Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Setting Goals For 2015 In All Aspects Of Living, Working In Nevada Co.

What will Nevada County be like in the year 2015?

Will there be plenty of jobs for the county's residents?

Will there be adequate housing?

What kind of educational system will there be?

These questions were brought up during Thursday night's community development planning meeting, held at the Emmet School cafetorium.

Jo Beth Glass, president of the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce, told those leaders of commerce and education present the purpose of the meeting was to plan for the future and not sit back and see what happens.

Representatives from area governmental entities, businesses, industries and education were on hand to take an active role in planning the county's future.

Glass said the county needs a plan, a direction and guidelines on how to achieve these goals for the future.

A rudimentary plan was designed by Don Callicott, with the idea it must address people of all ages, literally working from cradle to grave with the citizenry.

Callicott, in explaining his plan, told those on hand their opinions, along with the ideas of anyone else, were needed in order to move forward.

He said the project is ambitious, and it is hoped the data can be gathered and collated in six months so action can begin.

In discussing polarization in the county, Callicott said people need to realize Prescott is the hub of Nevada County whether they like it or not. However, the development plan, he continued, will be for the benefit of all residents and communities within the confines of the county.

"There will be naysayers," Callicott said, "there always are. But I know dreams can come true."

The initial plan is in three phases. In each phase committees will be formed and short and long term goals discussed. These goals will be assigned priority status according to their importance and the needs of the people and the county.

The first phase began Thursday night with the gathering of area leaders. They organized and will soon begin working on concept development, assessing the needs of the people and region, deciding on strategies, identifying issues and issuing responsibility assignments to the participants.

In a nutshell, phase I is a strategy session.

Phase II is where the actual work begins. This is where goals and priorities will be established and committees formed.

During phase II, short term plans (those which can be accomplished in one to five years) will be formulated and implemented.

The bulk of the work will be done in the third phase. It includes program formulation, implementation and revisions as needed.

Phase III will address those long term goals which could take as long as 20 years to accomplish; depending on what they are.

Callicott said phase III will include getting a handbook put together which will be used to market Prescott and Nevada County, including all other communities therein. "We can use it (the handbook) to show what Nevada County has to offer," he said.

This segment, Callicott said, will be the packaging stage.

Drawing from his vast military experience, Callicott, who helped design aircraft for the military, suggested using the Life Cycle Management Model (LCMM) as a guide for the program.

This method identifies current shortfalls, determines a strategy, identifies issues and assigns responsibilities.

Its organizational chart is led by the Chamber, followed by a community economic development subcommittee.

From there it branches into mayors and community leaders, the Arkansas Industrial Development Council, Agriculture, the Cattleman's Association, the Poultry Industry, Interlocal Cooperative Industrial Board, the Nevada County Economic Development Office, the Nevada County Hospital Board, Prescott, Nevada and Emmet school boards, timber industry representatives, the Southwest Arkansas Development Council and the Retail Merchants Association.

Callicott said people of the county will be asked to fill out a survey to help the program determine areas of strengths and weakness. Additionally, those filling out the survey forms will be asked to write any comments they may have as well.

"There are limitations," he said. "There may be things the people want we can't get. We need to decide early and need to be realistic.

"This concept should be what's best for everyone in the county."

Judy Davis, with the AIDC, will be working with the group to help the program become a success.

She borrowed a concept from Walt Disney, with the Disney company's permission, on five ways to make dreams come true.

Disney's formula is this: 1) think tomorrow; 2) free the imagination; 3) strive for quality; 4) stick-to-it-iveness (focus); and 5) have fun.

Davis told the group there are no stupid ideas or questions and urged everyone to participate actively.

Ground rules were also established to help everyone stay focused.

The group's next meeting will be held at the Prescott Elementary School on Jan. 25.