Tuesday, January 06, 2009
 
Janesville Community Brainstorming Session - The "Top Fives" Minimize

Following the Janesville Community Brainstorming Session, a group of community leaders carefully analyzed each of the nearly 400 ideas gathered and were then asked to rank their top five ideas.  Here is what they came up with:

 

  TOP FIVE COMMUNITY IDEAS
1 Enhance and promote social activities for those between 18-28
2 (tie) Establish a "buy local" planning group
2 (tie) Decrease the number of blighted buildings in the City
2 (tie) Cultivate & promote more family attractions
5 (tie) Utilize the Rock River as a community "hot spot"
5 (tie) Build a convention center/sports complex/fairgrounds (could be on the GM site)
5 (tie) Make Janesville a regional housing hub
5 (tie) Improve connectivity between City Council & the City econonmic development department
   
  TOP FIVE DOWNTOWN IDEAS
1 Adopt the downtown Business Improvement District (BID) proposal; it will help with riverfront acquisitions
2 (tie) Get the hospital and clinic more involved in the downtown area (Franklin/Jackson St. corridor)
2 (tie) Establish a downtown entertainment district
4 (tie) Build a modern parking structure
4 (tie) Further develop downtown -- attract 3 new restaurants, riverfront attractions, etc.
   
  TOP FIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IDEAS
1 Gather the top 20 area employers for a dialogue on expansion plans & what the City can do to help
2 (tie) Develop a "showcase team" to sell Janesville's resources, advantages, etc.  Group would sell Jvl
2 (tie) Market our location -- close to affordable housing, good education & low cost of living
2 (tie) Establish a local capital fund for start-ups, growing businesses, etc.
5 Target specific industries and skill sets (logistics, printing, manufacturing)
   
  TOP FIVE EDUCATION IDEAS
1(tie) Expand vocational & technical training
1(tie) Retrain displaced workers to meet the needs of the job market
3 (tie) Build a four-year college
3 (tie) Establish a B.S. in nursing program at BTC or UW-Rock
3 (tie) Establish technology curriculum in our schools
3 (tie) Promote business/education partnerships
   
  TOP FIVE ENERGY IDEAS
1 Produce alternative source of energy
2 Target solar energy industries
3 (tie) Establish biofiuel plants -- celluosic ethanol
3 (tie) Recruit a wind energy company
3 (tie) Develop wind and solar power
3 (tie) Load mgmt. with utilities -- less purchased power = fewer power plants = lower utility costs
   
  TOP FIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IDEAS
1 Take an active role in becoming an eco-friendly community
2 (tie) Attract and support "green" industries
2 (tie) Tap into our natural resources (rock, water)
4 (tie) Develop a niche for "green" jobs
4 (tie) Make Janesville a green energy "center of excellence"
4 (tie) Cultivate alternative fuel technology (e.g., biomass)
4 (tie) Do not redevelop flooded areas -- use them for green space
   
  TOP FIVE GOVERNMENT IDEAS
1 Improve business climate at the state level (less red tape, better tax policies)
2 Lobby to make tax structure more business friendly
3 Identify what current employers need to grow and remove gov't road blocks
4 Improve our overall tax climate
5 Request tax relief and funding immediately
   
  TOP FIVE LABOR & WORKFORCE IDEAS
1 Advertise the quality of our labor force nationally
2 (tie) Capitalize on our dedicated, committed workforce
2 (tie) Identify the skills sets available from community members
4 (tie) Revisit our unemployment compensation system & develop incentives for all to work
4 (tie) Build a strong work ethic to attract new businesses
   
  TOP FIVE REGIONALISM IDEAS
1 Host a collaborative meeting between Janesville & Beloit to build community cooperation
2 Research communities with similar situations (Kenosha, etc.) and see how they responded
3 Establish regional partnerships (I-39 corridor, etc.)
4 (tie) Investigate how other communities have brought in other businesses
4 (tie) Have a regular dialogue with successful cities
   
  TOP FIVE TOURISM IDEAS
1 The CVB should expand and do more to market Janesville as a desitnation city
2 (tie) Capture Dells tourists as they drive by Janesville
2 (tie) Create tourism through more intensive marketing and financial assistance
4 Promote Rotary Gardens as a destination site
5 (tie) Make Janesville into a tourist destination
5 (tie) Advertise community attractions on billboards
   
  TOP FIVE TRANSPORTATION IDEAS
1 Improve transportation linkage (4 lane highway 14, 6 lane I-90)
2 (tie) Develop the Rock County Airport (similar to Rockford)
2 (tie) Establish more commuter options
2 (tie) Improve commuter transportation (e.g., rail, bus, Interstate)
5 (tie) Develop regional transportation
5 (tie) Lobby government to build wishbone on I-43 in Delevan to Janesville
5 (tie) Improve rail service -- can we be a bedroom community for Chicago? 
5 (tie) Establish an intermodal transportation center -- emphasize our location

 


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