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A few years ago, the PDS Management Board, under the leadership of Executive Director Sharmili Reddy, established the PDS Community Development Program. While PDS has historically focused on strong planning practices for many decades, county and city officials recognized the need for initiatives that would bridge the gap between planning and economic and community development.
As the chair of the PDS Management Board for most of this time, I am pleased to report that the program has begun to impact several of our communities positively. The PDS Management Board has approved four strategic priority areas for the program, which include:
- Assisting Kenton County communities in planning for and preparing key sites for development.
- Collaborating with communities to stimulate new development or redevelopment opportunities in neighborhood commercial districts.
- Monitoring the business climate and economic conditions so that our communities have the necessary data to make informed decisions regarding development efforts and priorities.
- Leveraging existing regional partnerships to support and enhance the development efforts and priorities of the jurisdictions.
As local government leaders, we understand that development is a journey that requires time and effort. By proactively defining our priorities and goals, we can empower ourselves to shape the future of our communities rather than letting development happen to us. The PDS Community Development Program is here to guide us on this important path, and we should consider them as an extension of our staff.
I encourage you to connect with Josh Wice, who leads the community development efforts. The program can provide valuable support to help your community identify achievable goals and move forward effectively.
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