In 2014, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas (the UG), partnered with the National Resource Network. The UG had embraced a bold vision for downtown economic development, community revitalization, and improved community health through the creation of a Healthy Campus on the edge of its downtown.

The Network helped the UG address a question many local governments face after the completion of a vision plan: What Next? When the hard work of developing a vision is finished, the hard work of making it a reality is just beginning. As part of immediate next steps, local governments should ask themselves the following questions:

• What are the staff resources required to implement the plan? What types of skills are needed? Does an existing staff member have the time and skills to take on a special initiative?
• What community assets can be used to support plan implementation?
• What are the opportunities for partnership?
• What are the key questions that need to be answered to begin plan implementation?

 
The Network team in the UG helped local leaders address these questions and move toward implementation; that work is detailed in the attachment. To learn more about this partnership, contact the Network at info@nationalresourcenetwork.org.

The Network’s engagement team in the UG was led by Network consortium member HR&A.