Strategic Plan

In April 2007, the Chatham County Board of Commissioners contracted with the University of North Carolina’s Center for Competitive Economies (C3E) to create an economic development strategic plan for Chatham County. The Chatham County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) was charged with facilitating strategic plan development in consultation with Chatham County leaders and citizens.

 
The Strategic Plan represents an analytical and objective analysis of Chatham County’s economy and economic development options and utilizes the preferences of the community in making recommendations that offer the best economic development outcomes.  The final version of the Strategic Economic Development Plan was delivered to the Chatham County Commissioners and the EDC in June 2008; the plan was adopted by the county, the towns of Goldston, Pittsboro, and Siler City, and the Chatham County School Board at a historic joint meeting in November 2008.  Implementation of the plan's recommendations for attraction, retention, entrepreneurship, and quality of life improvements is an ongoing priority for the EDC Board of Directors and staff.

Final Version Strategic Plan

Community Engagement

In the initial phase of the project, C3E proposed to engage Chatham County citizens in five community meetings held through the county.  The meetings were conducted in Bear Creek, Pittsboro, Northeast Chatham, Moncure, and Siler City.  Total attendance exceeded 250 citizens with attendance ranging from 20-80 citizens per meeting.  Meeting minutes are available for each meeting.

Additional community engagement continued with a two-day Economic Summit in November 2008.  The Summit included focus groups at the mid-point of the plan to garner additional feedback on work to date.  Meeting summaries are available for each day of the Economic Summit.

 Strategic Plan Implementation

Once final draft recommendations to the EDC Board were adopted by all local elected officials at a joint meeting, the work of implementing the plan's recommendations began.  On January 8, 2009, the EDC held an Strategic Plan Implementation Summit at Central Carolina Community College in Pittsboro to get feedback on implementation priorities and to identify citizen partners in carrying out implementation plans.

EDC President Dianne Reid kicked off the summit with an overview presentation of the Strategic Plan's recommendations. Participants then spent the morning brainstorming and organizing practical ideas for attraction, retention, and entrepreneurship activities.

For more information regarding strategic plan implementation activities, please contact the EDC at info@chathamedc.org.