Region
2020
What
is Region 2020? Region 2020 is a citizen-driven,
non-profit organization that seeks to improve the quality
of life in Central Alabama through regional cooperative
efforts in areas such as education, housing, the environment,
transportation and the arts. Region 2020 encourages citizens
to think and plan regionally in order to define their future
while maintaining the local identities and characteristics
unique to Central Alabama. Our motto is: “Building
a better place to live.”
A
Regional Visioning Project: Region 2020 is a regional
visioning project that encompasses a twelve-county region.
The counties include: Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Chilton, Cullman,
Etowah, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, Tuscaloosa,
and Walker. The effort began in 1997 and involved more than
5,000 citizens, who provided ideas and insights, and helped
shape the priorities for the organization.
Region
2020, Inc. was designed to: First, identify shared
ideas about the region's future through the involvement
of thousands of citizens; translate those ideas into regional
goals and related strategies; then spur local governments,
the private sector, and citizens to work together to implement
the region's goals.
What
are Region 2020’s major themes? Several themes
capture distinct and essential elements of the vision. Together,
they evoke a vision of a coherent, prosperous and livable
region:
- Region
2020 calls for vigorous regional cooperation through structured
and constructive dialogue and action among jurisdictions.
-
Region 2020 reclaims a strong environmental identity as
defined by the preserved appearance and character of its
ridges, farms, cities, towns, and neighborhoods.
-
Region 2020 establishes the notion that the region is
a fundamental economic entity competitive in a global
economy.
-
Region 2020 advocates the development of public transit
and alternative modes of travel, as a way to connect the
region and bring it together.
-
Region 2020 champions social equity through high-quality
lifelong education, a strong sense of racial and social
harmony, and equitable distribution of housing.
-
Region 2020 advocates the need for sustained citizen involvement
in planning and implementing the vision.
For more information: contact us at 205-326-1100
or on the web at www.region2020.org.
