VISTA Project: Communities in Action 

VISTA Member Name: Stacey Schmitt

Site Name: Richland County Planner Office

  Date:  July 9, 2007

  What step in the Community Building Process is your project:   

  What is the overall goal of the Project:   Support the development of a sustainable community building process that combines all aspects of health and economic development to improve quality of life in eastern Montana.

Please review the VAD Guidance on the previous page and sign this document when it has been completed and as it is updated.

  Site Supervisor Signature:

  VISTA Member Signature:

VISTA Member Activities and Steps Checklist

Planned Period of Work

Goal (from VISTA Project Plan):  To address community poverty-related needs by strengthening community and the development of community infrastructure through a community building process.  The process will engage individual citizens, citizen groups, and agencies to address community needs.   The process will enable the community to develop and implement a strategic plan resulting in sustainable activities to meet community needs.

Activity 1:  

Identify possible strategies for implementing the 2006 Richland County Growth Policy in order to meet the community needs as identified in the Goals and Objectives section.  This addresses community low-income housing needs as a critical objective both by the Planning Board and Communities In Action.

Step 1:       To assist in planning and implementing the first county-wide “State of the Community” annual conference.
Step 2:       To assist in identifying key partners.
Step 3:       To assist in a collaborative effort in identifying strategic programs to assist in implementing the Growth Policy.
Step 4:       To assist in identifying and encouraging organization and agencies tin                   preparing, developing, and conducting projects and programs that address a specific critical goal and/or objective.
Step 5:       To assist in conducting and identifying funding resources, and to assist in writing grants.
Step 6:       To identify additional education needs and materials and organize training for Planning Board members and Planning Staff on Board responsibilities, modes of operation, board etiquette, etc…
Step 7:       To assist in identifying and maintaining record keeping for Planning Board and its committees.

Activity 1 Comments/Summary of Accomplishments:

Activity 1 Completed (date): _________

Activity 2:
Step 1:       To assist in the development of the Capital Improvements Plan.
Step 2:       To assist in identifying infrastructure needs.
Step 3:       To assist in the implementation of programs for control of various inventory in establishing a strategic plan to meet community needs.
Step 4:       To assist in establishing a tabulation system of infrastructure inventory.
Step 5:       To assist in identifying key partners, individuals, etc…

Activity 2 Comments/Summary of Accomplishments:

Activity 2 Completed (date): _________

Activity 3:

To organize the first “State of the Community” County-wide Conference during the first of week March 2008 in an effort to build on the strengths of the communities within Richland County.  This collaborative process will engage individual citizens, non-profit organizations, other citizen groups and department agencies in an effort to address the community needs, goals, and objectives as identified in the Growth Policy.

Step 1:       To assist in identifying program, materials, and resources to implement the first “State of the Community” Conference.
Step 2:       To assist in identifying prominent speakers, moderators, etc…
Step 3:       To assist in identifying key partners.
Step 4:       To assist in developing and maintaining accurate records of data and other information obtained through activities, research activities, programs.
Step 5:       To assist in identifying the optimal location, date, time.
Step 6:       To assist in promotional, media, etc…
Step 7:       To assist in creating an evaluation format.
Step 8:       To assist in creating the final Conference Report.
Step 9:       To assist in identifying needs and plans for future community conferences.
Step 10:    

Activity 3 Comments/Summary of Accomplishments:

Activity 3 Completed (date): _________