OUR OPINION : Opportunity to help formulate strategic plan

Opportunity soon will be knocking.

A three-part strategic plan for economic development shepherded by the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce is about to enter its second phase, titled Opportunities.

The initial phase, Discovery, included a community survey and 23 focus groups - with both targeted audiences and the public.

Identified priorities included: attracting and retaining young professionals, job creation, entertainment and development of the riverfront, the former prison site, a conference center and downtown businesses and living space.

The question now becomes: What are the opportunities - and obstacles - for these priorities?

Four public workshops will be hosted by the chamber in coming weeks to address that question.

The workshops will be Sept. 27 and 29 and Oct. 5 and 6. All will begin with a reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by sessions from 7-9 p.m. in the community room at Premier Bank on Ellis Boulevard.

Space is limited. Reservations must be made in advance by contacting Missy Bonnot, chamber economic development director, at 638-3582 or by e-mail to missybonnot@jcchamber. org.

"In the focus group and survey responses, the relationship between talent and community development was very apparent," Bonnot said. "Jefferson City must adopt a more nuanced, flexible approach to economic development in order to create a quality of "place' which attracts a younger population."

We encourage community members to contribute ideas about how we develop and nurture an attractive sense of place.