Polk Vision Enters Year 20 With a Vision Refresh
As Polk Vision turns 20, its leaders realized it was time that the vision for the future be updated. They spent many months seeking input from stakeholders and the community at large. Now, the Vision Refresh is rolling out, with an updated path forward.
For 20 years Polk Vision has monitored “local conditions, identifying and building awareness of emerging priorities, promoting the alignment of programs and systems, and encouraging mutual accountability” to ensure the vision remained vital, said Executive Director Kim Long. Recently, they decided it was time to refresh that vision once again.
Through that work, the county has seen progress in the six areas Polk Vision focused on:
- Education
- Government
- Economic Development
- Quality of life
- Infrastructure
- Civic engagement
“However, amid unprecedented growth and its impact on our rapidly evolving community, it was evident the time had come to establish an updated Community Vision that is both responsive to the current dynamics and addresses the needs for the future,” Long said.
Polk Vision Refresh Process & Outcomes
Polk Vision hired Crescendo Consulting Group to collect information in what has been an 18-month process. It interviewed 72 public, private and civic leaders to discuss current and emerging challenges. Thirteen focus groups were held to gather information from 215 residents. It also conducted an online survey that drew responses from 3,622 people.
This process identified seven Areas of Focus, for which Polk Vision, along with others, developed priorities tied to strategies and data for benchmarking. In addition to the original six focus areas, Arts, Culture, and Recreation was added as the seventh benchmark.
“The comprehensive revisioning process was built upon the solid foundation of our previous Vision while strategically planning for what lies ahead. This updated Vision is not a departure from our past but an evolution. One that reflects the current realities of Polk County and provides a map for continued success. It recognizes the rapid growth of Polk County — now one of the fastest-growing regions in the nation — and seeks to guide our path forward, ensuring that we continue to meet the needs of our community while planning strategically for the future.”
Quality of Life
“Community members expressed mixed sentiments regarding the overall quality of life in Polk County,” Long said. “Residents have a strong affinity for the community and cherish the distinctive hometown character found across the county. However, there is widespread concern about the relentless pace of growth and its associated challenges. Many expressed feeling overwhelmed by the number of new housing developments, the strain on existing resources and the never-before-experienced traffic congestion.
“This widely shared viewpoint emphasizes the importance of striking a balance between inevitable growth and preserving the qualities that make Polk County a desirable place to live.” she said.
Improvements to Focus On
Long said affordable workforce housing tops the list of shared concerns, along with the ability to earn a living wage.
“High home ownership costs, and a shortage of affordable rental options, have created a significant financial burden for a growing number of singles as well as working families. Especially those of low and moderate income,” she said. “Residents are saying that growth in Polk County could be more effectively managed. They are calling for improved road conditions, better traffic management, and stepped-up law enforcement to alleviate traffic congestion and address motor vehicle safety concerns.”
Some things that have been mentioned that could alleviate a few of those issues. A few examples: more sidewalks, mixed-use trails and the expansion of bus services to improve access to jobs, healthcare and shopping.
Being able to access specialized education programs because of things like location and transportation is also seen as a barrier. “Residents are calling for an increase in the variety and availability of educational programs and hands-on skills training to meet the needs of all students more equitably in preparation for life beyond high school,” Long said.
The county is also losing its rural feel as new housing developments are being built. Some of which are on what used to be agricultural land. That’s happening “without an appropriately balanced investment in communal spaces, parks and playgrounds,” she said, summarizing what residents have shared.
“By addressing these challenges comprehensively, Polk County can enhance the quality of life for all its residents and foster a thriving, inclusive community.”
Economic Advancement
Long said five themes emerged when people talked about economic advancement (formerly addressed as Economic Development). And, how it affects the quality of life here:
- Workforce/Education
- Diversity in Industry
- Afforable Housing and Living Wage
- Growth Management and Infrastructure
- Corporate Support and Community Engagement
For Polk Vision, Long summarized: “Economic advancement in Polk County requires addressing disparities in opportunities, investing in education and workforce development, ensuring affordable housing and living wages, and addressing infrastructure challenges. Aligned strategic investment between various stakeholders is essential to sustaining economic growth and improving the overall well-being of the community.”
CFDC President Serves As Chair
Sean Malott, President & CEO of the Central Florida Development Council, now serves as the chair of Polk Vision’s board of trustees. The role comes at a perfect time. Having already been part of the executive board for several years, he appreciates the broad community vision, all tied to quality of life. And he’s ready to focus on the new title of Economic Advancement.
“The organization is focused on building educational alignments across the county, connectivity through government, infrastructure, civic engagement, economic advancement and more,” Malott said. “The CFDC has a shared vision with Polk Vision – the Talent Pipeline Committee. Our higher education and workforce partners from throughout the county look for shared areas where we can work on issues together and collectively have impact.”
One of those initiatives is Handshake, a career platform for students to get internship and job opportunities.
“We were involved in helping to get a majority of universities onto Handshake so company HR departments would have one place to post jobs. Universities had one place to share that information with students, students knew where to look to connect with local businesses. Our higher education partners had a place to connect with those businesses. We had some funding available to help make that cost effective for higher education partners to shift to. It has been a success.”
Talent Pipeline Reach
Through the Talent Pipeline, industry representatives also work with the county’s seven institutions of higher education to share insights on how they can help.
“The institutions have been able to go back and refine their programs based on industry feedback,” Malott said. “It’s a group that tries to work together, find commonality to see how they can collectively work together to find more opportunities for students and their institutions.”
Malott follows Polk State College President Dr. Angela Garcia Falconetti as chair, and he wants to continue her leadership. “She’s a great mentor who really looks beyond our differences to find out points of connection. That’s really at the heart of what Polk Vision does – it looks for alignment. There could be multiple groups within the county that work on similar challenges, yet they don’t have to be competitive.
“We need to find areas they can work together to succeed. There are many opportunities to improve our community. It takes everyone to make big change. I have an interest in continuing that mindset forward.”
Fostering the Future
As Polk Vision focuses on enacting their vision refresh, their foremost priority still lies within the community.
Long said: “We remain committed to leading and leaning forward, always with the community’s desires and needs at the forefront of our work. Polk Vision is, and always will be, a reflection of the community it serves.”
Future prospects are promising for Polk County. This is in great part due to strong leadership and caring organizations, like Polk Vision. And they will be there to help ensure the future is bright.
