County releases 2023-2027 Community Strategic Plan

Northumberland County has released its 2023-2027 Community Strategic Plan. With the community set to grow to 122,000 residents by 2051, this plan will inform how the County guides this growth with intention.

From April through June 2023, the County undertook a broad collaborative strategic planning process. Over 900 residents, businesses, and community partners from across the county, along with staff and elected officials, were directly engaged through questionnaires, focus groups, one-on-one discussions, and in-person community conversation ‘pop-ups’ at six locations throughout Northumberland.

“During this collaborative process, the community shared that we need to build on Northumberland’s strong foundation to drive continued municipal government efficiency and exceptional service delivery,” states Warden Mandy Martin. “The 2023-2027 Community Strategic Plan sets out a framework for overcoming challenges and seizing opportunities to guide community growth in a dynamic and sustainable way. It is rooted shared vision for the future of our community. We look forward to working with the community to bring this vision to life.”

Along with consolidated feedback gathered during the consultation process, the Community Strategic Plan is informed by existing key master plans and strategies for the community. 40 action items are identified within the final plan, each tied to one of five strategic pillars, including:

• Innovate for Service Excellence
• Ignite Economic Prosperity
• Foster a Thriving Community
• Propel Sustainable Growth
• Champion a Vibrant Future

These pillars embody key themes identified throughout the strategic planning process and will inform the organization's planning and decision-making over the next four years and beyond.

The County will regularly report on progress in delivering the priorities outlined in the 2023-2027 Community Strategic Plan. In addition to annual business plans and budgets approved by Council, and the Annual report with audited financial statements release each July, the County will also launch a public-facing dashboard in early 2024 featuring key performance indicators (KPIs) from across County operations. These KPIs will pertain to the principal direction and priorities addressed in the plan.

To view the 2023-2027 Community Strategic Plan, visit Northumberland.ca/StrategicPlan.