Job Retention & Expansion
Focus: To retain jobs while expanding the opportunity to create more jobs and increase the income levels for the population of our county.
- Industrial/High Tech jobs
- New Business Recruitment
- Local Expansions
- Attracting and assisting entrepreneurs
Committee Chairperson: Jeff Mefford
e-Mail: JobRetention@effinghamcountyvision2020.com
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Culture, Arts & Leisure
Focus: To enhance, support and promote county wide cultural activities, recreation and entertainment.
- Create programs to elevate young peoples interest in culture & arts
- Designate a weekend to focus on all arts in Effingham county
- Encourage field trips for students to view art exhibits
- Meet the artists events
Committee Chairperson: Leanne Bales
e-Mail: CultureArts@effinghamcountyvision2020.com
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Community Values
Focus: To embody the spirit and values that make Effingham County a great place to live and enhance those elements that contribute to a healthy, productive and thriving community.
- Spass Mit Gute! (Fun with Kindness)
- Utilize media and county wide presentations to promote values and attitudes
- Recognize acts of kindness
- Be cheerleaders of community growth projects
Committee Chairperson: Cheryl Compton
e-Mail: CommunityValues@effinghamcountyvision2020.com
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Education
Focus: To build a culture in Effingham County that encourages residents to become lifelong learners.
- Creating interest in education
- Building life long learning opportunities
- Creating the community as a classroom through effective utilization of resources
- Developing facilitation among all educational institutions, including grade school, high school, community college, universities (EIU, U of I), vocational education
- Creating drug free school environments
- Increasing parental education and involvement in school systems
- Creating and encouraging curriculum to meet the current and future needs of our community
- Creating and implementing business & entrepreneurial curriculum
- Incorporate vocational education curriculum
Immediate Impact Projects
- Create interest in education and attract a group of community volunteers from each area within the county served by a school, including parochial, public, alternative, community college and university.
- Working with local school & community leaders to coordinate learning sessions at each school to create interest in:
- Increasing parental involvement in schools
- Creating Drug Free School Environments
- Build interest in the vision and objectives of the education spoke and Vision 2020 by incorporating Pacific Institute training programs within the Effingham County Schools (21 Keys to Excellence & Pathways)
Committee Chairperson: Steve Bushue
e-Mail: Education@effinghamcountyvision2020.com
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Retail & Tourism
Focus: To promote Effingham County's retail shopping and tourism opportunities and to make Effingham County a destination for shopping, tourism and fun.
- Promote an atmosphere of cooperation among the retailers and tourism community
- Work with county groups to promote and improve festivals, historic sites and events
- Create a major county-wide festival
Committee Chairperson: Steve Raymond
e-Mail: RetailTourism@effinghamcountyvision2020.com
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Infrastructure, Natural Resources and Governance
Focus: To improve Effingham County's infrastructure, while protecting our natural resources, which will enhance the quality of life for citizens in Effingham County.
- Improve the 9-1-1 system in Effingham County through better signage and education programs
- Review the process of county land use planning which will promote economic growth and influence the quality of life for county residents
Committee Chairperson: Julie Stephens
e-Mail: Infrastructure@effinghamcountyvision2020.com
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Health Care
Focus: To make Effingham county a place where healthy lifestyles dominate and are the norm with a wellness and fitness culture throughout.
- Effingham County as a regional healthcare destination
- Effingham County communities actively encourage exercise, nutrition and healthy lifestyles
Committee Chairperson: Dan Woods
e-Mail: Healthcare@effinghamcountyvision2020.com