Vision West ND is stepping closer than ever to completion of its Regional Plan. Each of the individual county-wide plans has been completed throughout western North Dakota. On September 25, Vision West ND Consortium members met in Dickinson, ND. The Consortium is responsible for preparing and implementing the regional plan, as well as communicating the information learned in the planning process to local, state, and federal parties.

Vision West ND Consortium Vice Chair Neil Sharpe, from Minot State University, opened the meeting. Gregg Greenquist, SRF Consulting, gave a report on the September 24 Planning and Zoning Enforcement webinar, which dealt with enforcement of local zoning ordinances. About 45 people participated in the webinar. Materials from that webinar including powerpoints, example code language, and the webinar recording itself are available on the Vision West ND website,  www.visionwestnd.com, or by clicking this link for direct access.

Karalea Cox, Building Communities, serves as a planning facilitator within the Vision West ND project.

One of the highlights of the Consortium meeting was discussion led by Building Communities' Karalea Cox. This discussion focused on how aggressive the Consortium wants the Regional Plan to be. A Survey Monkey survey to Consortium members was recently completed, indicating that a majority of the Consortium would like the overall tone and feel of the Regional Plan to be "very directive with specific recommendations". In meeting that expectation, Vision West ND planning facilitator Brian Cole will be conducting a series of "expert interviews" with authorities across the state having particular knowledge and insight on each of the major issues identified as priority during the community planning stage. Those issues and topics include housing, emergency services, natural gas, health care, human services, municipal infrastructure, public safety, land use policy/staffing, education, power transmission, the "crowding out" effect, pipelines, environmental impacts, child care, transportation, and water.

The Vision West ND Consortium also approved a Consortium Solutions Fund request submitted by the Strom Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation and the ND Small Business Development Center. The request was for $9,936, with a $10,000 match from the Strom Center, ND SBDC, and Dickinson State University. The approved funding will go towards financing a project that will compile existing data on child care and set up a "one stop shop" for those interested in starting, setting up, and operating child care facilities. More details on that project and its progress will be made as it becomes available.

Upcoming on the Vision West ND calendar is a webinar showcasing the Vision West ND project. Attendees will hear how Vision West ND has moved western communities forward. Vision West ND Project Manager Deb Nelson will address the lessons learned in phase one, the next phase that involves compilation of information into the Regional Plan, and planning tools available to cities. The webinar will be hosted by the ND League of Cities. To register for the webinar, please visit the registration page.

The U.S. Dept. of Transportation building in Washington, D.C. will host the 2013 HUD Grantee Convening.

In other news, three Vision West ND Administrative Team members plan to attend the 3^rd

The Regional Plan for Vision West ND is under creation this month. It is slated for draft review by the western counties later this year with a finished product expected by February 2014 from Building Communities, Inc., the planning group hired to write the local and regional plans.