Strategic Plan
After careful consideration of local and national economic trends and significant input from local community leaders, the Wayne Economic Development Council is prepared to move forward in addressing the needs and desires of the community. The WEDC’s strategic plan for 2023-2026 provides the core programs to expand/retain existing businesses and recruit new businesses into Wayne County. In addition, it responds to the primary economic barrier identified by local business leaders by implementing a community-wide workforce development program built on best practices. We are confident that achieving the goals and objectives of this strategic plan will result in economic prosperity for Wayne County.
Strategy I: Cultivate, connect and align networks within and beyond Wayne County
- Act as the economic development voice of the Wayne County corporate community
- Coordinate cross-geographical groups to ensure seamless delivery of capabilities
- Establish and nurture connections with regional and state economic development entities
Strategy II: Support business development with particular attention to retention and expansion
- Establish & execute an effective calling outreach program for traded sector businesses
- Provide access to existing tools/programs and build out new financial tools
- Maintain & grow an inventory of available sites that match to market and achieve balance
- Lead outward-facing marketing to enhance Wayne County’s reputation – especially with future workers
- Serve as local point organization for business attraction with proactive plan for ag/dairy and advanced manufacturing clusters
- Where needed, act as project integrator on expansion transactions
- Support Wayne County economic development function
Strategy III: Drive a focused set of issues key to Wayne County's future competitiveness
- Generate and maintain performance dashboard for Wayne County
- Develop long-term site strategy for future growth
- Facilitate efforts to create a talent attraction program
- Conduct housing assessment for short & long-term needs
- Agriculture cluster development
- Provide support to Wayne County manufacturers to access Federal & State funding
- Prepare to capitalize on Intel investment