Vision 2015 Notes Successes in Creating Progress in NKY, Looks Ahead

Vision 2015, Northern Kentucky’s shared public agenda, is moving ever closer to its namesake year. And its 2008-2009 annual report notes the launch of the  Northern Kentucky Entrepreneurial Alliance, the hiring of an executive director for The Catalytic Development Funding Corp. and Cincinnati's creation of its own Agenda 360 strategic planning document among community “wins.” 

Vision 2015’s budget was $1.4 million. The majority of the funds came from corporate, foundation or donated services. More than $953,000 was allocated to education, economic competitiveness, effective governance, regional stewardship, livable communities and urban renaissance efforts.

“Over the past year, Vision 2015 has continued to drive the implementation of the bold, strategic plan to make Northern Kentucky a better, more economically competitive place to live and work,” said Vision 2015 chairman A.J. Schaeffer. “Each (goal) is driven by community partners who strive to maximize the impact of their work on the community’s priorities and goals.”

Other highlights include:
• Reaching 17.8 percent of the goal to create 14,500 primary jobs by 2015 (overseen by Tri-ED)
• Launch of Launchpad, a technology development initiative
• Packaging service group receiving a Kentucky Enterprise grant for $30,000
• Bexicon Pharmaceuticals grant from the Commonwealth for $100,000
• A bioLOGIC company, Charleston Labs, receiving $1.3 million in an equity round 
• TiER 1 Performance Solutions receiving a $100,000 matching grant from the Department of Defense
• Second Community education summit: Literacy: Help NKY Invest in Tomorrow Today in 2008 led to 100 people committing to becoming education coaches

But not all went as planned. A Boone County Parks initiative failed at the ballot box last year that would have increased funding for county parks and green space.

So what’s next for Vision 2015? Looking forward, Vision 2015 plans to align the recommendations of Agenda 360 with Vision 2015, develop a consistent set of educational achievement indicators and continue a comprehensive strategy for partner engagement.

Writer: Feoshia Henderson
Source: Vision2015 Annual Report