalize on its strengths and improve upon its weaknesses. University of Georgia students and faculty are currently creating a repository of relevant and current data about Dalton-Whitfield. This information will be used to help the community better understand itself so it can move forward cohesively.
3. Support and Enhance Education: A community cannot develop if it ignores education. The Archway Executive Committee is committed to supporting and enhancing education at all levels: pre-K through adult education. Check back soon for more information on this priority and ways to get involved.
4. Improve Quality of Life/Place: The Archway Executive Committee is dedicated to improving the quality of life in Dalton-Whitfield. Check back soon for more details on this priority.
5. Plan for Growth: Planning for growth can mean many things, including attracting and retaining young professionals, recommending and supporting infrastructure improvements, and ensuring that citizens have basic resources. The goal of this priority is to ensure that Dalton-Whitfield is ready for future opportunities. Check back soon for more details.

As you review the 5 priorities listed above, the Executive Committee hopes that it is clear that they are a work -in -progress.  The Executive Committee is currently working to further define and describe the community priority areas, but it needs your input.  In the future, this blog will be a place where you can weigh in on community issues.  Please use it to post your comments and share your thoughts.  Of course, you are always welcome to send  comments to any of the Executive Committee members or to your local Archway Professional.

We look forward to hearing from you soon!