North Michigan News

The City of Traverse City is launching a Strategic Action Plan aimed at guiding the city's development through 2030. This initiative, driven by community input, will run from October 2024 to May 2025. The plan aims to create a sustainable roadmap for future city programs and investments.

Residents are invited to attend Community Visioning Sessions over three days to discuss findings from initial Think-Tank workshops conducted in October 2024. These sessions will examine macro trends and key drivers affecting the city's future, allowing participants to share their views on Traverse City's direction.

Sessions will be held in various neighborhoods across the city to ensure accessibility for all residents. Although each session targets specific neighborhoods, all community members can attend any session.

The schedule for these sessions includes meetings on November 12th at NMC Great Lakes Campus and the Governmental Center Cafeteria; November 13th at Hickory Hills; and November 14th at the Traverse Area District Library's Main Branch.

City Manager Liz Vogel stated, “We thank those who attended the October Think-Tank sessions and participated in the valuable dialogue that emerged. We appreciate everyone who contributed their insights and helped set the stage for the City’s future. Now, as we continue this journey, we invite all residents to join our upcoming Community Visioning Sessions. We have highlighted a session in your area to encourage neighborhood participation, but anyone is welcome to attend any session. These sessions are an opportunity for everyone to share their vision, help prioritize our community’s goals, and shape a strategic path forward together.”

The Strategic Action Planning process emphasizes inclusivity and transparency while focusing on research and engagement with the Traverse City community. It seeks to identify current needs and explore potential futures leading up to 2030.

Over eight months starting October 2024, key milestones will include releasing a Situational Assessment Report and a Community Visioning Report that will contribute to the final plan.

The planning process involves extensive research, data collection, and collaboration with residents and partners. Activities include communication strategies, interviews with community partners, visioning sessions, surveys, stakeholder roundtables, focus groups on strategic pillars, creating a community dashboard/balanced scorecard, and producing the final action plan.

Future iQ has been contracted by Traverse City to facilitate developing this Strategic Action Plan.

Residents are encouraged by Traverse City officials to participate actively in shaping future programs and investments. Details about involvement opportunities can be found on the City's Strategic Plan Project Portal.