by Caroline Gabsewics
Staff Writer
The next phase of Blueprint for Prosperity started this week, making the City one step closer to its goal of improving the quality of life in Jacksonville.
“We are all working together to improve per capita income and improving Jacksonville’s quality of life,” said Bill Scheu, chairman of Blueprint for Prosperity.
After a series of focus groups and community meetings throughout Jacksonville, there were 10 issues that concerned members of the community. Those were education, economic development/jobs, quality of life, racial opportunity and harmony, government, transportation, healthcare, infrastructure, marketing and improving moral, family and parental values.
“We are transitioning into task forces,” said Scheu. “So far participation has been great throughout the city.”
The task force meetings began this week to develop the strategic plan. This plan will be released in November, said Jarik Conrad, Blueprint for Prosperity executive director.
“This is an exciting process moving into the next phase,” he said. “The people in the task force meetings will be working to put a strategic plan together.”
During these task force meetings, participants will narrow down the information they received from the community meetings and put structure around it, said Conrad. Once the draft is ready, the next phase includes getting the draft out to the community.
“This (Blueprint for Prosperity) is by the citizens for the citizens,” said Conrad. “Ultimately we want to get in front of 10,000 people.”
The City of Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce and WorkSource are all in partnership to make Blueprint for Prosperity possible. Since Blueprint for Prosperity began in April its purpose has been to create a method to raise per capita income for Jacksonville residents.
The push to raise per capita is one of Mayor John Peyton’s major initiatives. He said the work of the Blueprint for Prosperity committee is especially valuable.
“This will be particularly helpful when we go to update our comprehensive plan, which we have to approve by law every seven years,” said Peyton. “Today is a transition from information collecting where various voices were heard to action items.”