Press Release
The next stage of the Visioning 2026 process will begin next week in Norfolk.
Jennifer Adams, coordinator of the program for the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce, said a number of focus groups would be formed to allow Norfolk and Madison County residents to become involved in the development of practical, tangible ideas for the future that they would like to see explored.
The focus groups will meet at various times to discuss education, energy, health care, economic development, tourism/recreation, technology and workforce/demographic issues.
The information generated from the focus groups will be the impetus for the development of a list of ideas, projects and trends that will be evaluated through citizen polls, which is also part of Visioning 2026, Adams said.
Visioning 2026 is a communitywide project envisioned by the partnership of the Daily News along with the City of Norfolk, Madison County, Northeast Community College, the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce, the Norfolk Public Schools and the Leadership Norfolk program.
The ultimate goal of the program is to allow citizens to help shape the future of Norfolk and Madison County by 2026.
The process began earlier this year when several dialogue groups were formed to help participants learn of national and global trends that could affect Northeast Nebraska in the future.
In September, nationally known futurist Marv Cetron was brought to Norfolk as part of Visioning 2026 to allow local and area residents to hear his take on those trends and which ones the Norfolk area might want to capitalize on.
The focus groups now are the next important step in the process, Adams said.
Any Norfolkans or Madison County residents who would like to participate in the focus groups can do so by contacting Pam Carlson at the Chamber of Commerce at 371-4862 or go online to www.visioning2026.com. More information about Visioning 2026 also is available at that Web site.
- Story Courtesy of the Norfolk Daily News
