When Micron Technology, a global leader, announced its historic $100 billion investment in Central New York, it wasn’t just a win for the semiconductor industry but a pivotal moment that filled us all with pride and optimism for our entire region. At Highland Planning, we were honored to support Fourth Economy in leading a comprehensive community engagement process for the Community Engagement Committee, embracing the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the region’s future.
Our role involved canvassing five counties to promote the survey, facilitating public workshops, creating community feedback summaries, facilitating diverse virtual and in-person focus groups, and creating engaging website content. Throughout this process, we remained true to our core values of honoring people and treating everyone with respect, kindness, and empathy. We listened intently to the thoughts and feelings of community members, striving to create a supportive and inclusive environment where every voice could be heard.
The Challenge: Engaging a Diverse Region
The task was both exciting and daunting. How do you capture a diverse region’s voices, needs, and aspirations spanning five counties? More importantly, how do you ensure that traditionally underrepresented communities are heard and their priorities reflected? We knew that to meet this challenge, we would need to embrace change, remain flexible in our approach, and welcome new ideas and perspectives.
Our Innovative Approach: Leaving No Voice Unheard
In collaboration with Fourth Economy, we developed a multi-faceted engagement strategy that included:
- Bilingual Surveys: Available online and in print, ensuring accessibility for all.
- Focus Groups: Conducted across all five counties, diving deep into local concerns and ideas.
- Public Meetings: Creating spaces for open dialogue and real-time feedback.
- Digital Outreach: Utilizing a dedicated website, social media, and other digital platforms to reach a broader audience.
We infused passion and care into every aspect of this strategy, paying attention to the details to make each interaction sparkle. This comprehensive approach allowed the team to engage with over 12,000 individuals and 316+ organizations, ensuring a representative community voice and significantly contributing to the region’s growth.
Key Findings: A Roadmap for the Future
Through our engagement efforts, we heard of six key priority areas reflecting immediate needs and long-term aspirations for a thriving, inclusive Central New York. These priorities span from educational resources and workforce development to sustainable infrastructure, demonstrating the community’s holistic vision for the future.
Looking Ahead: A Model for Community-Driven Development
At Highland Planning, we’re proud of our role in this project, but we’re even more excited about what it represents. This process has set a new standard for community-driven development that can and should be replicated nationwide. As we look to the future, we remain committed to evolving our engagement strategies and embracing change to better serve our communities.
The journey of Central New York is just beginning, and we at Highland Planning are honored to have played a part in supporting this crucial work. We will continue to honor people, make our work sparkle, and embrace change as we partner with communities and organizations to turn visions into reality. Because at the end of the day, planning is about building communities where everyone can thrive – and that’s a future worth working towards.
To learn more about this once-in-a-generation investment in Central New York and view the Community Priorities document, visit https://www.cnycec.org/.
Author: Megan Morsch, Public Engagement Lead / Director of Marketing & Business Development