Strategic Plan

The Strategic Plan for Cornerstone Alliance consists of six (6) primary focus areas in which our work will be concentrated, communicated and measured.

1. Operational Activities Supporting Harbor Shores. The promise of a 530-acre development, which includes residential, commercial and recreational amenities, is a transformational opportunity for all residents served by Cornerstone's activities. As a partner in this project, Cornerstone will take a lead role in:

Vertical development within the project site;
Local, state and national permitting issues;
Managing public grants and loans; and
Relationship management with the many partner entities.

2. Existing Business Retention and Expansion. Existing businesses create a stable environment by providing jobs for area residents, opportunities for local business-to-business commerce, and support of community activities. Cornerstone's focus on retention and expansion will assist our existing businesses by:

Assisting them in meeting their current and future needs;
Helping them survive economic difficulties; and
Supporting their expansions that could add new jobs and investment to our communities.

3. New Business Recruitment and Development. Businesses locate to and grow within communities that have created an environment in which they will achieve business competitiveness. Cornerstone's focus in this area will center upon:

Accentuating the "Quality of Place" characteristics that encourage further business growth and development;
Developing local businesses through start-up counseling, technical training and financial assistance; and
Targeted prospecting to attract companies that are compatible with our business environment and strategy.

4. Community Messaging. As our organization establishes a role in our many projects, the purpose, goals and results of each endeavor should be communicated to our many stakeholders. Proactive messaging for these projects should include an emphasis on:

Branding the community, both internally and externally;
Community benefits of our projects and linkages; and
Investor messaging to highlight our stewardship of resources.

5. Organizational Sustainability. We perform many day-to-day activities to ensure the effective and efficient operation of our economic development efforts. The longevity and ultimate effectiveness of these activities depend on our success in the following areas:

Governance to maximize engagement of the Board of Directors, staff, investors and other stakeholders;
Investor relations, including the annual fundraising efforts;
Opportunities for self-sufficiency; and
Financial accountability for all of our activities.

6. Integration with Community Development Consortium. We must have seamless implementation strategies and programs on both the economic development axis as well as the community development axis to drive systemic and lasting change. Therefore, we will engage in strategic initiatives to maximize our transformational activities in the areas of:

Subsidized and market rate housing opportunities;
Downtown development activities;
Understanding the workforce needs of our businesses; and
Shared accountability for joint efforts.

For a complete look at the strategic plan, please click here.

To see the progress the organization is making at reaching the goals set forth in the Strategic Plan, please click here for the 2010 Final Report.