How can West Central Initiative (WCI) do the most good in the nine counties we serve in west central Minnesota? By finding the most effective ways to use our funds and by utilizing the resources at hand. We form partnerships, listen to community and regional wisdom, research and gather data, then combine all of these resources to guide decisions.

Our most valuable assets in west central Minnesota are the people who live and work here. We value relationships with people who care about the future of the region and work with those who want to contribute their time, talents and resources to help make the future brighter for generations to come. We also know that new people moving to the region enrich our knowledge and improve the opportunities for all of us.

Using research and data gathered in the past five years, the WCI Board selected seven priority areas for West Central Initiative's strategic plan:

1. Supporting business development to create employment and wealth

WE WILL DO THIS BY:

• Offering loan programs for business start-ups and expansions
• Supporting organizations that provide services to entrepreneurs
• Expanding our small loan program

2. Increasing the skills of the workforce

WE WILL DO THIS BY:

• Supporting skills training for workers in manufacturing
• Convening the regional Labor Force Development Council
• Providing a competitive grant process for innovative approaches to worker training

3. Increasing net migration to the region

WE WILL DO THIS BY:

• Increasing the number and quality of jobs
• Supporting opportunities for manufacturing workers to advance their skills
• Supporting services and providing loans for entrepreneurs
• Helping our communities become better places to raise a family
• Helping communities welcome everyone who would like to call that community home
• Supporting our partners as they provide services to help families overcome financial barriers

4. Diminishing the need for social programs

WE WILL DO THIS BY:

• Convening the regional Family Economic Success (FES) Council
• Providing FES grants
• Coordinating and expanding Early Childhood Initiative coalitions throughout the region

5. Increasing collaboration among empowered citizens

WE WILL DO THIS BY:

• Participating in meetings throughout the region
• Convening groups to bring together citizens around topics that affect our communities, such as:
  • Transportation Advisory Committee
  • Early Childhood Initiative Coordinators group
  • Economic Development Professionals
  • Pine to Prairie GIS Users Group
  • Economic Development District board
  • Family Economic Success Council
  • Labor Force Development Council
  • Encouraging the growth of local component funds, especially community-focused funds
  • Supporting leadership development in the region

6. Promoting philanthropy

WE WILL DO THIS BY:

• Increasing the number of component funds and philanthropic assets in the region
• Offering technical assistance to nonprofit organizations
• Building WCI's regional endowment to support the future needs of the residents of west central Minnesota

7. Supporting diversity

WE WILL DO THIS BY:

• Offering leadership training opportunities that are available without regard to personal financial limitations
• Intentionally inviting people from diverse backgrounds into conversations through community breakfasts and WCI sponsored events and meetings

See WCI's entire strategic plan.