Jul 7, 2002 2 min read

What Fayette Forward co-chairmen say: “The primary driver of the strategic plan being economic development, it makes a lot of sense to have the function back and centered under Fay-Penn,’ Paul Bacharach, Fayette Forward Steering Committee co-chairman, said.

“Having it function independently was not as successful as people originally projected.

“Having it under the economic direction of Fay-Penn will get it back on track and hopefully expand involvement throughout the county.

“All the initiatives will have to reevaluated. Some will remain in place and some less significant will go.

“The plan got to be too detailed and too complex. My experience with strategic plans is the simpler, the more understandable, the easier they are to utilize as framework for progress,’ Bacharach said.

Fayette County Commissioner Vincent Vicites, Fayette Forward co-chairman, said having a strategic plan in place “is having a blueprint for the future enhancement of a better quality of life and that is important.

“It’s a work in progress. It gives volunteers a chance to participate to better their community, getting involved in the action committees. I’m proud to help lead the effort. I think we have accomplished a tremendous amount since its inception back in the 1990s. A lot of the benchmarks have been accomplished and it’s the kind of document that is continuously updated.

“When the action committees come up with new goals and initiatives to put into the plan we can focus on obtaining those goals.

“It’s constantly an opportunity for new ideas and opportunity for change. That’s why you need a strategic plan because it can steer you in the right direction to continue to move forward. We have to keep Fayette County on the move and I think this plan is the instrument to do that. It covers everything possible to improve the quality of life in Fayette County,’ Vicites said.

“You have economic development, infrastructure, social conditions, business education partnership, tourism, public relations, environmental, agricultural, all these are action committees all focused on their specific areas to improve those aspects of the plan,’ he added.

“I’m looking forward to working with Bob Junk.

“I think he very enthusiastic about his responsibility to coordinate this plan and we are going to work well together.’