Dayton Region's Strategic Plan
Author: Jim Leftwich
January 2007
by Jim Leftwich, Vice President for Aerospace, Defense and Technology, Dayton Development Coalition
Two years ago the Dayton Development Coalition began assembling task forces to assess the region's economy and create a strategic plan for the future. The task forces were created around the four industry clusters identified as areas of strength and growth for our region; Aerospace Research and Development, Human Sciences and Health Care, Advanced Materials and Manufacturing, and Advanced Data Management and Information Technology. Understanding that a strong economic region benefits everyone who lives and works here, dozens of regional stakeholders from business and industry, academia and government lent their time and talent to produce a vision for the region.
Focusing first on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and treats, each task force was able to identify both the assets and the barriers to increased success in the Dayton Region. This led each group to create their own vision statement. Asking themselves, "Where would we like to see our industry in the next 15 years?" each task force shaped the vision for their industry cluster.
Aerospace Research and Development: The Dayton Region will be the recognized national leader in Next-Generation Aeronautics Systems for Civil and Defense use and the preeminent region for education, innovation (research and technology), and development supporting the future of aeronautics.
Human Sciences and Health Case: The Dayton Region will be the international center for Aerospace Life Sciences and the internationally recognized center of expertise in the research, development, application, and commercialization of Aerospace Medicine and Human Sciences.
Advanced Materials and Manufacturing: The Dayton Region will be the global leader in advanced materials and development and will be known for its ability to transfer and commercialize its advanced materials technologies through its world class manufacturing centers.
Advanced Data Management and Information Technology: The Dayton Region will be the national leader in advanced data management that provides industry and government with unparalleled information from a single query and fosters a culture of innovation that supports business development and entrepreneurial growth throughout the area.
With visions statements set each group worked to move the plan from analysis to stewardship, creating a set of strategies and goals for regional industry leaders to focus on over the next 15 years. Following the creation of the vision statements, a core set of strategies emerged that cut across each of the industry clusters. These seven high-level strategies became the framework for each industry cluster to create goals to move forward towards 2021.
Currently the plan is in the last stages of formulation. The Coalition is working with regional partners to develop metric benchmarks for each cluster in order to measure the growth and successes of each industry in the future.
In support of the plan, the Greater Dayton IT Alliance and daytaOhio have become the stewards of the Advanced Data Management and Information Technology sector. The strategic plan is intended to be a living document based on an understanding of regional capacities and the broader economic climate. Under the leadership of GDITA Chief Operating Office, Ann Gallaher, and daytaOhio Chief Technology Officer, Terry Rapoch, a focused team of local leaders in Advanced Data Management and IT are fine-tuning the goals and strategies for this cluster to focus on emerging technologies and new areas of opportunity for the region in data management and IT. Continual involvement such as that from GDITA and daytaOhio is essential to the advancement and application of this plan.
Two years after this process began the Coalition is working to create momentum around the plan to help move the visions into realization. The Dayton Region has many assets to build on but there are always barriers to overcome and much progress to be made in an ever-evolving marketplace. With core strategies and goals in hand as a result of this planning process, the Regional Strategic Plan will serve as a beacon to guide economic development priorities now and in the future, and will be a catalyst for the region's increased economic achievement.
