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The City of Rockford | 7
updated or new codes and new regulatory
protocols. Additional work will involve con-
necting with grants and funding solutions to
further implementation of particular strate-
gies formulated in the various categories. For
example, as a result of both the online data
commons website as well as efforts to begin
improving the region now, local leaders are
presently having more strategic conversations
and implementing specific programs aim-
ing to lower the consistently above-average
unemployment rates (largely comprised by
low educational attainment involving young-
adult minorities). With everything from
partnering with Etsy to develop the nation’s
first local program to help residents start
their own business by producing home-made
products to teaching low-income kids how to
start a business by selling food grown in com-
munity gardens, local leaders are attempting
to make inroads in innovative ways.
Regional data and data visualizations are
being housed for Vital Signs via a website
(www.ourvitalsigns.com). These visualiza-
tions aim to empower community leaders
to see current trends as well as monitor local
progress with the regional goals and strate-
gies developed for the sustainability plan.
Ernst refers to this new regional sustainabil-
ity plan as a “playbook” not only for Rock-
ford, but also households, neighborhoods,
local organizations, businesses and munici-
pal governments. Stakeholders will now use
this playbook to tackle the region’s greatest
challenges, and better ensure a touch-down
for future success.