HOWWEGOTHERE
Overthepastyear,GrowCedarValleyandCivicSolworkedtogetherwith communityleaders,employers,educators,andresidentstobetterunderstand wheretheCedarValleystandstodayandwhatitwilltaketomoveforward together.
WHAT WE STUDIED
20yearsofpopulationandworkforcetrends
Migrationpatternsshowingwhoisleaving,whoisstaying,andwhy
Economicandwagedataacrosskeyindustries
Inputfromemployers,educators,andcommunityleaders
Surveyresponsesfrommorethan250formerCedarValleyresidents
WHAT
WE HEARD AND WHAT THE DATA CONFIRMED
Populationgrowthhasstalledandisprojectedtodeclineoverthenextdecade Young,educatedworkersareleavingforclearercareerpathsandhigherwages
Theregionproducestalentbutstrugglestokeepit
Communitiesandorganizationscaredeeply,butoftenworkinparallelrather thantogether
WHY THIS PLAN EXISTS
TheCedarValleyhasstrongassetsandacultureofcollaboration.Thisstrategy turnswhatweheardandlearnedintoaclearsetofprioritiesandactions designedtomovetheregionforwardasone
ONEVISION, ONEVALLEY.
Buildtheregionalcoordination,sharedidentity,and organizationalcapacityneededtoactlikeoneregion andcompetelikeoneregion.
Strongcommunitiesandleadershipalreadyexist Coordinationhasnotkeptpacewithregionalambition Alignmentstrengthenscompetitivenessfortalent,investment,andfunding
WHY IT MATTERS
RegionalprogressdependsoncoordinationWhenpriorities,messaging,and effortarealigned,theCedarValleyisbetterpositionedtoattracttalent,support employers,securefunding,andmoveforwardtogether.
THEWORKAHEAD
CREATEASHARED REGIONALIDENTITY ANDDESTINATION VISION
ALIGNPRIORITIES ACROSSCOMMUNITIES, HOUSING,POLICY,AND INVESTMENT
BUILDTHESTRUCTURE,DATA,AND COORDINA PORT LONG-TERM
BIGBET1:THEPLAN
ONEVISION ONEVALLEY
LAUNCHAUNIFIEDREGIONAL NARRATIVEANDBRAND
Engageemployers,educators,communityleaders,andresidentstodefinea sharedCedarValleyidentityandpositioning
DeveloptheTheCedarValley–CountMeInnarrativefortalent,business,and communitymessaging
Createasharedbrandtoolkitwithmessagingguidance,visuals,andstory examplesforregionalpartners
LaunchregionalmarketingeffortsthatpositiontheCedarValleyasone connectedregion
Establishbrandgovernancetoensureconsistencywhilerespectinglocal communityidentity
DEVELOPANDLAUNCHA REGIONALDESTINATIONAND PLACEMAKINGMASTERPLAN
Defineasharedregionaldestinationvisionrootedinlocalassets
Alignplacemakingeffortsandinvestmentsacrosscommunities
StrengthentheCedarValley’sidentityasaplacetolive,work,andvisit
ALIGNWORKFORCEHOUSING TOOLSANDPOLICIESACROSS JURISDICTIONS
Coordinateworkforcehousingtoolsandpoliciesacrossjurisdictions
Reducebarriersforworkforcehousingdevelopment
Supporthousingaccessconnectedtoregionalworkforceneeds
BIGBET1:THEPLAN
ONEVISION ONEVALLEY
STRENGTHENORGANIZATIONAL ANDBOARDCAPACITY
Assessstaffing,systems,expertise,andresourcesneededtosupportregional coordination
Addcapacityinpriorityareassuchassectorpartnerships,workforcestrategy, communications,andentrepreneurship
Securemulti-yearfundingcommitmentstoprovidestablesupportforregional work
Clarifyrolesandaccountabilitybetweenregionalcoordinationandlocal economicdevelopmentefforts
Strengthenboardgovernancewithbroadersectorexpertiseandregional representation
FormBigBetadvisorycommitteestosupportcoordination,engagement,and progresstracking
POSITIONGCVASTHECENTRAL HUBFORSITESELECTION,DATA, ANDREGIONALREPORTING
Centralizeregionaldataandsiteinformation
Provideconsistentinformationforsiteselectorsandpartners
Trackprogressandreportoutcomesacrosstheregion
ESTABLISHAREGIONALPUBLICPOLICYANDLEGISLATIVEAGENDA
Alignregionalpartnersaroundsharedpublicpolicypriorities
Coordinatelegislativeoutreachandgrantefforts
Trackoutcomestiedtocoordinatedregionaladvocacy
INNOVATIONTHAT COMPETES
ModernizetheCedarValley’seconomyandbuild thehigh-valuesectorsthatwilldefinetheregion’s future.
