Nearly four years ago, residents of Cumberland County took part in 19 meetings to identify and address the most pressing issues facing their communities. What emerged from those sessions is the Horizon Initiative, a comprehensive plan led by community leaders and intended to connect people and organizations to improve six key areas: social opportunities, community identity, infrastructure, economic advancement, leadership opportunities and organizational excellence.
One of the group’s current goals is creating and delivering positive messages aimed at building morale, said Nancy Crain Burns, chairwoman of Horizon’s steering committee.
About 125 people attended a community event January 28th at which the Horizon Initiative invited Crossville native Melissa Newman to share her research on how hope can have measurable positive effects on the local economy. Burns said the event was a big success, drawing not just the public but local entertainers and nonprofits.
The initiative is in an evaluation phase. Its current assignments include creating visual aids, such as charts, that show the group’s progress as it continues check tasks off its priority list.
“We’re in the process of going back over the tasks we initially identified,” Burns said. “We want to assess where we were, where we are and where we want to go.”
Even so, the initiative already appears to have some tangible evidence of its work. A report in the Crossville Chronicle credits Horizon with bringing more than 200 new jobs to the area, establishing the Cumberland County Rising Anti-Drug Coalition, creating a program that connects motivated high school students with career training and jobs in local industries, building a public playground and encouraging better communication between local government and businesses.
This story was researched and written by WUOT News intern Grace Leedy.