PROJECTS, STRATEGY & ACTION PLAN

GOALS & OBJECTIVES

As outlined in the action plan process, development of a robust list of goals and objectives was achieved. These goals and objectives were then placed in a ranking sheet and prioritized by the participating Task Force Members. A complete list of the goals and objectives within the ranking sheet can be found in Appendix I.

PRIORITIZED GOALS & OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of the ranking of goals and objectives by the Regional Task Force Members, staff combined the information. The specific goals were weighted based upon the direct rankings by one or more members of the Task Force identifying a goal as a priority. Once the appropriate order was achieved for the goals based upon the input received, the objectives were reviewed and the prioritization of objectives was also completed for each goal that was selected as a priority. It is important to note as a reminder that all goals and objectives considered by the Task Force Members are located in Appendix I. Contained within the following pages are the prioritized goals and objectives that are viewed as realistically attainable within a manageable time-frame by stakeholders within our region.

LAYOUT METHODOLOGY

Following are our prioritized goals and accompanying objectives. The headings are summarized below:

Goal: Specific goals developed through the planning process are found in this column. The goals were synthesized by staff and Task Force Members with prioritization occurring through the Task Force Members. The goals are numbered by priority.

Objective: Objectives accompany each goal and are the actual directive for the implementation task. The objectives were prioritized by the Task Force Members and are provided in prioritized order following each goal.

Responsible Party: The Responsible Party is charged with implementation of the individual objectives. This does not mean that they are solely responsible, but rather they play a role of leading the effort, organizing and/or have resources at their disposal that can meet implementation needs.

Time-frame: Time-frame for the implementation processes are estimated on a three tier system:

  • Short-Term (1 year or less)
  • Mid-Term (2-3 years)
  • Long-Term (3 years or longer)

Jump to a Specific Goal

BROADBAND GOALS

GOAL 1 – Expand Broadband Infrastructure and Access.

OBJECTIVE

Improve broadband coverage in underserved and unserved areas across the CRPC region to reduce digital inequities and foster economic growth.

ACTION 1.1

Assist in targeting broadband infrastructure investments in high-priority parishes such as West Feliciana, St. Helena, and Washington, where a significant percentage of residents remain unserved.

TIMELINE:  Year 1-3

BUDGET:  $00

POTENTIAL PARTNERS:

    • LA Connect
    • RDOF providers (e.g., Space Exploration Technologies Corp.)
    • Local government

OUTCOME:

    • Increase broadband access for 10,000+ residents in underserved areas

ACTION 1.2

Collaborate with private broadband providers to leverage Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) potential locations for broadband expansion in Washington Parish (10,467 potential locations) and East Feliciana Parish (4,986 potential locations).

TIMELINE:  Year 2-5

BUDGET:  $00

POTENTIAL PARTNERS:

    • CCO Holdings LLC
    • Space Exploration Technologies Corp.
    • Segnem Egere Consortium

OUTCOME:

    • Expand broadband access in 15,000+ RDOF eligible locations

GOAL 2 – Promote Digital Literacy & Inclusion

OBJECTIVE

Enhance digital literacy programs targeting high digital illiteracy areas such as East Baton Rouge and Ascension Parish to ensure that residents can fully engage with digital services and opportunities.

ACTION 2.1

Develop and launch comprehensive digital literacy programs in collaboration with local libraries, community organizations, and educational institutions, prioritizing East Baton Rouge, where over 48,000 residents are digitally illiterate.

ACTION 2.2

Provide targeted training programs in Ascension Parish and Livingston Parish for vulnerable populations, with a focus on elderly residents and low-income households, to bridge the digital skills gap.

TIMELINE:  Year 1-4

BUDGET:  $00

POTENTIAL PARTNERS:

    • Local libraries
    • Public schools
    • Community colleges
    • Nonprofits

OUTCOME:

    • Decrease digital illiteracy by 20% in East Baton Rouge

TIMELINE:  Year 2-5

BUDGET:  $00

POTENTIAL PARTNERS:

    • Local governments
    • Senior centers
    • Community tech programs

OUTCOME:

    • Train 5,000 residents in basic digital literacy

GOAL 3 – Make Broadband Affordable for Low-Income Households

OBJECTIVE

Address the affordability barrier by providing affordable broadband packages to low-income households in parishes with high poverty rates, such as Tangipahoa and Washington.

