CityView Magazine - Fayetteville, NC
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/31068
“Greater Fayetteville Futures II has brought together community stakeholders to solve community issues through the best examples of cooperation and collaboration.” - Mike Lallier Initially, the fledgling Fayetteville 8 Objectives of GFF2 • Creation of a model education system that supports and networks workforce readiness and sustainable innovation. • Effectively implement economic development strategy. • Ensure safety and security for all • Expand and develop essential services that lead to a better living environment • Leverage the region’s defense technology assets • Increase and improve traditional and non-traditional transportation and information technology • Improve and sustain health services and wellness • Grow a “green” community Communicate our community story Sustain and grow cultural and recreational opportunities 22 | May/June • 2011 Futures looked at three issues that vex the community: The lack of economic development; the community’s poor self- image; and the inability to turn Fort Bragg and its huge construction contracts and talented workforce into gold for the city. From those concerns, community leaders immediately saw the need to establish a more focused and concentrated effort to bring economic development to the area, a dire need to re-invent a community proud of itself and its heritage, and an effort to leverage the military presence in seeking economic opportunities. The results were numerous, but in a nutshell this infant collaborative effort resulted in: The creation of a military business complex that benefits civilian entrepreneurs throughout the region and also those who are departing the military but want to remain in the greater Fayetteville area. The prestigious All America City designation followed by a community- empowered branding campaign that developed the slogan “History, Heroes, and a Hometown Feeling. The designation of the Fayetteville Area Chamber of Commerce as the community’s one-stop economic development arm and recruiter. The second meeting Community leaders realized in 2009 that a second meeting was in order. They saw that the community was not prepared for the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure and the 40,000 people and increased significance it would bring to the area. Organizers gathered on a balmy Saturday in March 2009 and launched a second assault on the barriers that keep the Fayetteville area from being the best