Memphis Fast Forward learned from past planning efforts and established these guiding principles to create the best probability for success:
Focus on the fundamentals.
Quality education, safe neighborhoods, good jobs and efficient government drive economic growth.
Prioritize.
Align financial and leadership resources with strategies that will make the most significant difference.
Establish public/private sector alignment.
Get funding and policy priorities in both the public and private sector on the same page.
Ground the Plan in best practices, facts and research.
Base strategies on evidence that demonstrates high potential for success.
Incorporate broad base of community input.
Incorporate input from over 3,500 people from all walks of life.
Be innovative, but build on existing assets and momentum.
Evolve innovations from strong existing community assets to create the best chance for successful implementation.
Step up with meaningful investments.
Develop resources in order to have effective investments, particularly in economic development as our community has had the most underfunded ED effort in the nation.
Monitor, report and hold accountable.
Support Plans through Steering Committee committed to five years of advocacy and oversight, monitor and report scrupulously, and require ongoing demonstration of effectiveness for continued investments.