EDC Lancaster County’s Post

Have you seen our 5-year Strategic Playbook yet? The Community Foundation's 2025-2030 is an action-plan to help us solve Park City's greatest challenges. This playbook outlines our greatest priorities: 👥Community Belonging ⚒️Thriving Workforce 🌏️Sustainable Future 🔗See how we're planning to reach these goals here: https://lnkd.in/geWbZYkk

We've now received the final version of a report written by a review team of independent local government members and officers on behalf of the Local Government Association, who visited us earlier this year. We invited the team in to give us an independent view of how we're performing, what we're doing well, and what we could be doing better. We felt this would give us a clear idea on where we'd need to focus our efforts to improve the lives of our residents and communities. Since the review was carried out, we've already been addressing some of the early recommendations made, particularly around community engagement and developing our corporate strategy. Our new One Teignbridge strategy started this week, and we're involving residents, businesses and community leaders. To find out more and get involved - https://lnkd.in/ejPKbnCs We are also looking at ways we can enable closer collaboration between officers and members, to improve the way decisions are made. We're now working on an action plan which will detail what we plan to do and when, and we'll be sharing this with all our partners and residents once this is complete. To read the full summary and our response - https://lnkd.in/eUPGcaHh

In my previous post, I talked about “Why Community Participation is Crucial for Successful Projects.” In this post, I want to discuss “Enhanced Relevance and Effectiveness in Sustainable Community Projects.” From my experience working with community leaders, I have found that involving community members in planning a new clean water supply system has proven to be a game-changer. By ensuring that the services offered align perfectly with the community’s needs, we have seen a significant increase in usage and maintenance. This approach not only guarantees that the system is well-kept but also generates revenues that are reinvested into other community projects. Importantly, this model reduces dependency on external funding, fostering a sense of ownership and sustainability within the community. Please share your experiences and comments below.

The hot topic of conversation at the American Clean Power Association (ACP) siting and permitting conference this year was community engagement. Panel titles included phrases like "building bridges" and "being good neighbors." I'd like to share some key messages & best practices that I heard reiterated throughout the day: 1. Engage early! 2. Be collaborative – with communities, and also within the industry 3. Your work is not done if you gain social license to operate in a community, as you can easily lose it 4. Community engagement doesn’t end once a permit for a project is issued, it needs to continue on throughout the project lifecycle 5. Make sure you have collaborative dialog with county commissioners/local permitting stakeholders well in advance of applying for a permit, and ensure it’s ongoing 6. Do your homework, and get to know each community – they’re all different and have different needs 7. There are non-profits that are keen to help advance renewable energy, there are ways to collaborate with them and tap their resources 8. All politics is local What are your thoughts?

Check out our 2023-24 Impact Report!!

So, what truly drives us? Connections! More specifically, community connections. When people, local businesses, and grassroots causes find meaningful ways to engage and support each other, remarkable things happen. That's where the S&H Green Stamps program comes in creating a bridge between tradition and innovation, designed to strengthen vital local bonds. Read our blog Reviving Community Spirit: How Digital S&H Green Stamps Connect People, Businesses, and Causes https://lnkd.in/g_qQKej2

How can businesses quantify and measure their social impact beyond traditional financial metrics, including contributions to community development, environmental sustainability, and societal well-being, to communicate their broader value proposition to stakeholders?

Our priorities reflect your needs:    ⭐️ Safer Community   Deliver a safer environment using a variety of solutions to reduce business crime, anti-social behaviour and tackle local issues and hotspots.    ⭐️ Inclusive Community  Work with relevant partners and developers to deliver additional opportunities to Stratford as well    as support local businesses to grow and thrive.     ⭐️ Business Voice  Represent the local business community to lobby and campaign for the interests of the original Stratford.     ⭐️ Added Value  Deliver direct and tangible benefits to all businesses and create additional value for the whole town centre.    ⭐️ Meaningful Placemaking  Invest in public realm changes that improve the place whilst being connected to the community, addressing concerns and solving problems.     ⭐️ Sustainable Stratford   Implement solutions to support decarbonisation and make the transition to Net Zero easier for businesses.     ⭐️ Communicating  Share relevant content, news, and information, promoting your business and celebrating Stratford as a destination.    Vote YES so we can continue to respond to your business priorities.

Reflective journal SCSH 2163: week 14 community solution Community solutions involve collaborative efforts to address local challenges, improve living conditions, and enhance quality of life. These solutions often arise from community members identifying needs, pooling resources, and working together to implement effective strategies. Key elements of successful community solutions include grassroots involvement, stakeholder engagement, and partnerships with local organizations and authorities. By leveraging community assets, such as social networks, expertise, and cultural heritage, these solutions aim to empower residents and build resilience. From small-scale initiatives like neighborhood clean-ups to larger projects like affordable housing development, community solutions foster a sense of ownership, pride, and collective responsibility, leading to sustainable positive change and strengthened social cohesion.

The foundation of lasting impact lies in understanding your community's needs. Three principles we've learned from Durham's most successful mission-driven organizations: 1. Listen before acting 2. Build sustainable systems 3. Measure meaningful outcomes Share below: What's one insight that transformed your organization's approach to community impact? #CommunityImpact #DurhamNC