An Inside View of Piqua's Strategic Plan

Piqua has something that Troy doesn't have. Could it make a difference?

Earlier this week, this publication went into great detail discussing the City of Piqua’s State of the City address. One of the interesting aspects of the address was that it is clear that Piqua has something Troy doesn’t have - a strategic plan.

What is a strategic plan? In its most basic sense, the plan lays a path that the community wants to achieve and in that role, the plan becomes the guide on whether the community will do something or not. This comprehensive plan, developed through extensive stakeholder engagement, aims to align the city's mission, vision, and values with actionable goals across four strategic outcome areas: Unified Community, Responsive Services, Thriving Economy, and Reliable Infrastructure. This plan begs some outside analysis and today this publication will explore the key components of the strategic plan, its potential impact on the community, and the broader implications for the residents and stakeholders of the community.

Strategic Planning Process

The strategic planning process in Piqua was designed to foster a shared vision among various stakeholders, including city leaders, staff, and residents. The engagement process included interviews, community forums, focus groups, and surveys. This inclusive approach ensures that the plan reflects the diverse perspectives and aspirations of the community. By incorporating feedback from these varied sources, the plan aims to address both current challenges and future opportunities in a cohesive and comprehensive manner. The community deserves credit for reaching out residents and stakeholders to get input on this critically important process.

Community Profile

Piqua is a small city, with a population of around 20,000. It boasts a rich history, a strong sense of community, and a range of amenities that contribute to a high quality of life. The city's strategic location along the Interstate 75 corridor enhances its accessibility and economic potential. The community profile underscores the importance of maintaining the small-town charm that residents value, while leveraging the city’s strategic advantages for future growth.

National Trends at the Local Level

The strategic plan acknowledges several national trends that are impacting Piqua, including demographic shifts, workforce changes, environmental considerations, economic challenges, and technological advancements.

Social Trends: Piqua’s population has remained stable over the years, with a notable increase in the median age and educational attainment. The city’s demographic stability presents both challenges and opportunities, particularly in terms of revenue generation and infrastructure maintenance.

Workforce Trends: Nationally, there has been a shift towards remote work and increased job mobility. In terms of the city government as an organization, city employees report a positive workforce culture, but recruitment and retention remain significant challenges. Addressing these issues is crucial for maintaining high-quality public services.

Environmental Trends: Piqua’s natural environment is a key asset, with numerous parks, lakes and canals and a vibrant riverfront. The plan emphasizes the need to enhance and protect these resources through sustainable practices and strategic development.

Economic Trends: Economic development is a central focus, given the need for infrastructure investment and business attraction. The plan highlights the importance of diversifying the local economy and increasing the tax base to support community needs.

Technological Trends: Increased access to technology offers opportunities for improved city services and resident engagement. However, ensuring equitable access to technology remains a challenge that the plan aims to address.

Strategic Framework and Outcomes

The strategic framework is built around the city’s vision of building an inclusive, innovative, and collaborative community. The mission emphasizes dedication to public service, quality of life, and community engagement. The values of accountability, integrity, professionalism, and teamwork are foundational to the plan’s implementation.

Unified Community: Initiatives under this outcome focus on enhancing community engagement and volunteerism. By fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose, the plan aims to build stronger community bonds and support collaborative efforts.

Responsive Services: This outcome emphasizes the importance of adapting city services to meet evolving community needs. Initiatives include gathering community input, developing responsive housing solutions, and enhancing recreational programming.

Thriving Economy: Economic development is critical for Piqua’s future. Initiatives aim to promote investment, support local businesses, and enhance quality of life through strategic place-making and planning for future growth.

Reliable Infrastructure: Maintaining and improving infrastructure is essential for Piqua’s sustainability. Initiatives focus on modernizing infrastructure, implementing a citywide GIS initiative, and adopting a Complete Streets program to support future growth and development.

Implementation and Next Steps

Effective implementation is key to the success of any strategic plan. The city has outlined a detailed process for monitoring progress, engaging staff expertise, and regularly reviewing and updating implementation activities. This structured approach ensures that the plan remains dynamic and responsive to changing conditions.

Ramifications for the Community

The strategic plan’s comprehensive approach has several potential ramifications for the Piqua community. Economic growth is anticipated as a focus on economic development and infrastructure investment aims to attract new businesses and industries, thereby increasing employment opportunities and enhancing the city’s tax base.

Enhanced community engagement efforts will likely strengthen community bonds and increase resident participation in city affairs, fostering a more inclusive and collaborative environment. Improvements in city services, recreational programming, and housing solutions will directly impact residents’ quality of life, making Piqua an even more desirable place to live and work.

Emphasizing environmental stewardship and sustainable practices will help preserve Piqua’s natural assets, ensuring that future generations can enjoy the city’s parks and riverfront. Increased use of technology in city operations and resident engagement can streamline processes, improve service delivery, and ensure that Piqua remains competitive into the future.

Most importantly, this plan gives the community a proactive and forward-looking guide that challenges the current status quo. New ideas aren’t automatically agreed upon; these concepts must be rigorously vetted through the plan. Current procedures that aren’t working or aren’t efficient are going to be challenged by this plan, and if necessary, no longer implemented.

Piqua is proving something. Communities need a plan like this. They need a vision and mission that the community can rally around. The plan helps define what values are important to the community; it helps define how the commitment of the city will be seen through its daily work. The plan is focusing on key strategic outcomes and the plan aims to build a more unified, responsive, and thriving community. Its successful implementation will depend on the continued collaboration and engagement of all stakeholders, ensuring that Piqua remains a vibrant and welcoming place for all its residents.

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