After engaging in an extensive, year-long, community-wide visioning process, the Dalton-Whitfield Archway Partnership Executive Committee recognized that the revitalization of Downtown Dalton is a top priority for the entire community. Consequently, it formed an issue work group to spearhead revitalization of the downtown area. Over the past several months, the downtown issue work group has worked with other community entities to compile baseline information from which a business plan can be developed. Information currently gathered includes a property owners’ list; a leakage report generated by Electric Cities of Georgia; concept drawings from University of Georgia College of Environment and Design students addressing streetscape improvements; and extensive ideas, proposals, and planning documents generated by Savannah College of Art and Design urban planning classes in Fall 2010.
To supplement the information previously compiled, the Downtown Dalton Issue Work Group asked Dalton State College’s School of Business for assistance in creating and conducting a survey of local consumers and downtown property and business owners. Veronica Blackstock and Jessica Marks, graduating marketing students, worked with School of Business Dean Donna Mayo to create two surveys for the issue work group. In November, Jessica, Veronica, and the Archway Partnership Executive Committee were able to solicit survey responses from approximately 450 concerned citizens regarding what they would like to see downtown. In addition, 25 downtown business owners provided thoughtful responses about what problems they face on a daily basis and what they would like to see downtown.
In December, Jessica and Veronica presented the survey results to the Downtown Dalton Issue Work Group. In the future, the group plans to utilize this information to assist the Downtown Dalton Development Authority in refining a business plan for Downtown Dalton. Both the Dalton Daily Citizen and the Chattanooga Times Free Press covered the survey results. Those articles can be viewed at: http://archwaypartnership.uga.edu/news/whitfield-news/survey-says-customers-businesses-want-more-vibrant-downtown/ and http://archwaypartnership.uga.edu/news/whitfield-news/dalton-wants-downtown-back-on-residents-radar/.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Archway Partnership Hosts Community Vision Follow-Up Meetings for Volunteers
In October, the Dalton-Whitfield Archway Partnership Executive Committee rolled out a community vision at a public forum at Dalton High School. The vision, called "Communit-E3: A vision for the future of Dalton-Whitfield County," focuses on three critical areas: education, the economy, and the environment (encompassing quality of life issues). At the community vision roll out, attendees had the opportunity to sign up to volunteer in the area that interested them the most.
In November, members of the Archway Partnership Executive and Steering Committees hosted follow up meetings in each of the three main areas for the volunteers. A recap of those meetings is provided below:
Economy Follow Up Meeting
On November 16, 2010, approximately 35 community volunteers met at Dalton Utilities to learn more about the community vision as it relates to the economy. Elyse Cochran, Executive Director of the Dalton-Whitfield Joint Development Authority and Archway Partnership Executive Committee member, opened the meeting and provided the community volunteers with an overview of economic development in Whitfield County. With this background, she then gave a brief overview of the three main economy goals the community vision addresses. Those goals include supporting and sustaining local industries, diversifying the local economic base, and nurturing entrepreneurs and innovators. Participants were then given the opportunity to join an issue work group focused on one of the three primary goals. Each work group was headed by an Archway Partnership Executive Committee member. During the issue work group sessions, attendees had an opportunity to learn about and comment on the proposed 2011 action plans for the goals. At the conclusion of the meeting, the work group chairs reported on the items discussed and preliminary plans for 2011.
Education Follow Up Meeting
On November 16, 2010, 60 community volunteers met at Dalton State College to discuss the community vision for education in Dalton-Whitfield. Dr. Sandra Stone from Dalton State College opened the meeting with a discussion and video about the challenge of educating students in a rapidly changing world. Tangela Johnson, Archway Partnership Steering Committee member, then gave an overview of the primary goals in the education portion of the community vision. She noted that the overarching idea is to begin to connect the dots in the education continuum so that the community can address weaknesses and capitalize on strengths. As a step towards this big idea, the participants were asked to join breakout groups based on their area of interest: birth-pre-kindergarten; kindergarten through high school; and higher education/technical education. During these breakout sessions, participants had the opportunity to brainstorm about the strengths and weaknesses in each of these areas. At the end of the session, participants reassembled as a large group and reported out on what their groups discussed. Hallie Mansfield, Archway Partnership Young Professional Steering Committee member, concluded the session and noted that the next meeting will be held in January 2011.