ACTION 3.1

Collaborate with broadband providers to create discounted broadband service packages for households below the poverty line in Tangipahoa Parish (21.7% poverty rate) and Washington Parish (24.9% poverty rate).

ACTION 3.2

Implement subsidy programs for broadband service fees for low-income families in collaboration with state and federal funding programs.

TIMELINE:  Year 1-3

BUDGET:  $00

POTENTIAL PARTNERS:

    • Broadband providers
    • Nonprofits
    • Social services agencies

OUTCOME:

    • Increase broadband adoption by 10% among low-income households

TIMELINE:  Year 3-5

BUDGET:  $00

POTENTIAL PARTNERS:

    • State government
    • Federal broadband funds
    • RDOF providers

OUTCOME:

    • Provide broadband service to 8,000 low-income households

GOAL 4 – Support Economic Growth Through Digital Infrastructure

OBJECTIVE

Leverage expanded broadband access to promote local economic development, enabling rural communities to participate in the digital economy.

ACTION 4.1

Develop a digital business training and e-commerce program targeting small businesses in rural parishes such as Pointe Coupee and West Feliciana.

ACTION 4.2

Create tech hubs in underserved rural areas like St. Helena Parish, offering high-speed internet access, co-working spaces, agricultural applications and business incubators to support digital innovation and remote work.

TIMELINE:  Year 2-4

BUDGET:  $00

POTENTIAL PARTNERS:

    • Small business development centers (SBDCs)
    • Chambers of Commerce

OUTCOME:

    • Train 1,500 small businesses to improve their digital presence and e-commerce capabilities

TIMELINE:  Year 3-5

BUDGET:  $00

POTENTIAL PARTNERS:

    • LSU Innovation Center
    • LSU AgCenter Food Incubator
    • BRAC
    • Local governments

OUTCOME:

    • Launch 2 tech hubs, serving 500+ entrepreneurs and remote workers annually

GOAL 5 – Foster Long-Term Digital Resilience

OBJECTIVE

Ensure that broadband infrastructure remains resilient and capable of supporting future growth, especially in disaster-prone areas.

ACTION 5.1

Integrate broadband expansion into disaster resilience planning, particularly in flood-prone parishes like West Baton Rouge and Tangipahoa, to maintain communication networks during emergencies.

ACTION 5.2

Invest in backup power systems and renewable energy solutions for key broadband infrastructure to enhance resilience during natural disasters in vulnerable parishes such as Washington and St. Helena.

TIMELINE:  Year 1-5

BUDGET:  $00

POTENTIAL PARTNERS:

    • Emergency management agencies
    • Local governments
    • Broadband providers

OUTCOME:

    • Ensure continuous broadband service during 80% of regional disasters 

TIMELINE:  Year 4-5

BUDGET:  $00

POTENTIAL PARTNERS

    • Local governments
    • Energy providers
    • Broadband companies

OUTCOME:

    • Increase resilience for critical digital infrastructure in rural areas

LAND USE GOALS

GOAL 1 – Reduce land development pressure within high-risk areas.

OBJECTIVE

Continue to compile and evaluate land use growth patterns respective to high-risk areas.

Development in such areas may impact on economic resilience and may exacerbate current inequalities.

ACTION 1.1

Develop a regional transfer development program to direct growth into disinvested areas with adequate infrastructure from high-risk areas with inadequate infrastructure.

ACTION 1.2

Further develop and maintain a site selection mapping application to use as a data driven tool to objectively score and incentivize redevelopment or scattered infill and conservation.

ACTION 1.3

Promote consistent land development regulations, more specifically stormwater management codes throughout the Capital Region.

