Presentation to the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce on the Common Community Vision for Greater Lowndes County. A full version of the report can be found at www.bit.ly/LowndesCCV

2. A Common
Community Vision
Valdosta-Lowndes County
Chamber of Commerce
December 2013

3. Lowndes County in 2040
149,288

4. Lowndes County in 2040
76,082

5. Lowndes County in 2040
171,829

6. Lowndes County in 2040
32,444
64,311

7. Valdosta in 2040
68.7%

9. Existing Plans

10. Existing Plans
•
•
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•
Transportation
Economic Development
Water
Revitalization
Comprehensive Land
Use
• Hazard Mitigation
•
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Solid Waste
Airports
Bicycle and Pedestrian
Natural Resources
Education
Business
Tourism

11. Integrate New
Statements & Themes
Expert Review Panel
Meet with Stakeholders
& Public
Identify Common
Statements & Themes
Review Community
Plans
Process
Common Community Vision

12. Pride in Our Community
• Retail is Robust
• New Schools (K-12)
• Police and Fire (response
times)
• Keep Lowndes/Valdosta
Beautiful (KLVB) is a great
program.
• There is good
collaboration and
communication between
MAFB and the local
communities.
• Good support of MAFB
through land use policies
• The Alapaha River is a
Grade A river
• Good road system
• The local universities are
a great source of
knowledge, and provide
excellent partnership
opportunities.

13. Input – Partnerships & Collaboration
Encourage and coordinate
Through the SBDC, in partnership with
public/private partnerships between between schools and non-profits, provide
Partnerships
governments and
There is atraining agencies, counties,
need for more partnerships
workforce
business to focus on business development services (such
essential career
in education, with privatebetween(Kparticularly sector the
Need partnerships
cities, local businesses and schools
skills as: training, private consultations,
schools and parents,development
as well as
(losing funds so need more private
12 and Technical) for the
mentoring, etc.) for low and moderate
between the schools and private
participation)
of improving work skill programs and
income persons, entrepreneurs,
Great
More
industry. public and private partnershipsPromise Partnership and
Establishbusiness incubators.
career education programs such as
small partnerships of local
career academy forCountyadults.
Lowndes young has a strong governments and service providers
that leverage protect,
To
partnership with HealthSouth. identify, preserve,and supplement
requested state and federal funding
promote, provide access, and manage
Coordinate public-private
the broad range of cultural and
partnerships (façade program, a great
historic resources in the Southern
The local universities are
demolish vacant/hazardous buildings,
Georgia Region, engaging public-partnerships
source of knowledge, and provide
Need more public/private
Establish public-private
School and Business Partnerships
etc.) to improve lots and structures in
partnerships when
excellent partnership opportunities. privateto fund improvements to park and
partnerships for transportation
designated revitalization areas to
appropriate.
recreation facilities and programs in
make the areas more attractive to
the Designated Revitalization Area,
Good K-12 partnerships with
reinvestment and victors
and near Public Housing.
universities (VSU, WGTC)
Need better
collaboration between
government and
businesses

14. Input – Leadership
Leadership for small business
development
Valdosta and
Lowndes need to
take regional
leadership role…
Better leadership now
It is only in the last year that
we have seen any cooperation
between the Valdosta City and
Lowndes County
Governments. That
cooperation needs to extend
Access to elected officials
to all the cities and be a long
term thing, not based upon
the personalities of those
elected in any given election
I would like to see less division
cycle.
between the City and County
Is improving between city and
government.
county

15. Input – Marketing and Awareness
Develop a region-wide,
Increase to be more
We need more
There needsmarketing about
Lack of awareness of
public/private, funded of and park a statewide
small business development
Through
education/awareness
Awareness of recreation local housing
education and awareness
business plan geared done coordinated effort, the resources
Awareness
what is or isn't education resources and facilities
opportunities ofbeing resources (education) of local fuel and energy
towards communitythe
region shall be
in our marketing to
alternatives.
community to regional,
SGRJDA – Marketing
improve health education. marketed as a viable
Education off awareness of boat
national, and global high- location for Active effort kickedand in
There needs
There is an
to make
Small businesses do not know who toAmenity
wage employers. opportunity and awareness of landingpromoteto be more
2013 to locations
Adult, talk to Encourage
Education
regional stormwater
awareness and education
more of the public aware of the
startups
our
to awareness through
efforts Seeking Retirees due region the many programs,
about
public transit services to its are
that prime location,
consultants and various forms
Need more local
Build community awareness of
activities and events that
available now.
prospects via the and brochures,
community resources
natural and cultural
(maps,
Education
current cultural, recreational and
are available locally.
Agri-Tourism is good, but (healthcare,
South Georgia etc.)of local cycling,
Better
resource promotion
awareness about
Education and
natural resources, and develop a
needs more promotion and transportation, Classic toregulations
enhance
awareness of life
and marketing sharing
walking,
Awareness
web-based data management system re:
marketing
skills and Conservation awareness is and economic
amenities),
the road, and
local
to provide informational resources to
an
can be better
development in public health and
our
opportunities area thatMarketing trips to increase our
climate.
local officials and the public. transportation
region.
for old age communicated to the local of site selectors by Education and
visibility in front
planned transit
priorities
Marketing of quality
residents. using regional partners.
learners
awareness ofespecially
services,
(perception of
of life
historical resources
to local schools
importance)
and universities.
Marketing area
needs
improvement

16. Input – Capital Improvements
Bidgee

17. Aspirational Goals

18. Common Community Vision
A resilient community where
partnerships and coordination
promote regional success in
economic development,
education, infrastructure, and a
high quality of life.

19. Implementation

20. Next Steps
• Common Community Vision
• 2040 Transportation Plan
– Goals and Performance Measures
– Financial Plan
– Project Ideas

21. Valdosta-Lowndes
Metropolitan Planning Organization
www.bit.ly/LowndesCCV