New Concord Mayor Jennifer Lyle, on behalf of the Village Voice Task Force, is asking the public to participate in July Community Visioning Sessions and complete a questionnaire about the village.
A group of New Concord leaders, residents, and business owners is working with a small town entrepreneurial organization called Small Nation that has created transformative success in downtown Bellefontaine.
The New Concord group spent a learning day in Bellefontaine with Small Nation founder Jason Duff in May. The visit catalyzed weekly meetings and discussions during June that considered various public-private collaborations that could be beneficial for the community.
The next step with Small Nation will be a visit to New Concord this summer. In order to prepare, the Village Voice Task Force is holding a series of four Community Visioning Sessions.
The task force is inviting the public to participate in Community Visioning Sessions July 7, 14, 21, and 28 from 11 a.m.-noon at New Concord Village Hall.
The public is asked to respond to a questionnaire, regardless if planning to attend the sessions.
The questionnaire can also be returned in person or by mail to New Concord Village Hall, 2 West Main Street, New Concord, OH 43762. Village Hall is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Participants may include contact information. The group is not collecting email addresses or other information.
The Planning for the Next Generation questionnaire below can be printed and returned to Village Hall. Or, complete the questionnaire online.
Community Visioning helps build community consensus, constructive dialogue and provides a forum for residents, stakeholders, community leaders and the business community to imagine, form, and create new visions for the community. Community visioning is instrumental in generating policies, physical plans, recommendations and codes in a range of public realm spaces like New Concord. It is at the heart of place-making.
New Concord Visioning Sessions Objective: To seek out new places and spaces in which the community can explore opportunities for collaboration, enrichment, enhanced business opportunities, and especially for improved well-being for all community members.
Please check all that apply:
____Are you a resident of the Village of New Concord?
____Live outside village limits.
____Business owner with physical presence in the village. ____Business owner with no physical presence in the village. ____Muskingum University faculty/staff.
____East Muskingum School District faculty/staff.
____Employee in New Concord, live elsewhere.
1. What do you find most appealing about our Village of New Concord? What do you find least appealing?
2. Streetscapes and storefronts: What do you like or dislike about our trees, lights, benches, storefronts, etc?
3. What types of businesses are missing that you would want?
4. Is there anything preventing you from opening a business in New Concord?
5. Would you consider using collaborative or shared office space (also known as co-working)?
6. What do you suggest to make our Commercial Business Core and Historic District on Main Street more of a destination? (where to go, what to see or do).
7. What are your priorities for our Commercial Business Core and Historic District on Main Street? Some examples: recreation, nightlife, outdoor amenities, cultural opportunities
8. What are your suggestions to make the strong relationship between Muskingum University and our Village even stronger, with even greater integration of students, faculty and residents?
9. How can the village better serve children and seniors? What facilities might be needed?
10. Your additional comments.
