Whatcom Futures Project

The Whatcom Futures Vision represents a year of work, building on previous efforts from 2010.  Project leaders solicited thoughtful input throughout the process, and convened stakeholders and concerned citizens from various industries and backgrounds joined by a common purpose, to envision a vibrant and sustainable future for Whatcom County.  The 14 vision statements included in the draft document below, outline the ideas and aspirations for ensuring Whatcom County is a healthy and prosperous community that provides access to opportunities for all.  Also included are action steps and metrics to track for evaluation, measuring success and establishing the need for continued collaboration.  Whatcom Futures Vision - Draft

In early 2012 the Northwest Economic Council, with support and funding from the Whatcom Community Foundation, initiated a visioning process designed to invite and inspire community suggestions in order to address a broad range of county and community needs.  The Seattle-based consulting firm, Community Attributes International (CAI), worked with the Northwest Economic Council and the Whatcom Community Foundation to facilitate this process.  The Whatcom Futures Project will produce a vision for the future of Whatcom County that accommodates growth, economic development, environmental sustainability and equitable access to opportunities.

The project will produce the following:

     Fact-based dialogue and a common understanding of strengths, opportunities and challenges
     Foundational statements that are actionable for planning and implementation
     Lists of measures and indicators to track success over time
     Identification of roles to implement and lead strategies and next steps

The project included stakeholder interviews to identify key issues and a desired future for our County from a variety of perspectives.  Input from stakeholders informed the development of themes to form the framework of the Vision.  A Vision Committee composed of a diverse mix of community leaders and NWEC Board representatives worked with the themes to craft drafts of the Vision that were made available to be reviewed by Whatcom County residents.  Through extensive community engagement the Committee refined the Vision to produce a plan document for reference among local governments, community partners and the business community for implementation.

Project Documents

Project Charter
Reference Guide
Project Schedule
Vision Statement Feedback
Whatcom Futures Vision - Draft