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A VISION
One of the first steps of the Planning Committee was to distinguish a “Vision” from similar products such as goals, strategies, plans or studies. Simply stated, the “Vision” is a verbal picture of what we would like the Community to become. It is useful to help communicate and to discuss future possibilities based on taking or avoiding various actions. The Vision painted in this document is for the greater Pinckneyville Community approximately 10 years in the future — 2016.
As the Planning Committee discussed the possibilities, a very positive picture emerged:
• “I would like my kids to want to return to Pinckneyville after they graduate from college,” said one member.
• Another member stated, “I want the rest of the world to think positively about where we live.”
• An educator commented, “Our family moved here because it’s a great place to raise a family.”
• The importance of the changing agricultural community was noted: “As retirements occur, the shape of farming in the Community will change; however, it will continue to be an important part of our economy.”
• A banker pointed out the attractiveness of the Community: “We see retirees moving to the area as a result of the low cost of living and the outdoor opportunities.”
• During a visit to the World Shooting Center we learned that the Center will hold events 40 weeks per year and is expected to attract several hundred thousand tourists each year, many arriving by car on the Pinckneyville route.
• As the difficulty of attracting a major businesses to the Community became obvious, the employment opportunities offered by new energy projects also appeared. “The Prairie State generation project and new mines to be constructed will create 2,000 new job opportunities for those willing to learn sophisticated skills and for those who are willing to commute.”
• Numerous opportunities for new, small businesses were noted: “Tourism, outdoor activities and auto traffic will stimulate opportunities for residents who are willing to take risks and be an entrepreneur.”
• The Committee is excited by the Hospital Board’s willingness to study a new hospital, as “Every great Community has quality health care and education systems.”
After a thorough discussion of the external and Community-specific issues outlined in earlier sections, the Planning Committee examined possible scenarios if different courses of action are pursued. Two of those scenarios are contained herein:
1. The “Business As Usual” Scenario
(pages 9-10) paints a portrait of the community in 2016, considering the expected impact of external forces and assuming that current approaches by City and County officials and leaders are moderately successful.
2. The “Vision” scenario
(pages 10-12) describes a more prosperous and newer-looking Community that is very attractive to new residents and contains a number of new small businesses. The more prosperous Community is a result of a number of key initiatives described in the Vision section.
The Planning Committee wishes to be the first to recognize that it cannot predict the future; however, it has carefully studied what is likely to occur given the current economic outlook for the Community and the external and Community-specific issues covered in earlier sections. The Committee is not trying to critique the Community’s outlook. The goal is to make the Community’s outlook happier and more prosperous.
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