Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/25224
Opinion Preparation + Opportunity = Success by JASON BRADY When preparation meets opportunity, the result is success. It’s a valuable lesson to heed as our community pursues and prepares efforts in achieving our vision to become a top 10 place to live in the Southeastern United States. A top-10 community is one with safe neighborhoods, cultural opportunities, a model education system, well-connected, and a strong, vibrant local economy for all. A realization of this community vision will mean different things to different residents in our community. For some, it means a safer neighborhood for their children to play and mature. For others, it means a well-paying job for themselves or for a son or daughter graduating from college and who wants to remain in our community. And, for our warriors departing the military, it will mean an opportunity to remain in Fayetteville and contribute their considerable skills to the local workforce. Finally, for some, this realization will allow for a parent to show their child or a friend visiting from another community a world class symphony performance or great recreational opportunities in one of the many parks in our community Greater Fayetteville Futures II is a continuation of our community’s previous success with the initial Greater Fayetteville Futures efforts more than a half decade ago that aroused a sleeping citizenry to the potential of what our community can accomplish. Greater Fayetteville Futures II began 18 months ago and engaged hundreds of our citizens in a collaborative effort to work every item identifi ed in the multiple studies completed in anticipation of BRAC and beyond. These studies included the BRAC Regional Task Force’s Growth Development Plan and the Chamber of Commerce’s Pathways to Possibilities. These studies and plans gave us a framework that identifi ed specifi c actions that Fayetteville and Cumberland County needed to accomplish to prepare for BRAC and the continued transformation of the community. GFF II engaged broad-based representatives from all segments of the community — including city, county and municipal governments, the military, local health care systems, educational institutions, business and cultural organizations — in an open and facilitated process to ensure we were prepared and ready for those opportunities. GFF II organized this effort around 10 critical objectives: education, economic development, public safety, public services, defense industry, infrastructure, healthcare, sustainability, communication and cultural/recreational opportunities. GFF II is proud to report that signifi cant progress has been made against the 10 objectives identifi ed as part of this project. Highlights include the successful alignment of the Nursing programs between FTCC and FSU; successful lobbying for legislative changes to improve the “star ratings” for childcare and education; signifi cant economic development announcements to include the $20 million Villagio luxury apartment complex off Bragg Boulevard, a major four-star hotel and convention center, and new sites for Booz Allen Hamilton and PDI’s Research and Development Lab; and a collaborative plan developed by Cape Fear Valley Health System and Womack Army Medical Center to coordinate acute care capabilities in the area. The community was awarded $38 million in USDA funding to support Medical Offi ce Building — Health Pavilion Hoke with construction to begin in 2011. Cape Fear Valley Health System established a new proactive Physician Recruitment Program and 41 new physicians and 375 nurses were added to the local health care system. The Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau created the fi rst-ever Fayetteville Area Public Relations Association to help coordinate the efforts of PR/ marketing professionals in the community and to facilitate positive community news. Additionally, a Creative Vitality Index measurement was completed to begin to track the cultural and recreational opportunities in the community. As we move into our second year, GFF II will change its focus and work with the member groups and organizations to coordinate their strategic plans and ensure that all of us are working towards common community goals. Currently, we are implementing an enhanced communication effort to ensure that all of our citizens are aware of what is happening and encouraged to join the process. We are preparing a major community gathering in early summer where we will showcase the ongoing community objectives and initiatives for the upcoming year. There, citizens can see the plans and get involved to help meet our objectives and WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM FEBRUARY 16-22, 2011 UCW 5 goals. We will coordinate facilitated work groups around each of our initiatives and track their progress throughout the year. These are exciting times for our community. By working together in this collaborative project, we can ensure that we accomplish our community’s vision for the future. We encourage you to get involved, to join our efforts with Greater Fayetteville Futures II and to work together for an even brighter future. Visit our website www.greaterfayettevillefutures.com to learn more about this community effort; Greater Fayetteville Futures II, where success happens when preparation meets opportunity. JASON BRADY,Greater Fayetteville Futures. COMMENTS? editor@upandcomingweekly.com