The Institute’s new Applied Demography Program (ADP)—started in 2008 in partnership with the state’s Office of Planning and Budget—provides a regularly updated, consistent set of population and employment data useful for state and local planning purposes.

By combining local trends with forecasts of national, state, and regional changes and releasing the data every two years, the program fills the gap between what the U.S. Census does for the nation and what Georgia cities and counties do on their own. The Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources is incorporating ADP projections into their process for developing regional water plans throughout the state. [Read more]

 

As many other leaders have done, officials from the City of Valdosta turned to the Vinson Institute in 2008 to help them take a step back and look ahead during a comprehensive planning retreat. The Valdosta city council, mayor, and other officials met with an Institute facilitator off-site in February to examine the previous year’s progress and plan for the new year before them.

Over the course of the retreat, officials were able to develop the city’s Transportation Master Plan and identify 18 goals for 2008 on issues ranging from expansion of the water and sewer infrastructure to construction of a new auditorium. City of Valdosta officials have regularly participated in retreats for 15 years, benefiting from the Institute’s customized facilitation away from daily distractions. The process allows them to refresh, regroup, and formulate solid plans as a team to better meet the needs of their community. [Read more]