Crawford County willbecome a sustainable placein which individuals and familiesseek to live and work,businesses succeed, andpublic and private sectororganizations collaborateeffectively to meet theneeds of citizens.

- C R E A T E D I N A P U B L I C P R O C E S S I N 2 0 1 0B Y T H E C I T I Z E N S O F C R A W F O R D C O U N T Y

THE

All communities have challengesthat stand in the way of success.

What sets Crawford County apartfrom others, as we noticed in 2010(and as we see even strongertoday), is our willingness to ACT.

Crawford County communitymembers have acknowledged thechallenges and threats to thebusiness climate, to the value ofeducation, to the quality of life andto public safety.

Our Action Teams—made up mostlyof volunteers—are working tirelessly,and strategically, to reverse thosetrends and make Crawford Countymore sustainable for our growingfamilies.

They are also developing strongerleaders and training them to become

the leaders of tomorrow so theprogress we are seeing can becarried beyond the year 2020.

Those who invest in Crawford: 20/20Vision do so because they knowCrawford County is “Worth the Fight”and because they know it is up to us– all of us – to make things happen.

Join us in our efforts to makeCrawford County the best it canbe!

Crawford: 20/20 Vision defines the spirit and work of dedicated staff and hundreds of committed volunteers whoare changing the future of Crawford County!

We are raising our families here. We are unwavering in our dedication to this exclusive strategy. Nowhere elsehas an enterprise like Crawford: 20/20 Vision resulted in the alignment, consensus and results as here in CrawfordCounty. Already we have halted the decline and are beginning to turn the tide of runaway poverty escalation,epidemic drug abuse and double-digit unemployment. Evidence of our success to date is found in the followingpages.

Through the year 2020, we will refine our work. With the downhill slide stopped, we can really focus on countywidegrowth, productivity, personal accountability and new enterprises of success.

Now, your investment will produce more jobs, higher wages, better success and purpose in education,continued improvements in our ongoing struggle against drugs, significant advancements in quality oflife and a growing economy.

Our same campaign leaders stand with us, again, as we ask you to help us sustain this countywide effort throughthe year 2020. Hundreds of volunteers in dozens of organizations are adding their daily support. You will read theirresolve through this document as they explain how Crawford: 20/20 Vision has become the driving force ofchange in our home-county; an endeavor that other communities are now attempting to create.

We humbly thank you for your support to date. We provide you with this report of success. We’re proud of whatwe’ve achieved so far, and proud of the hundreds who have made it happen. We ask for your support now in thisnext phase as we begin the upward climb. It will take a lot more work, commitment, and investment of time,resources and money. But the reward will be even sweeter when we reach the top! Because Crawford County isworth it. It's worth the fight!

Dave Williamson Gary Frankhouse, Jr.

W I L L I A M S O N F R A N K H O U S E , J R .

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

HORDPres iden t o f Hord Fami ly Farms, LLC

CARTERPres iden t , Car te r Mach ine

LEUTHOLDPres iden t , Advanced F iber Techno logy

“Crawford: 20/20 created a format for collective impact. It facilitates information sharing and collaboration toimprove our county by allowing organizations to work together to improve efficiency of resources. I seeschools interacting with manufacturers, which is a huge step forward to help our students and faculty tounderstand the needs of employers and vice versa. The addition of the Crawford Success Center, to help withfurthering educational attainment, also is another excellent example.”-Pat Hord, Crawford: 20/20 Vision Investor, Vision Committee and Leadership Development Team member

“20/20 Vision has created the opportunity for the various community stakeholders to start talking ‘to’ eachother rather than ‘past’ each other, as we try solve our challenges and create our future.”-Doug Leuthold, Crawford: 20/20 Vision Investor, Business Success & Job Availability Action Team Co-Chair, VisionCommittee member

"There really isn't anything quick or simple about economic or community development. It requirescooperation, support, manpower, time and money from government, business, education and the community toachieve an environment that promotes and allows all entities to grow and thrive in a mutually-beneficial manner.We are very fortunate to have an organization like CCEEDP in our county, continually working on our behalf."-Annie Carter, Crawford: 20/20 Vision Investor, Business Success & Job Availability Action Team Co-Chair, CCEEDPBoard of Directors, Executive Committee and Vision Committee member

2012 & 2015 Campaign Co-Chairs

In 2010, Crawford County residents gathered to discuss our county's challenges and threats,opportunities and dreams, and ways to build a better tomorrow. A vision and blueprint wereestablished. A system was developed. Strategies were devised and accountability wasassigned.

Crawford: 20/20 Vision became the plan, the rallying point and the vehicle for change. TheCrawford County Partnership for Education and Economic Development [501(c)(3)] becamethe facilitator, and the citizens of the county committed their hearts, minds and energy to thesolutions. More than 50 supporters stepped up with funding for the first 5 years of this 10-year journey.

The strategies were broken down by categories (Action Teams) and the actions were dividedinto 2-year, 5-year and 10-year work/goals. By the end of 2015, we will be at the halfwaypoint in the 10 years we allocated to reverse the trends and get Crawford County headed ina sustainable direction.

We are ahead of schedule! Volunteers, donors and collaborators have done great work.

More than 50 supporters stepped up with funding forthe first 5 years of this 10-year journey.

