Carolina Planning Journal : Volume 43 / Planning for Uncertainty
A SMART Action Plan Matrix
PHA S E 3: NEXT ST EPS
Once a community reaches a final set of goals and has identified potential action items to achieve each goal, the consultant introduces the SMART action plan matrix. This is one of the most powerful elements of the approach. It asks that for each goal, the community chooses four or five SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely) actions. The goals and actions are laid out on a matrix and for each action, participants identify:
A Report Template
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Why the action is important and should be prioritized Immediate next steps or low-hanging fruit to kick-start the process Measures of success, such as improved health outcomes Time frame, ranging from a few months to two years Who is taking the lead and ensuring the action moves forward Who is the supporting cast that will remain committed to making it happen Costs or resources required, including time, materials, personnel, and funding Possible funding sources, especially grants or loans offered by state and federal agencies
The strength of the SMART action plan matrix is that it provides a clear, actionable roadmap to success, and it can be applied to any community context or goals.
In the weeks following the workshop, the consulting team documents the community narrative and workshop outcomes, particularly the SMART action plan. A customizable template allows consultants to produce multiple reports quickly. Alongside the report, supplemental resources are provided: community specific data metrics, topic area best practices, relevant case studies, key stakeholder contact information, quality photographs of the community, and a list of funding opportunities. Consultants can provide this depth of information to every community only because the program approach helps collect and communicate information efficiently. Effective, timely, and comprehensive communication of the workshop outcomes helps maintain momentum. Communities can use their action plan25 to galvanize public interest and leverage further funding and technical assistance. Martinsville, Virginia, is a good example of a Local Foods, Local Places recipient that has used its action plan to secure funding for implementation.26 As a direct result of the technical assistance process, Martinsville received $50,000 in Virginia Brownfields Assistance Funds (VBAF) to support a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment, a $65,000 technical assistance award from the state of Virginia for a complete streets concept plan, and a $75,000 planning grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to conduct feasibility studies for a Healthy Hub. For federal partners, the action plan is often the most valuable piece of the approach as it helps direct resources and funding more effectively to the communities they serve across the country. In Pikeville, Tennessee,27 the USDA Rural Development representative stated explicitly that they will use the action plan to prioritize where and how they direct funding and resources.28 That said, planning processes are dynamic. The report is built with the assumption that each community will grow and change over the course of the implementation timeline.
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