It's official. The board of directors of The Pawtucket Foundation has approved an ambitious three-year strategic plan that better defines the Foundation's mission, vision and core values. The 12-page document outlines four major goals, several measurable objectives and the strategies/tactics that will accomplish the mission.
The strategic planning process took five months to complete with surveys, a board retreat and numerous committee meetings. Staff went through 5 iterations of a written document, and the final version was adopted at the May 2011 board meeting.
Having a strategic plan is important because businesses who contribute funding need to know two things:
1) An investment to The Pawtucket Foundation will have a meaningful impact;
2) There is a way to measure performance and mission accomplishment.
Two major initiatives involve promoting the city and embarking on predevelopment planning that leverages public-private financing to ensure that necessary public infrastructure improvements accompany private development. Some of the most underutilized land left in Pawtucket is along the riverfront, in the downtown and all around the downtown. Pawtucket can generate significant new property tax revenues by focusing on physical development of vacant and underutilized properties -- and there are plenty of them on which to focus.
The Pawtucket Foundation is focused on helping to identify good public policy, a streamlined development process and lining up the resources for the continued revitalization of the City. Big aspirations like a future MBTA commuter rail stop, a new regional bicycle path, new infill development and better riverfront access represent the centerpiece of the vision for Pawtucket's future.
Many people often criticize the lack of vision in the "bucket". Honestly, I can't think of another city in RI that has more vision than Pawtucket. The City's underdog status is changing, but not fast enough for many who pour so much time and energy into Pawtucket's second revolution -- rebuilding the urban core. But the evidence is convincing: the arts movement, Riverfront Lofts, Bayley Lofts, Slater Cotton Lofts, Kellaway Center, Hope Artiste Village, The Armory Arts, the Design Exchange, several mill developments along Roosevelt Avenue, major-player antiques dealers, commuter rail, rapid bus service, the Downtown Design Plan....I could go on and on demonstrating how all of these great accomplishments are part of a bigger, coordinated vision to improve the quality of place, rebuild the infrastructure and reposition the City's competitive economic edge.
The Pawtucket Downtown Design Plan outlines probably $10M - $20M in public infrastructure improvements that are necessary to reposition the City in the regional economy. Envision Pawtucket will work to complement the City's efforts and rally private sector support. It will also help others visualize and see the big picture -- articulate the vision with words, images and multi-media content.
The Pawtucket Foundation survives because of the generosity and philanthropic values of the local business community. I hope more businesses will make the important decision to contribute to this worthwhile organization. Contribute now.
The strategic planning process took five months to complete with surveys, a board retreat and numerous committee meetings. Staff went through 5 iterations of a written document, and the final version was adopted at the May 2011 board meeting.
Having a strategic plan is important because businesses who contribute funding need to know two things:
1) An investment to The Pawtucket Foundation will have a meaningful impact;
2) There is a way to measure performance and mission accomplishment.
Two major initiatives involve promoting the city and embarking on predevelopment planning that leverages public-private financing to ensure that necessary public infrastructure improvements accompany private development. Some of the most underutilized land left in Pawtucket is along the riverfront, in the downtown and all around the downtown. Pawtucket can generate significant new property tax revenues by focusing on physical development of vacant and underutilized properties -- and there are plenty of them on which to focus.
The Pawtucket Foundation is focused on helping to identify good public policy, a streamlined development process and lining up the resources for the continued revitalization of the City. Big aspirations like a future MBTA commuter rail stop, a new regional bicycle path, new infill development and better riverfront access represent the centerpiece of the vision for Pawtucket's future.
Many people often criticize the lack of vision in the "bucket". Honestly, I can't think of another city in RI that has more vision than Pawtucket. The City's underdog status is changing, but not fast enough for many who pour so much time and energy into Pawtucket's second revolution -- rebuilding the urban core. But the evidence is convincing: the arts movement, Riverfront Lofts, Bayley Lofts, Slater Cotton Lofts, Kellaway Center, Hope Artiste Village, The Armory Arts, the Design Exchange, several mill developments along Roosevelt Avenue, major-player antiques dealers, commuter rail, rapid bus service, the Downtown Design Plan....I could go on and on demonstrating how all of these great accomplishments are part of a bigger, coordinated vision to improve the quality of place, rebuild the infrastructure and reposition the City's competitive economic edge.
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| Rendering of Exchange Street improvements recommended in PDDP. Courtesy of Thurlow Small Architecture. |
The Pawtucket Downtown Design Plan outlines probably $10M - $20M in public infrastructure improvements that are necessary to reposition the City in the regional economy. Envision Pawtucket will work to complement the City's efforts and rally private sector support. It will also help others visualize and see the big picture -- articulate the vision with words, images and multi-media content.
The Pawtucket Foundation survives because of the generosity and philanthropic values of the local business community. I hope more businesses will make the important decision to contribute to this worthwhile organization. Contribute now.
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