Environment Follow Up Meeting
On November 18, 35 community volunteers interested in quality of life issues met at Dalton State College to learn about the big ideas and opportunities for involvement in this area. William Bronson, Dalton Daily Citizen publisher and Archway Executive Committee member, opened this meeting and gave an overview of what the Executive Committee is attempting to accomplish as it relates to quality of life. Members of the Archway Partnership Executive Committee then provided a more specific overview of each of the 5 primary goals in this area. Those goals include: (1) creating a vibrant downtown; (2) developing a progressive transportation infrastructure; (3) expanding the greenways, blueways, parks, and trails; (4) turning Dalton into an inviting interstate destination; and (5) providing transformative arts and cultural opportunities. Following these overviews, participants had the opportunity to join an issue work group and make plans for progress in 2011.
In November, members of the Archway Partnership Executive and Steering Committees hosted follow up meetings in each of the three main areas for the volunteers. A recap of those meetings is provided below:
Economy Follow Up Meeting
On November 16, 2010, approximately 35 community volunteers met at Dalton Utilities to learn more about the community vision as it relates to the economy. Elyse Cochran, Executive Director of the Dalton-Whitfield Joint Development Authority and Archway Partnership Executive Committee member, opened the meeting and provided the community volunteers with an overview of economic development in Whitfield County. With this background, she then gave a brief overview of the three main economy goals the community vision addresses. Those goals include supporting and sustaining local industries, diversifying the local economic base, and nurturing entrepreneurs and innovators. Participants were then given the opportunity to join an issue work group focused on one of the three primary goals. Each work group was headed by an Archway Partnership Executive Committee member. During the issue work group sessions, attendees had an opportunity to learn about and comment on the proposed 2011 action plans for the goals. At the conclusion of the meeting, the work group chairs reported on the items discussed and preliminary plans for 2011.
Education Follow Up Meeting
On November 16, 2010, 60 community volunteers met at Dalton State College to discuss the community vision for education in Dalton-Whitfield. Dr. Sandra Stone from Dalton State College opened the meeting with a discussion and video about the challenge of educating students in a rapidly changing world. Tangela Johnson, Archway Partnership Steering Committee member, then gave an overview of the primary goals in the education portion of the community vision. She noted that the overarching idea is to begin to connect the dots in the education continuum so that the community can address weaknesses and capitalize on strengths. As a step towards this big idea, the participants were asked to join breakout groups based on their area of interest: birth-pre-kindergarten; kindergarten through high school; and higher education/technical education. During these breakout sessions, participants had the opportunity to brainstorm about the strengths and weaknesses in each of these areas. At the end of the session, participants reassembled as a large group and reported out on what their groups discussed. Hallie Mansfield, Archway Partnership Young Professional Steering Committee member, concluded the session and noted that the next meeting will be held in January 2011.
Environment Follow Up Meeting
On November 18, 35 community volunteers interested in quality of life issues met at Dalton State College to learn about the big ideas and opportunities for involvement in this area. William Bronson, Dalton Daily Citizen publisher and Archway Executive Committee member, opened this meeting and gave an overview of what the Executive Committee is attempting to accomplish as it relates to quality of life. Members of the Archway Partnership Executive Committee then provided a more specific overview of each of the 5 primary goals in this area. Those goals include: (1) creating a vibrant downtown; (2) developing a progressive transportation infrastructure; (3) expanding the greenways, blueways, parks, and trails; (4) turning Dalton into an inviting interstate destination; and (5) providing transformative arts and cultural opportunities. Following these overviews, participants had the opportunity to join an issue work group and make plans for progress in 2011.
Archway Executive Committee Rolls Out Community Vision
In October, the Dalton-Whitfield Archway Partnership Executive Committee hosted a community-wide public forum at Dalton High School. At the public forum, the Executive Committee celebrated 11 months of hard work by rolling out a community vision, which the group named “Communit-E3: A vision for the Future of Dalton-Whitfield County.” Approximately 300 community members braved severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings to learn more about the vision and opportunities for involvement in the process. Newspaper coverage of the event can be reviewed at http://archwaypartnership.uga.edu/category/news/whitfield-news/.