 

TIMELINE:  Year 1-3

POTENTIAL PARTNERS:

    • Build Baton Rouge

    • EBR Housing Authority

    • EBR Office of Community Development

    • Amite River Basis

    • CRPC

    • LSU

    • Southern University

    • Louisiana Housing Commission

    • BRAC

    • Baton Rouge North Economic Development

OUTCOME:

    • Lorem ipsum

TIMELINE:  Year 2-5

POTENTIAL PARTNERS:

    • Build Baton Rouge

    • EBR Housing Authority

    • EBR Office of Community Development

    • Amite River Basis

    • CRPC

    • LSU

    • Southern University

    • Louisiana Housing Commission

    • BRAC

    • Baton Rouge North Economic Development

OUTCOME:

    • Lorem ipsum

TIMELINE:  Year 2-5

POTENTIAL PARTNERS:

    • Build Baton Rouge

    • EBR Housing Authority

    • EBR Office of Community Development

    • Amite River Basis

    • CRPC

    • LSU

    • Southern University

    • Louisiana Housing Commission

    • BRAC

    • Baton Rouge North Economic Development

OUTCOME:

    • Lorem ipsum

GOAL 2 – Develop and maintain a regional jobs to housing ratio policy.

ACTION 2.1

A balanced parish may mitigate regional traffic congestion. Traffic congestion impacts quality of life.

OBJECTIVES: 

  • Target housing near employment areas
  • Target job creation in bedroom communities

ACTION 2.2

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ACTION 2.3

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TIMELINE:  Year 1-3

BUDGET:  $xx

POTENTIAL PARTNERS:

    • LA Connect
    • RDOF providers (e.g., Space Exploration Technologies Corp.)
    • Local government

OUTCOME:

    • Increase broadband access for 10,000+ residents in underserved areas

TIMELINE:  Year 2-5

BUDGET:  $xx

POTENTIAL PARTNERS:

    • LA Connect
    • RDOF providers (e.g., Space Exploration Technologies Corp.)
    • Local government

OUTCOME:

    • Increase broadband access for 10,000+ residents in underserved areas

TIMELINE:  Year 1-3

BUDGET:  $xx

POTENTIAL PARTNERS:

    • LA Connect
    • RDOF providers (e.g., Space Exploration Technologies Corp.)
    • Local government

OUTCOME:

    • Increase broadband access for 10,000+ residents in underserved areas

GOAL 3 – Assist in the increase in value of the existing housing stock near employment centers.

ACTION 3.1

Understand and promote a land value tax policy for a more efficient and equitable rebalanced real estate market.

ACTION 3.2

Work with stakeholders to improve the existing housing stock near employment centers through energy efficiency grant opportunities in Low Income/Disadvantaged Communities that may be identified in the Climate Pollution Reduction Plan.

TIMELINE:  Year 1-3

BUDGET:  $xx

POTENTIAL PARTNERS:

    • LA Connect
    • RDOF providers (e.g., Space Exploration Technologies Corp.)
    • Local government

OUTCOME:

    • Increase broadband access for 10,000+ residents in underserved areas

TIMELINE:  Year 2-5

BUDGET:  $xx

POTENTIAL PARTNERS:

    • LA Connect
    • RDOF providers (e.g., Space Exploration Technologies Corp.)
    • Local government

OUTCOME:

    • Increase broadband access for 10,000+ residents in underserved areas

TIMELINE:  Year 1-3

BUDGET:  $xx

POTENTIAL PARTNERS:

    • LA Connect
    • RDOF providers (e.g., Space Exploration Technologies Corp.)
    • Local government

OUTCOME:

    • Increase broadband access for 10,000+ residents in underserved areas

EQUITY GOALS

GOAL 9 – Attract, develop and retain a talented workforce in a diverse regional economy

OBJECTIVES

RESPONSIBLE PARTY

TIMEFRAME

    • Collaborate with businesses in the region to develop employee incentive programs that may include childcare assistance, subsidized housing or skills training to improve talent retention.
    • Target skill training programs towards growing industries, or those in the region struggling to hire employees.
    • Create a centralized hub of information and resources for community members wanting to transition into a different career.
    • Connect community members with information regarding job training and skill development opportunities.
    • Provide support to community members wanting to attain a National Career Readiness Certificate or similar trainings that promote employable skill sets. 

    GOAL 10 – Convene the Networks Northwest Economic Development Council with county representatives to discuss lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and share the resulting findings with the regional community through various means.

    OBJECTIVES

    RESPONSIBLE PARTY

    TIMEFRAME

      • Gather and interpret data regarding the impact COVID-19 had on the region’s housing market including short term rentals, home purchases and other data that are more specific than a standard census study.
      • Develop benchmarks for business resilience based on lessons learned.