A PLAN FOR

“Over the past five years, local businesses, through their investmentsin CCEEDP and Crawford: 20/20, have helped our community stem the

tide of economic decline.  Those investments have helped to bringeconomic stability to a community that was declining,

and those investments have restored hope to acommunity that had lost hope.  Continued investments

will allow CCEEDP, 20/20 and the community to movefrom stability to prosperity.”

-Robin HildebrandSecretary, CCEEDP Board of Directors, Vision Committee member,

former Crawford County Auditor

“Crawford: 20/20 Vision has inspired me to look beyond my home, myworkplace, my circle of friends. Crawford County has so muchpotential and we, the leaders of the community, can make a positiveimpact on our citizens!

Crawford: 20/20 Vision and CU Lead have empowered me to help inthe fight toward a better community. My eyes have been opened to theissues we face and the opportunities that areavailable to correct those issues!”-Brittany Arnett, CU Lead Class of 2015Ohio Mutual Insurance Group

“Crawford: 20/20 Vision gives us direction for our County.We know what we have to do, and we’re doing it!”-Joe Kleinknecht, CCEEDP Board of Directors, President/CEO, Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce

“When I returned to live in Crawford County after a long absence, I was at first very concerned with thestate of affairs I found.  However, upon learning of Crawford: 20/20 Vision, and meeting the passionatepeople devoted to seeing the plan’s projects through, I can’t help but share their positive outlook,determination and hope for the future of this place we call home.”-Lisa Workman, CCEEDP Board of Directors, Vision Committee member, President, Community Foundation For Crawford County

CRAWFORD

Quality of Life● Coordinating due diligence to create a new economic driver––

a multi-million-dollar Sports/Entertainment Complex● Influencing/facilitating/guiding collaboration of government,

non-profit and business entities to benefit and uplift CrawfordCounty as a whole (Avita, United Way, Red Cross, countywidetourism efforts, school districts and cities working together)

● Influencing positive change in public health through aCommunity Health Assessment, analysis and strategicprogramming will follow

Education & Workforce Preparation● Improved collaboration among all education & workforce

training partners● Continuously provided financial support and guidance for

SPARC (P-16 council) in three-county region● Host and support Crawford County Mentoring Program,

influencing other mentoring startups such as YIPPEE (YouthIntervention) and Big Brothers/Big Sisters

● Host and support Crawford County Business EducationAdvisory Council to increase communication between theeducation and business sectors, increasing opportunities tobuild a more educated, prepared and reliable workforce

Business Success & Job Availibility● Creation of food and beverage designated & certified site at

Crossroads Industrial Center● Successfully competed to attract 90 new jobs to Galion, nearly

doubling the workforce at Tramec Sloan (Crawford Machine)● Continuous Retention / Expansion Survey work of local

businesses to find sustainable solutions (Boot Camp, SPARK)● Providing access to training and creating curriculum for

employees (Crawford Success Center, Boot Camp, etc )● WAGE (Workforce Awareness for Graduates and Educators)

pilot year connected over 120 local students and 60 educatorsto local career opportunities; next year more schools andmore businesses will participate

Public Safety & Drug Abuse● Created awareness of our local problem through support of

Community Care March and other collaborative communityefforts, events and organizations

● Created “What to Watch For” campaign which led to anincrease in public safety–- anonymous tips have contributedto more arrests, recent levy passage added officers

● Won’t Happen to Me (WH2ME)– countywide website andawareness campaign connecting employers, parents, youthand addicts to local treatment, prevention, law enforcementand educational resources– to launch in Summer 2015

Quality of Life● Support for growth and development of community

enhancement and cultural improvements (Crawford CountyArts Council, Arts Park/Theatre, Crawford County Park District,bike path and walking trail connections/upgrades)

● Creation of Crawford County Young Professionals to attract &retain youth, and compete with other growing communities

● Celebrating Crawford County’s history and heritage throughevents like Cemetery Walks, Taste of Crawford, etc

Education & Workforce Preparation● Creation of Senior Project/Capstone program for Crawford

County graduating Seniors, and hosting top presentationsshowcases our county’s young talent and connects them topotential employers

● Creation of Crawford Success Center (a satellite of NorthCentral State College) to increase educational attainment andbuild a stronger, more prepared and competitive workforce

● Support for BORN (faith-based initiative) that streamlinescommunity resources for emergency financial assistance

● Launching Hope Center and Crawford Works to alleviatepoverty through holistic job coaching and self-sustaining work

Leadership Development● Hosted 5 LEADERCASTs, bringing together nearly 1,200

Crawford County leaders for this powerful, global simulcast–engaged and inspired business and community leaders to beleaders worth following

● Creation of Crawford Unlimited Leadership (CU LEAD); nearly80 leaders (in 4 cohorts) are more prepared to lead in thecommunity and their workplace

● Creation of Crawford Conversation– lunch and learn series,that has engaged over 350 residents in topics relevant to ourbusiness community and to our overall quality of life

Business Success & Job Availability● Wage & Benefit research assists businesses with planning,

negotiating and competing for talent● Supervisor Boot Camp has trained nearly 80 Crawford County

front-line supervisors in Conflict Resolution, TimeManagement, Effective Communication, Employment Law,Taking Corrective Action and Coaching Skills– reducingturnover and increasing retention at their workplaces

● SPARK– one-day Boot Camp for supervisors on varioustopics, chosen based on feedback from businesses

● Creation and hosting of HIRING FAIRS that have connectedover 100 employers in the region to hundreds of CrawfordCounty job seekers resulting in quality hires