JCDA Seeks Community Input on Economic Development Issues

June 17, 2020

The Jefferson County Development Authority is seeking community input as it develops a new strategic plan to guide the organization’s economic development efforts over the next five years.

As part of its strategic planning process, the Jefferson County Development Authority (JCDA) is inviting all business leaders, government and nonprofit partners, and community residents to participate in an online survey. The goal of the survey is to find out more about what economic issues matter most to Jefferson County residents, explained Michelle Sudduth, chairperson of the JCDA’s strategic planning committee.  

Jefferson County’s economic development priorities are outlined in the Envision Jefferson 2035 Comprehensive Plan. “We want to know how the JCDA can best lead, collaborate, advocate, and communicate to advance the economic priorities identified in the county’s comprehensive plan,” Sudduth said. 

Input received through the community survey will be used to guide the development of the JCDA 2025 Strategic Plan, which will be completed and published later this year. In December 2019, the JCDA Board of Directors hired Capacity Partners to facilitate the development of a new strategic plan for the organization. The JCDA 2025 Strategic Plan will provide a road map for advancing the JCDA’s mission, which focuses on improving the quality of life for Jefferson County residents by developing and promoting job creation, stimulating business growth and investment, and growing and diversifying the tax base.  

Dennis Jarvis, who begins as the JCDA’s new executive director on July 6, will lead the organization as it develops its new strategic plan. The strategic plan will include an implementation strategy that will outline the tools and action steps needed to effectively accomplish our priorities and measure our success, Sudduth said. “We are looking forward to Dennis’s arrival and working with him to complete the strategic plan and then put the plan into action,” she said.  

The survey, which can be completed in about 10 minutes, is available at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JCDASurvey  

“We want to hear from as many community members as possible so we can align the JCDA around a common set of guiding values and goals,” Sudduth said. “We encourage everyone to complete the survey and share it with their colleagues, friends, and family.”

The deadline for completing the survey is Monday, July 6, at 5 p.m.