      GOAL 11 – Plan for and implement land use patterns that are environmentally, economically and socially sustainable

      OBJECTIVES

      RESPONSIBLE PARTY

      TIMEFRAME

        • Allow higher density housing in close proximity to employers and in urban cores.
        • Support policy that promotes infill development and brownfield redevelopment.
        • Community planning should look to existing development patterns, infrastructure and the availability of space within urban and suburban cores and direct redevelopment and reuse in these locations, thereby supporting higher density.
        • Land use policy should direct the interaction of the built environment to the user, not direct the full separation of uses within the built environment. Land use policy should look to “form” over “function”.
        • Land use policy should direct regulatory measures to support varied uses within the same building and zoning district.
        • Support compact dense development over costly urban sprawl.
        • Promote multi-modal transportation that includes bike routes, trails and mass-transit options to provide interconnection and transportation options.
        • Utilize environmentally sensitive areas for passive recreation when possible.
        • Focus planning policy on the proper interaction of areas for housing, workplace and necessary transportation infrastructure.

        GOAL 12 – Support best practices and their implementation at various levels of government.

        OBJECTIVES

        RESPONSIBLE PARTY

        TIMEFRAME

          • Work towards achieving a balance of regulation and development that supports business and workers, while protecting property, lifestyle and the natural environment. This should be met through policy developed within community Master Plans.
          • Open dialogue and discussion with the State of Michigan RRC Program leadership in order to adjust the program to fit the needs of rural communities.
          • Develop and share models and best practices for master plan policy and zoning ordinance regulation with counties and local municipalities.
          • Encourage consistent communication across different levels of government and different governmental departments.
          • Identify direct issues and redundancies between government levels and departments, and support policy shift to make correction.
          • Provide sample walk-through development process sheets to guide applicants.
          • Focus community leadership on “implementation strategies” of community plans and documents.
          • Support inclusion of local units of government in MEDC’s RRC program.
          • Assign responsible parties and time-lines for direct implementation of specific goals.

          GOAL 13 – Plan, implement and improve road networks throughout the region.

          OBJECTIVES

          RESPONSIBLE PARTY

          TIMEFRAME

            • Support replacement of culverts and bridges that have met their lifespan.
            • Include road network transportation planning policy within Master Plans that coordinates with Federal, State and local transportation oversight agencies as well as the business community and residents.
            • Support infrastructure improvement funding for road network enhancements.
            • Institute traffic calming measures on targeted roadways, commercial corridors and downtown main streets.
            • Coordinate with Road Commissions to implement transportation flow improvements that may include changes in signal timing or the addition of round-a-bouts, turn lanes and passing lanes.

            GOAL 14 – Promote rail as an effective mode of transportation and commerce.

            OBJECTIVES

            RESPONSIBLE PARTY

            TIMEFRAME

              • Support efficient realignment of rail corridors to benefit efficiency and industrial users.
              • Include railroad transportation planning policy within Master Plans that coordinates with Federal, State and local transportation oversight agencies as well as the business community and residents.
              • Support continued funding of rail-road infrastructure.
              • Support the expansion of freight rail where appropriate.
              • Support the expansion of passenger rail with appropriate connections to the Traverse City, Petoskey and Cadillac regions in Northwest Lower Michigan and urban areas of Southern Michigan.
              • Renovate transportation systems using best practices, innovative materials, designs and approaches to roadway systems.
              • Adapt roadway systems to meet the needs of new and innovative types of vehicles such as hydrogen vehicles and electric vehicles, delivery drones, autonomous vehicles, vehicle sharing and vehicles utilizing artificial intelligence.
              • Adapt app-based services to the rural settings in Northwest Michigan that provide new options for community members with limited transportation options available.
              • Advocate for increased state funding to support preventive maintenance of roads, trails, bridges and dams.
              • Design roadways that embrace “Complete Streets” best practices for pedestrian and non-motorized travel.
              • Connect communities throughout the region with non-motorized trail connections.
              • Promote development patterns that reduce the need for a personal vehicle to access points of interest and resources.
              • Work with counties and local units of government to ensure that when infrastructure is developed or redeveloped that it anticipates advances in transportation technology (e.g. autonomous vehicles).
              • Implement trails, bike paths, sidewalks and other transportation avenues for non-vehicular traffic that consider mobility in a context of transportation and recreation.
              • Connect cultural sites, parks, residences and commercial areas through non-motorized paths.