Project Overview »

Project Approach »

In the heart of the Delta, Bolivar County is fortunate to have a number of unmatched assets ranging from Delta State University and its music institute to industry partners such as Baxter Pharmaceuticals – not to mention the region’s strong agricultural heritage and its burgeoning arts and culture scene. All with the geographic advantage of sitting adjacent to the Mississippi River. The opportunities to be leveraged are numerous. As the Cleveland-Bolivar Chamber of Commerce seeks new leadership, now is the time to set a new economic path forward and design programs that create a culture of collaboration offering greater prosperity for residents and businesses alike. VisionFirst was grateful to be the community’s partner in developing a strategic plan for moving forward. To develop a meaningful and implementable plan, with a high probability of success, it is important to not only gather data and trends, but to seek stakeholder input from a variety of voices. This feedback provides valuable context to the current situation and formulation of the plan. VisionFirst Advisor’s project approach included:

• Gathering feedback through video calls with numerous community leaders, business leaders and staff regarding the community’s current economic development efforts and suggestions for moving forward; • Conducting a digital online survey of community leaders; • Analyzing data trends and projections regarding the county’s growth, gaps and opportunities as compared to the region, state and nation; • Assessing the county’s assets both tangible and intangible; and • Developing a suite of goals and strategies for the county to use for increased economic prosperity. Based on interviews along with desktop analysis and VisionFirst’s knowledge of the region and the organization, the following pages outline a strategic plan that identifies foundational activities, outlines stretch goals and provides suggested metrics for the Chamber to implement on a path to long-term success.

It is also important to note, while COVID-19 has taken place during the development of this plan, the recommendations remain unchanged as they are foundational to any community’s economic development resiliency and sustainability; however, the leadership of the chamber will need to adjust to the every-changing landscape of doing business in the pandemic.