The Vicksburg-Warren Chamber of Commerce announced Wednesday the start of a collaborative effort to develop a holistic economic development strategy.

The Chamber announced the selection of VisionFirst Advisors, led by Gray Swoope, to direct the strategic planning process and plan.

This effort, supported also by the Warren County Port Commission and the Warren County Economic Development Foundation, seeks to create a community strategy that will clarify common objectives and outline an action plan for implementation.

“Vicksburg-Warren County is at a point of great opportunity to leverage our assets and better define where we want to go in the future,” said VWCC’s Executive Director Pablo Diaz. “We must think beyond Vicksburg and beyond Mississippi, to position our community for greater success and economic prosperity for our residents. This is why we selected VisionFirst Advisors to help us design a roadmap for our future.”

“Vicksburg-Warren County has made bold steps forward in its willingness to work collaboratively across organizations. Such teamwork is critical to sustainable economic growth,” said Swoope, the former executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority and Florida Secretary of Commerce. “We are pleased to be chosen to serve as the catalyst and partner for the community.”

To kick-off the six-month planning process, VisionFirst will conduct interviews with local stakeholders and will launch an online survey to gather input from the community. In addition to gathering local feedback, VisionFirst will benchmark Vicksburg Warren County to other similar counties and the nation using demographic research and outlining best practices in economic development activities.

VisionFirst will work with community leaders to develop a comprehensive approach to connect and direct the efforts of the key stakeholders as each implements its part of a collaborative economic development program of work to achieve measurable goals.

“The Port Commission is terribly excited about getting to this very important point,” Margaret Gilmer, Chairwoman of the Warren County Port Commission, said. “The strategic plan that we as a community will develop, will serve as the North Star for the programs and initiatives that will be implemented over the next five to ten years, as we work to grow Warren County and create jobs for future generations. I want to commend all the organizations and leaders that have supported us to this point and especially the Warren County Board of Supervisors and the City of Vicksburg whom without their respective endorsements, none of this would have been possible.”

According to Diaz, this initiative seeks to go beyond the traditional development of a strategic plan. Instead, coming together like never before, the community partners will forge a new collaborative approach that addresses economic vitality from a holistic perspective. The plan will identify how the broader community defines economic development success, and will provide a clear course of action, milestones and measures.

The overarching goals, strategies and tactics will build upon the existing resources and infrastructure to strategically grow jobs, support businesses and build a collaborative network to grow the economy.

“This is a key moment for our community, and the Chamber of Commerce is proud to have played a role in bringing our community together as we work to define the future of economic development in Warren County and Vicksburg,” Mark Buys, Chairman of the Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce, said. “The city of Vicksburg, the Warren County Board of Supervisors, the Economic Development Foundation, and the Port Commission, they all play a key role in this process and we are thankful for their support. Our community has a bright future ahead and the way we make that future brighter and more prosperous will come out of this plan and the implementation of its components over the next several years.”