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Where Are We Now?
| Where Are We Going? | Where Do We Want to Be? | How Do We Get There? | Let's Go!Step One
Community Assessment
- Introduction
- How To Get Started
- Tools
- Case Studies
- Publications
- Frequent Questions
A Community Assessment
is the outcome of answering the question "Where Are We Now?"
An Assessment creates a picture of existing conditions, identifying local characteristics such as geography, natural resources, population, political and community institutions, recreational resources, etc.
Often, a community will include a Values Statement in their Assessment which articulates quality of life issues not necessarily captured by existing data and information.
Answering the question, "Where Are We Now?" will enable you to "take stock" of your community's assets -- social, economic, and environmental by assessing various community conditions. canThe Community Profile describes a community's existing conditions, identifying local characteristics such as geography, natural resources, population levels, political, civic, environmental and other institutions. Enviromental conditions such as water quality, air quality, hazardous waste sites and other potential sources of pollution are identified as part of the assessment step.
The community assessment and profile
The key to success in evaluating a community's assets is getting the right people involved. Broad community participation will help ensure that the information you collect is complete and correct. And, tap into local experts -- college professors, state and local biologists, engineers, planners, and others knowledgeable about your community's cultural, social and natural resources.
A Community Assessment will result in:
- A delineation of your planning area boundaries.
- An identification of community values.
- An inventory of natural and human-made features including sensitive areas and opportunities.
- An evaluation of economic conditions in your community.
- An evaluation of public facility and infrastructure capacity and effectiveness (e.g. wastewater treatment facilities).
- Linkages among social, economic and environmental issues.
- A way to compare your community with other communities.
Once you know where you are, you can more clearly see where you are going. In the next step, "Where Are We Going?", you will look at trends in your community and predict your community's future based on those trends.