To develop the community vision, the 16-member Archway Partnership Executive Committee and the 13-member Archway Partnership Young Professional Steering Committee analyzed countless community planning and visioning documents. In addition, the committees directly sought input from approximately 1000 residents through 23 focus groups, a community listening session, and one-on-one interviews.
Communit-E3 Visioning Document
At the public forum, the Dalton-Whitfield Archway Partnership Executive Committee had the opportunity to distribute a document that succinctly outlined the visioning process and the plans moving forward. This document, which was created with the assistance and creative expertise of the University of Georgia’s Fanning Institute, can be viewed electronically at http://daltonwhitfieldcommunityvision.com/uploads/DaltonWhitfield_Visioning_Report.pdf.
Communit-E3 Vision Video
A highlight of the public forum was the presentation of a 10-minute video outlining the community vision. The video was created under the direction of the Dalton-Whitfield Archway Partnership Executive Committee by University of Georgia Masters Candidate Mark LeBlang. In addition to live footage captured by LeBlang, the video featured the photography work of University of Georgia Lamar Dodd School of Art seniors Anna King and Alex Palmour. It also featured conceptual drawings of downtown Dalton rendered by University of Georgia College of Environment and Design seniors Casey Marbutt and Cameron Yates. The video can be viewed at: http://daltonwhitfieldcommunityvision.com/.
Communit-E3 Vision Website
Guests at the public forum were invited to learn more about the Communit-E3 vision by visiting a new website located at http://daltonwhitfieldcommunityvision.com/. This new website, still in its infancy, was made possible by the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia. Special thanks to David Aft and Linda Blackman for their assistance with this project.
Local School Boards Pledge Support for the Communit-E3 Vision
Prior to the community vision roll-out, both the Whitfield County Board of Education and the Dalton Public Schools Board of Education pledged support for the community vision. Coverage of the Whitfield County School Board’s reaction can be viewed at http://daltondailycitizen.com/local/x1941092760/Archway-seeks-schools-partnership. A letter of official endorsement from the Dalton Public School Board Chairman, Steve Williams, can be viewed at http://archwaypartnership.uga.edu/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/dps-letter-of-support1.pdf.
To develop the community vision, the 16-member Archway Partnership Executive Committee and the 13-member Archway Partnership Young Professional Steering Committee analyzed countless community planning and visioning documents. In addition, the committees directly sought input from approximately 1000 residents through 23 focus groups, a community listening session, and one-on-one interviews.
Communit-E3 Visioning Document
At the public forum, the Dalton-Whitfield Archway Partnership Executive Committee had the opportunity to distribute a document that succinctly outlined the visioning process and the plans moving forward. This document, which was created with the assistance and creative expertise of the University of Georgia’s Fanning Institute, can be viewed electronically at http://daltonwhitfieldcommunityvision.com/uploads/DaltonWhitfield_Visioning_Report.pdf.
Communit-E3 Vision Video
A highlight of the public forum was the presentation of a 10-minute video outlining the community vision. The video was created under the direction of the Dalton-Whitfield Archway Partnership Executive Committee by University of Georgia Masters Candidate Mark LeBlang. In addition to live footage captured by LeBlang, the video featured the photography work of University of Georgia Lamar Dodd School of Art seniors Anna King and Alex Palmour. It also featured conceptual drawings of downtown Dalton rendered by University of Georgia College of Environment and Design seniors Casey Marbutt and Cameron Yates. The video can be viewed at: http://daltonwhitfieldcommunityvision.com/.
Communit-E3 Vision Website
Guests at the public forum were invited to learn more about the Communit-E3 vision by visiting a new website located at http://daltonwhitfieldcommunityvision.com/. This new website, still in its infancy, was made possible by the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia. Special thanks to David Aft and Linda Blackman for their assistance with this project.
Local School Boards Pledge Support for the Communit-E3 Vision
Prior to the community vision roll-out, both the Whitfield County Board of Education and the Dalton Public Schools Board of Education pledged support for the community vision. Coverage of the Whitfield County School Board’s reaction can be viewed at http://daltondailycitizen.com/local/x1941092760/Archway-seeks-schools-partnership. A letter of official endorsement from the Dalton Public School Board Chairman, Steve Williams, can be viewed at http://archwaypartnership.uga.edu/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/dps-letter-of-support1.pdf.
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