Vision Neshoba meetings begin, will develop plan

Capitalizing on sales tax revenue from the Congress of Country Music, evaluating education preferences and better roads are a few ideas that will potentially be discussed this week during a series of Vision Neshoba meetings designed to help move the community forward.

Montana-based Orion Planning and Design (OPD) is assisting a local Vision Neshoba committee this week with a plan for the future. They're conducting focus group meetings with community members and gathering public input. These efforts aim to shape a vision for future economic development, organizers said.

Core members of the Vision Neshoba team include co-chairs Elizabeth Frohse and Annette Watkins with Jackie Hester, Steve Wilkerson, Carly Byars Rounsaville, Mattie Hudson, Kelly McQuaig, Tim Moore, David Vowell, and Searra Wilson.

“We got to have a plan for the future,” said Elizabeth Frohse, owner of Neshoba Animal Hospital.

“By gathering information and having a company design a plan for our future, we have a vision and see how we want things to look.

“I want to see the community control the narrative and we’ve got to keep this organized. This is a huge step forward for us,” she said.

On Wednesday, Vision Neshoba members will meet with OPD for a Discovery Site Visit to give a tour of downtown Philadelphia, the Choctaw Indian Reservation, and other points of interest in Neshoba County to assess roadways and community gateways and to consider input from various sources, officials said.

Wednesday afternoon OPD will meet with the Industrial Development Authority for an hour-long focus meeting to gather ideas of what they want to see, what they don’t want to see, and where they would like to see the community grow.

Meetings continue on Thursday with focus groups involving mobility and infrastructure, Philadelphia Main Street, Tourism, Neshoba County elected officials, Chamber of Commerce, and Tribal leaders, held at various locations around town.

"As we grow as a community, it's essential to establish clear guidance and priorities,” said Mayor James A. Young.

“This ensures that growth occurs in the appropriate areas, that buildings and structures adhere to zoning regulations, and that we enhance the visual outlook of our community. We must implement predefined boundaries to maintain a consistent growth pattern in our community.”

"We are looking at another generation of young minds, professionals, and businessmen and women. They won't settle for just any location, and businesses require controlled growth and regulations for their surroundings. My vision is to promote disciplined and controlled growth in all communities, emphasizing a structured approach. I believe that Vision Neshoba will play a crucial role in our city and community's planning, structure, and discipline as we progress," he said.

Thursday afternoon Vision Neshoba and OPD will have a Community Input Guidance Gathering open to the public from 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. at The First Baptist Church Christian Life Center, 414 Pecan Ave. 

There will be a general information discussion and afterwards, people will break out into smaller groups to share their ideas. 

“I’m very thankful that we are doing this. We need everybody to be around the table from Philadelphia, Choctaw, and Neshoba County, so as we go forward with different ideas, everybody will be involved,” said Chamber of Commerce/Main Street Director Tim Moore. “My vision is for a comprehensive plan that our children and grandchildren can still use that shows how we as a community came together to benefit everyone.”

On Friday there will be a meeting with business owners and community leaders such as the mayor, alderman, and supervisors to give an overview of the findings, so strategies can later be evaluated.

“I’m a huge supporter of school of choice,” said Ward 2 Alderman Justin Clearman. 

“If you’re a city resident and pay city and county taxes as much as the next county person does, you should be able to send your kid wherever you want.

“I hope that in the next five years, we have more options available for that and have more clarity on what we can do for our kids’ education.”

He said he’s also excited to see the sales tax revenue coming in the next three to five months from Marty’s Congress of Country Music. 

“I don’t want to see any more empty buildings around town,” he said.

The Vision Neshoba initiative aims to improve the quality of life in Philadelphia through community involvement and planning. 

Orion Planning + Design  (orionplanningdesign.com) is a multi-disciplined firm specializing in the planning and design of communities of lasting value, according to their website.

The Montana-based firm with offices in Hernando, Jacksonville, Fla., Chattanooga, Tenn., and St. Simons Island, Ga., consists of leading planners and designers from across the United States, with a project footprint spanning from Hawaii to Georgia. 

“In order to provide the best service to our clients, we recently added engineering to the mix which will add a new dimension to our practice,” their website says.

“Together our team has a breadth of experience in the private and public sectors, bringing together our common philosophy in best practice to help communities succeed through thoughtful planning, innovative design, progressive engineering, and active implementation of a collective vision.”

Watkins said they are looking forward to positive community input coupled with suggestions from the experts at Orion Planning Design.

“Philadelphia is a wonderful place to live and raise a family,” she said. “Along with highly-respected healthcare and education systems, it offers much beauty and history.  

“We hope to preserve that history, build on it, and continue beautification of our town and county, as we build on the plan for generations to come.”

Learn more about Vision Neshoba, participate in surveys, and register for updates at visionneshoba.com.