Action Projects Related to Attracting Visitors and New Citizens

• CommunityWebPortal
• DiningShoppingGuide

Results of Community Interviews, Surveys, and Conference

Short Term Action

• Use local businesses for goods and services (retail, medical, other services)
• Utilize multiple communication media - newspaper, cable TV, radio, internet, email to promote economic and business growth in the county
  • Develop a plan to increase the efficient communication and knowledge of economic development efforts in the county and reduce duplication of efforts
• Work with organizers of sports and other events that bring in visitors to promote local businesses to visitors
  • Develop a team to stay in contact with local event organizers and disseminate informational and promotional material to groups who will be visiting Magnolia
• Work with human resource personnel to increase their ability to recruit and attract new employees to Columbia County businesses
  • Develop a team to develop and disseminate welcome packages for potential and new employees coming from outside the county

Medium Term Action

• Develop collaborative advertising and promotion of local businesses
  • Dining and Shopping Guide to Magnolia for motel rooms and other locations
  • Use local web sites to promote local businesses
  • Place racks or kiosks in business and other locations for information and promotion of county businesses, services, and events.
• Develop a coordinated effort to maintain consistent political action to benefit Columbia County citizens
  • Educate and inform citizens about state and federal legislation and political action opportunities
  • (Develop a non-partisan Columbia County Political Action Group to advocate for the interests of the county to legislators and state and federal government officials.)

Long Term Action

• Develop a plan to increase retention of SAU graduates in the county
  • Local internships for SAU student
• Increase support and utilization of our local hospital and medical providers to maintain a strong foundation of medical care in the county
• Begin research and planning to develop an action plan to attract retirees to the county
• Begin research and planning to target and reduce poverty in the community
  • Programs to increase home ownership
    • Habitat for Humanity and other programs for collaborative home building such as YouthBuild
    • Educational opportunities for low-income families to learn the steps to achieve home ownership
  • Initiatives to increase well-paying job opportunities