Heritage Project Phase I Completed
Phase II Begins
On June 22, 2011 The Heritage Steering Committee edited and approved the final Goals and Objectives bringing to a close Phase I of the project. The six goals and related objectives can be found here. Phase II of the project now begins which includes the development of strategies to reach these goals along with priorities, action plans, responsibilities, measurement of the progress and a plan to communicate with community members. An overview of Phase II is shown below.
Tasks Ahead in 2011
The Colchester Heritage Project is off to a very successful start. Public outreach provided a firm basis for developing a mission and vision as well as implementing a community visioning plan that will guide the area into the 21st Century. As we move into 2011, there are a number of critical tasks that must be completed to build on our success from 2010:
These critical tasks do not include general operational requirements that the Steering Committee will need to continue to perform such as coordinating general communication, holding meetings, responding to the public, and interacting with major stakeholders.
- Finalize the Vision Statement – the Steering Committee will need to finalize the community vision statement that will characterize the desire future state of the community.
- Publish the Vision Statement – the Committee should share the vision with the community and discuss how the vision will provide an over-arching structure to decisions made in the community.
- SWOT (Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats) Analysis – the Committee should coordinate two additional public meetings to gather strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) for the community today and in the future.
- Goals and Objectives Development – during the SWOT analysis sessions, goals and objectives should be identified and priorities established for each major thematic area (education, economic development, culture, tourism, agriculture, neighborhoods, town operations and services) to ensure that the community’s needs are accounted for as part of the process.
- Strategy Development – the Committee should work to develop specific strategies for attaining the goals and objectives identified by the public taking into account the reality of current resources, stakeholder opinions, and tools for implementation.
- Action Plans for Goal Realization – each goal should be accompanied by specific action plans that include steps, dates, resources, and responsibilities for accomplishing the goal.
- Community Communication – the Committee should develop a custom communication plan that will provide initial as well as regular communication to community members related to the Heritage Project.
- Monitoring and Measurement – the Committee will need to review the results of each goal and action plan on a regular basis to ensure timely and successful implementation. In addition, the Committee will need to resolve any conflicts, update the plan, and ensure compliance with the community vision.
- Implementation Management – the Committee or another group will need to guide the realization of the vision by assembling resources, recruiting businesses, and cooperating with other stakeholders to ensure that the goals are realized.
These critical tasks do not include general operational requirements that the Steering Committee will need to continue to perform such as coordinating general communication, holding meetings, responding to the public, and interacting with major stakeholders.
