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• From January until May 2008, Action Greensboro community volunteers in five task forces will formulate specific recommendations for higher education, public schools, and urban livability.
• Objectives are: enhance our tax base and per capita income; build excitement and a sense of community pride; and attract visitors, potential newcomers, and young professionals.  
• A core steering committee will provide oversight and feedback. 
• Task force recommendations will provide the basis for Action Greensboro’s three-year program of work and its funding plan. 
  

Maximize Urban Livability: Naturally Green, Cool by Design

Chairs:  Arthur Samet, Samet Corporation; Tonya Clinkscale, Clinkscale Development; Nancy Doll, Weatherspoon Museum

Three subcommittees are working in the following areas: 

1. Green / LEED Building Guidelines
2. Connecting Neighborhoods and Communities to the Outdoor Environment
3. Recognize, Promote, and Access Green Resources

Some ideas that have been generated include: awareness and recognition for green building; crime prevention through environmental design; and building awareness for events and assets in Greensboro.

Maximize Urban Livability: Arts, Culture, and Entertainment

Chair:  Meg Sternberg

A kickoff panel discussion was held on February 18^th which included a facilitated panel discussion featuring:

• Dmitry Sitkovetsky, Music Director, Greensboro Symphony Orchestra
• Jeanie Duncan, President, United Arts Council
• Dr. Anthony Wade, Director of Human Relations, City of Greensboro
• Matt Brown, Director, Greensboro Coliseum complex
• Ed Wolverton, President, Downtown Greensboro Inc.

Participants were asked to respond to the following question: “If money were no object, what are the three things we can do to enhance Greensboro’s position as it relates to Arts, Culture, and Entertainment?”

Many ideas were shared and talked about.  The next meeting date for the ACE task force has yet to be determined, but expected to be within the next couple of weeks.

Maximize Urban Livability:  Center City, A Robust Hub

Chairs:  Chester Brown, Brown Investment Properties, Michael Shiftan, DevCon Resources and Ed Wolverton, Downtown Greensboro, Inc.

Participants are working in three areas: 

1. Incentives (Business recruitment, retail recruitment, parking, affordable housing, land banking)
2. Livability and Leisure (Education, pedestrian environment, public transportation, recycling, special events)
3. Community Facilities (Performing arts center, ACC Hall of Fame, Civil Rights Museum, Cultural District expansion, Carolina Theatre renovation, youth facilities)

Capitalize on Higher Education Assets

Task Force Chairs:  Marty Weissburg, Volvo White Financial Services; Doug Speight, NC A&T State University; Ken Mayer, Moser, Mayer Phoenix.

The group is addressing the following questions:

• What do we need to do to form a link between economic leaders and the colleges in the area? 
• How can we better position our colleges and universities to improve economic development in the area? 
• How can we retain our graduates and attract new talent to the area? 
• What would make Greensboro a college town that you could live in forever?

Some themes that have emerged are:

• Entrepreneurism:  encouraging companies to spin out of research and grow
• Financing Higher Education
• Attracting and Keeping Talent in the area

Students, faculty, employees for companies

Coops/internships

College town branding

Linkages to governmental careers

• Economic Development, Analysis of job demand versus programs at the institutions
• Marketing, Promoting our “Centers of excellence” at each institution
• Collaboration/connections
• Adult Education, Engagement of K-12, 14, 16
• Global Exposure (Abroad Program)

Excel in Public Education

Task Force Chairs:  Jim Morgan, Attorney, Morgan, Herring, Morgan, Green, Rosenblutt & Gill; Chuck Cornelio, Executive Vice President, Lincoln Financial Group; and Nathan Duggins, Attorney, Tuggle, Duggins & Meschan, PA

Status:  This county-wide task force has members drawn from Greensboro, High Point, and the county-at-large.  Greensboro representatives are drawn from the Action Greensboro Core Committee. High Point representatives have been drawn from the High Point Partners and from recommendations of High Point leaders. Additionally, three board members from the Guilford Education Alliance will serve on the Task Force. The Guilford Education Alliance will provide administrative support for the work of the Task Force. 

The group plans to meet four times between February and May.

Their primary objectives are   to 1. Understand the various educational support efforts underway in the various communities in the County; 2. Identify strategic actions that the business and community leadership can undertake that can leverage the success of education, and 3. To build a broad base of county-wide leadership focused on the success of the public schools.