Back in February 2020, the Keith County Foundation Fund held its first in-person discussion that led us down the path of co-hosting virtual Innovative Minds and Community Vision Planning discussions focusing on three key priority area topics.
It got us dreaming big.
It got us on a lot of Zoom meetings.
So, what's next?
On the theme of Early Childhood Development, a small group is now working on a charter. This will help us define what our community needs in terms of early childhood development – What are our existing resources? What can we leverage? Where are the gaps?
Housing Development has been identified as a critical need in our area. A 2017 study indicated that Keith County should add 202 owner-occupied homes and 54 rental units by 2022 in order to meet the demand of current and potential residents. We have a long way to go to reach that goal, but what can we do now, together, as a community? There are a number of viable projects that have been presented. A small group will convene next week to discuss potential projects for a Rural Workforce Housing Grant opportunity. What else can we accomplish?
First Impressions / Curb Appeal…
KCAD will help coordinate our ongoing efforts as we all work together and utilize murals, a way-finding and signage project, green spaces, and commercial or residential clean-up efforts to create a cohesive, inviting vibe in Keith County. There are so many good ideas out there, and most of them require little more than a paint brush or a shovel and some elbow grease.
Now that we've put our heads together, we will truly be getting to work. We invite everyone to continue to share their ideas and be a partner in progress towards achieving our goals.
