Greenville Forward Thinking Creating Community Conversation to Inspire Change

Last Thursday, as we had our first Board Meeting of 2012 and welcomed three new board members, Russell did a short presentation on the status of our Community Indicators Project. As he was discussing where we are with the project, I realized that many folks may not know exactly what this project is all about and why we are doing it. So, I thought I would take a minute to explain why the Greenville Indicators are vital for Greenville, and for measuring the progress of Vision 2025.

We often use quotes on or newsletters, website, etc. about the importance of measuring progress in order to plan strategically for the future. As an organization working to implement a longterm Vision, it is vital for us to measure what has been achieved and what is yet to come. We sometimes refer to ourselves as the organization that stops to take Greenville’s pulse to make sure she is healthy and moving forward. And this project is the perfect rubric for doing just that…

Ten years ago, the United Way of Greenville County and the Greenville Chamber of Commerce published the last Community Vitality Indicators. These indicators measured the health of Greenville, determining areas of weakness and the potential for future growth. The project built on an effort started by the Community Planning Council in 1993 with the Report Card on Greenville County, and was an effort to inform and educate the citizens of Greenville County on important issues so that we would all be better prepared to make sound decisions  — impacting both personal courses of action and the broader allocation of community resources.

Given the transformation of Greenville County in the last 25 years, the data presented was useful, made a difference, and helped leaders plan to create the Greenville we know today. However, it is time now to move forward with the next phase of measurement and planning for Greenville with the Community Indicators Project, a partnership with several organizations that will be maintained and housed under Greenville Forward.

The Community Indicators Project is a new vehicle for monitoring and reporting data – indicators – that provide a balanced perspective on the health, prosperity, vibrancy, and caring of Grenville.

We are just getting started on pulling together data on over 400 measurement areas. So buckled up your seat belts and prepare for an interesting data journey that may just lead to Greenville’s next great project…