Theregionproducestalentbutdoesnotcaptureenoughhigh-value opportunities
Coreindustriesfacepressuretomodernizeandadapt
Economicgrowthhasnotkeptpacewithworkforceexpectations
WHYITMATTERS
Economiccompetitivenessdependsontheabilitytoadapt.Without modernizationandinnovation,employersstruggletogrow,wagesstagnate, andtalentlookselsewhereforopportunity
THEWORKAHEAD
MODERNIZEAND DIVERSIFYADVANCED INDUSTRIES
USEINFRAS SUPPORTB ANDINVES
MAKEHEALTH,AGING, ANDWELLBEING PLATFORMSFOR GROWTH
BIGBET2:THEPLAN INNOVATIONTHAT COMPETES
MODERNIZEANDDIVERSIFYTHE CEDARVALLEY’SADVANCED INDUSTRYBASE
Supportmodernizationacrossmanufacturingandadvancedindustries
Helpexistingemployersadoptnewtechnologiesandprocesses
Expandhigher-value,future-facingindustryactivity
MAKEHEALTH,AGING,AND WELLBEINGACOMPETITIVE GROWTHPLATFORM
Treathealthandagingasdriversofeconomicgrowth
Supportnewservices,technologies,andbusinessopportunities
Alignsectorgrowthwithworkforceandcommunityneeds
STRENGTHENINFRASTRUCTURE ASACOMPETITIVEADVANTAGE FORGROWTH
Leveragebroadband,utilities,transportation,andavailablesites
Positioninfrastructurereadinessasaregionalstrength
Supportfaster,morecompetitivebusinessexpansionandinvestment
BIGBET2:THEPLAN INNOVATIONTHAT COMPETES
POSITIONLOCALCOLLEGESAS THECEDARVALLEY’SAPPLIED INNOVATIONENGINE
Strengthenappliedresearchandproblem-solvingtiedtoreal-worldchallenges
Connecteducation,research,andemployersaroundsharedgoals
Moveideas,talent,andinnovationintolocaljobsandbusinesses
BUILDATECHNOLOGYAND ENTREPRENEURSHIPECONOMY THATREDUCESLEAKAGE
Buildastrongertechnologyeconomyrootedinregionalneeds
Supportentrepreneurshiptiedtolocalindustrydemand
Reduceopportunityleakagebygrowinglocalsolutionsandbusinesses
CAREERSWORTH STAYINGFOR
Createclear,high-quality,high-opportunity careerpathwaysthatretainyoungpeople,lift wages,andexpandopportunityforevery resident.
Theregiondevelopstalentbutdoesnotretainenoughofit Careerpathwaysareoftenunclearorhardtonavigate Wagegrowthandadvancementopportunitiesvarywidely
WHYITMATTERS
Peoplestaywheretheycanseeafuture.Clearcareerpathways,fairwages, andopportunitiestoadvancehelpresidentsbuildlastingcareersand choosetheCedarValleyforthelongterm.
THEWORKAHEAD
CREATEVISIBLE, CONNECTEDCAREER PATHWAYSACROSS KEYINDUSTRIES
EXPANDEARN-ANDLEARNAND ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
CONNECTCAREERS,HOUSING ACCESS,AN STABILITY
BIGBET3:THEPLAN CAREERSWORTH STAYINGFOR
LAUNCHSECTORPARTNERSHIPS INTHECEDARVALLEY’SPRIORITY INDUSTRIES
Launchsectorpartnershipsinpriorityindustries
Alignemployersandeducatorsaroundsharedworkforceneeds
Createclear,visiblecareerpathwaystiedtorealjobs
EXPANDYOUTHANDADULT EARN-AND-LEARNPATHWAYS INTOHIGH-DEMANDCAREERS
Expandinternships,apprenticeships,andwork-basedlearning
Connecteducationandtrainingdirectlytolocalemployment
Supportcareerentryandadvancementforyouthandadults
MOBILIZEEMPLOYERSAROUND COMPETITIVEJOBQUALITY, WAGES,ANDADVANCEMENT PRACTICES
Encouragecompetitivewages,benefits,andadvancementpractices
Supportemployersinbuildingclearinternalcareerladders
Strengthenretentionbyimprovingday-to-dayworkexperiences
BIGBET3:THEPLAN CAREERSWORTH STAYINGFOR
STRENGTHENYOUNGPROFESSIONALRETENTION THROUGHBELONGING, LEADERSHIP,ANDCOMMUNITY CONNECTION
Supportleadershipdevelopmentandprofessionalnetworks
Createopportunitiesforconnectionandlong-termengagement
Helpnewcomersandyoungprofessionalsbuildrootsintheregion
COORDINATEHOUSINGACCESS WITHCAREERADVANCEMENTIN TARGETSECTORS
Alignhousingaccesswithcareeradvancementopportunities
Reducebarriersforworkersseekingstabilityandhomeownership
Supporteconomicmobilityacrossallstagesofacareer
WHATDOES SUCCESSLOOKLIKE
INDICATORS OF SUCCESS
POPULATIONGROWTHINTHE CEDARVALLEY
Communitiesandpartnersalignedaroundsharedregionalpriorities
Employersabletogrow,adapt,andattracttalentmoreeasily
Clearcareerpathwaysthathelppeoplestayandadvancelocally
Strongerwagegrowthandmoreopportunityacrossindustries
Arecognizableregionalidentitythatsupportstalentandinvestment
Housingoptionsthatsupportworkforceneedsandlong-termstability
WHATTHATMEANSDAYTODAY
Peoplecanseeafutureforthemselveshere
Employersfeelsupported,notsiloed
Communitiesmoveforwardtogetherinsteadofinparallel
WHAT’S NEXT
Establishaphasedworkplanguidedbythestrategiesinthisreport
Engagepartnersinimplementationthroughworkinggroupsandongoing collaboration
Providebiannualprogressupdatestokeeppartnersinformedandaligned
HOWTOSTAYENGAGED
Receiveregularupdatesonprogress,upcomingopportunities,andwaystostay involvedinthework SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTERS
ASKUSTOPRESENT
InvitearepresentativeofGrowCedarValleytoyourorganization,board,orgroupto learnmoreabouttheplanandhowitconnectstoyourwork.
SUPPORT THROUGH FUNDING AND PARTNERSHIPS
Helpuskeeptheworkmovingforwardbyaligningresources,policies,or partnershipswithregionalpriorities
TOLEARNMORE:
Tolearnmore,trackprogress,andfindwaysto participate,scanthecodebelow.
