Notice anything different about this issue? The AEDC e-news has a fresh new look and name, Developments. That's a fitting title for an e-publication that focuses on the Elizabeth City area's economic development news, and we hope you like this redesigned platform and features. In this issue, read about Mayor Joe Peel's bold vision for Elizabeth City, as he and the Rev. Ernest Sutton build the foundation for Vision 2020, a community-based initiative to create new jobs and grow a stronger community by the year 2020. Are you familiar with the work of the Albemarle Area Committee of 100? Find out what they do, and how these local businesses support economic development in Elizabeth City and Pasquotank County. And finally, if you want to know what makes a downtown successful, take a look at what will be the first in a savory series outlining "20 Ingredients of a Successful Downtown," courtesy of the Destination Development International. Happy reading. Oh, and if you like Developments, just wait. We've got a revamped website that's coming up next. Stay tuned! 

As envisioned by Elizabeth City Mayor Joe Peel, the goal of the community-based Vision 2020 is to bring economic growth and jobs to the area by 2020. A strategic plan such as this is needed now, more than ever, said Peel, when AEDC's Developments spoke with him this month. 

Vision 2020 is a community planning initiative aimed at job creation by improving our community's attractiveness to outside employers.

Why is this important for the Elizabeth City area? 

Vision 2020 is critically important because over 25 percent of our population is below the poverty level and our workforce is under trained. Research shows that a "good job" is the single most important factor in improving a family's health and education level and for reducing community crime levels. We also live in a global economy so competition for jobs has become much more intense. This strategic planning process is bringing together hundreds of citizens to identify areas we need to improve in order for us to become more competitive as a community. This community consensus will greatly enhance the sustainability of this effort over time.

What, ultimately, do you want Vision 2020 to accomplish?

Perhaps the greatest accomplishment of Vision 2020 will be for our community to realize we are one community. Either we will all be successful, or opportunity will continue to pass us by. Through consensus building, we already have identified five critical areas under economic development and four areas under community development. For these, we will set improvement goals and focus our resources. 

20 Ingredients of a Successful Downtown 

AEDC Board of Commissioners

Last October, Elizabeth City Mayor Joe Peel invited area business, community and faith-based leaders to Christ Episcopal Church to talk about ways to grow the area's economy, create new jobs and build a stronger community in Elizabeth City by the year 2020. A little more than four months and four meetings later, Vision 2020 is coming into view.

"This is a critically important strategic planning process that is bringing together hundreds of citizens to identify areas we need to improve in order for us to become more competitive as a community," said Peel, who co-chairs Vision 2020 with the Rev. Ernest Sutton of Faithway Apostolic Church.

Since the first meeting, the Vision 2020 steering committee has since conducted a SWOT analysis of Elizabeth City's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats; drafted a vision statement that positions Elizabeth City as the "Harbor of Opportunity," as well as the "Harbor of Hospitality®"; and identified nine critical success factors within the areas of economic development and community development to help the area thrive. These include

Economic Development Success Factors

• Improving K-12 education
• Enhancing the waterfront
• Developing a more vibrant downtown
• Improving the business/developer climate in the city and county by streamlining licensing and startup processes
• Strengthening ties with and building ongoing, positive relationships with state leadership, the Port of Virginia and area economic development efforts

Community Development Success Factors

• Championing the region's diversity and heritage by creating a dynamic partnership among all citizens
• Improving and supporting strong family structures
• Improving day care for infants and children through age 5 and Pre-K opportunities
• Comprehensive job and entrepreneur training for youth

 At the March meeting, the co-chairs called for the formation of "action teams," to be represented by a broad spectrum of residents, for addressing each of the nine critical success factors. The teams, consisting of 10-12 people each, will be tasked with developing measurable goals and recommendations for what can be accomplished over the next five-to-seven years. 

"We're doing this to build a better future for our citizens, so we are involving a diverse cross section of people in the planning process," said Sutton. "If we can bring diversity to the table, there's no challenge we cannot overcome."

Vision 2020 will begin to present the findings of the action groups later this year.