The day, that Portsmouth died. We were singing, bye, bye…

Tuesday, a strategic planning meeting was held at the Columbus Athletic Club with a single purpose.  Discuss how the message of the Restoring our Prosperity campaign is being received, and find solutions through the way we communicate these ideas to improve it.

The subject that we need to explore regionally is the connection between communities and how they really add value to each other.  For Scioto county we look at the connection between outlying communities and the city.

So, with 80,000 people in the county, and more when we expand the region, what would happen if Portsmouth died?

Would you agree that a large portion of people who live in the county enjoy the way of life that is afforded in these areas?  How many of these people actually work in the city, at some of our larger employers?  So it seems that the value of a healthy city is the ability to maintain a good job and hold on to your choice place of residence in more rural areas, which seems to go a long way for some people.  By exploring this connection deeper, we add value to the Restoring our Prosperity in Ohio conversation about regional planning.  By understanding the connections between our communities and the city in terms of value added relationships, rather than competition for resources, we build a platform in which the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

I guess we need to start talking.