From ranchers to urban gardeners, mountain-bikers to musicians, aerospace engineers to traditional craftspersons, and medical providers to world-class athletes, over 200,000 people call the Greater Waco area home. Maybe they were drawn here for work, school, or for family. And perhaps it is the beautiful Brazos River, the abundant museums, the array of higher education options, or the programs for youth that cause them to stay. Whatever the reason, Waco is a beautiful mosaic of interests, talents, heritage, and dreams.

In 2004 and 2005, a group of leaders from throughout the area gathered not only to develop a new vision for the community, but to make sure the voices of local residents were heard in the process.

A series of Town Hall meetings, held all across the region, provided an opportunity for aspirations and concerns to be shared and for new relationships to be formed. Today, the Community Visioning Project and the priorities it embodies continue to be the fruit of that labor:

strengthening the heart of the community

increasing economic and educational opportunities

engaging leaders

enhancing life outside the workplace

developing our distinct advantage

The Community Visioning Board, composed of leaders of civic, business, academic, and nonprofit institutions, meets regularly to monitor progress in addressing these priorities. Every two years, the broader community is updated through this report card and the Community Celebration and Expo, a free event open to the public which showcases new activities and exciting accomplishments in and around Waco.

This progress report highlights many projects that have been started, as well as many that have been completed since the last Celebration and Expo in 2012. While these activities and investments enrich the quality of life in our community, we are mindful that the residents of Greater Waco are our most precious asset. Generous individuals choosing to collaborate for the greater good have realized the motto, “Many Voices. One Vision.”

We would like to give thanks to those who give their time, effort, and resources to ensure that we can always confidently say, “There’s no place like home.”

Board Members:Jo h n e t t e McKow n , Co - Ch a i r

Ed Pa ge, Co - Ch a i r As h l ey A l l i s o n

Ri c k B ro p hyL ave d a B row n

B o n ny Ca i nB i l l Cl i f t o n

Er i n Du B o i sMa l co l m Du n c a n , Jr.

Vi rg i n i a Du Pu yB re t t Es ro c kS co t t Fe l t o nDa l e Fi s s e l e r

Fe l i c i a Go o d m a nRo l a n d Go e r t z

J i m Haw k i n sMe ga n He n d e rs o n

We s l ey Ho d ge sGe o rge Ka z a n a s

Ma t t Me a d o rsG l e n n A . Ro b i n s o n

To m S a l o m eS h a ro n S h i e l d sA l f re d S o l a n o

Ke n n e t h W. St a r rEl t o n St u c k l y

Ho m e r Trev i n oJi m Wi l s o n

Coordinating Team:Fe l i c i a Go o d m a n , Ch a i r

Ka re n A h oVi rg i n i a Du Pu yB r ya n Fo nv i l l eKe n Ha m p t o n

Ge o rge Jo h n s o n , Jr.Mi s sy L a rs o n

Ed d i e Ma z a n e cJo h n e t t e McKow nB ra n d o n Mo s e l ey

Ed Pa geJo e Ri l ey

Expo Team:Ka re n A h o

Fe r n a n d o Ar royoCa t h e r i n e Hay n e s Ba u e r

An ge l B re t o nCa r y n B row nJu l i e Ca r l s o nD i a n e De ave rEr i n Du B o i s

B r ya n Fo nv i l l eFe l i c i a Go o d m a nTa m my Ha r ra l s o n

Ja n a Hi x s o nHo n ey Je n k i n s

Ge o rge Jo h n s o n , Jr.Me ga n Maw h i rEd d i e Ma z a n e c

B ra n d o n Mo s e l eyAd e l e Wi l l i a m s

The CommunityVisioning Project

The Community Visioning Projectwould like to thank the following sponsors who have

generously underwritten the printing of this document and the Celebration and Expo:

Baylor UniversityCity of Waco

Cooper FoundationHeart of Texas Economic Development District

“Waco and the Heart of Texas”TSTC-Waco

Many Voices. One Vision.

Celebrating life on

the banks of the Brazos...

NEW DEVELOPMENTS- First Friday Waco- Franklin Place- Habitat for Humanity’s New Home Rehabilitation and Community Enhancement Program - Hippodrome Renovation - Legacy Square Development - Main Street USA Designation & Revitalization Effort - MCC’s Designation of a Servicemembers’ Opportunity College (SOC) (Connect-A-Vet program)- McGregor Downtown Exchange, Project Facelift, and Vision 2030- New Murals in Downtown Waco- Rapoport Academy’s Redevelopment of Quinn Campus’ Administration Building- Signature I-35 Suspension Bridge Over the Brazos River- Stratton Building Renovation- Waco Wonderland- Waco-McLennan County East Waco Library Renovations ONGOING PROJECTS- Actlocallywaco.org - Carver Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative - City of Waco’s Updated Comprehensive Plan - Downtown Development Corporation - Downtown Neighborhood Association- Imagine Waco Plan Revitalization- Northside Master Plan- Waco Downtown Farmers Market- Waco Foundation’s SmartBabies Initiative

PROJECTS completed � Anthem Studios � Baylor Research and Innovation

Collaborative (BRIC) � BaylorScott & White Hillcrest

Cancer Center � Baylor University’s Jim & Nell Hawkins

Indoor Tennis Facility � Cameron Park Zoo’s Eagle Nesting Program � Cameron Park Zoo’s New Pavilion � Carleen Bright Arboretum Pavilion � Carter Bloodcare Center in Woodway � Cenikor Foundation - New Resident

Treatment Center � Cenikor Foundation - Outpatient Services

in Downtown Waco � Col. James T. Connally Aerospace Center

at Texas State Community College (TSTC) � Dichotomy Coffee � East Village at Baylor University � East Waco Library Mural � Hawaiian Falls Water Park � HEB Plus New Location � LaVega ISD Bond Improvements � Lula Jane’s Bakery � Muddle � New Police Station at Hillcrest Tower � Texas Ranger Museum &

Headquarters Expansion � VA Medical Center New Construction � Waco Civic Theatre Facility Upgrades � Waco Mammoth Site

Children’s Discovery Area � Waco Regional Airport Upgrades � Waco-McLennan County

Central Library Renovations

O U R P R I O R I T I E S

NEW DEVELOPMENTS- Waco CDC’s Grassroots Leadership Training

ONGOING PROJECTS- City of Waco Employees Leadership Program - Greater Waco Chamber Leadership Waco- Greater Waco Chamber Young Professionals Group- KWBU’s Leadership Series- Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) - LeadershipPlenty Institute- Today’s Action Tomorrow’s Leaders

NEW DEVELOPMENTS- Communities in Schools Play2Learn Afterschool Program- Collective Impact Initiative (Education, Health, Income)- Connally Career Tech- Education Alliance’s Mentoring Coalition- Greater Waco Advanced Manufacturing Academy- Greater Waco Healthcare Academy- MCC’s Learning Environment Adaptability Project (LEAP)- Midway ISD Fine Arts Facility- Talitha Koum: Brain Trust- ThINC Space- Upjohn Institute’s Employment Research & Strategies Project - Veterans’ One Stop Center- Waco CDC’s “Little Free Libraries”- Waco ISD’s Positive Interventions: Suspend Kids to School- Waco Transit - Comprehensive Study

ONGOING PROJECTS- Baylor Bound at McLennan Community College- CenTex African American Chamber of Commerce Center of Business Excellence- Centex Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Scholarship and Business Development Programs- Dual High School/College Credit Enrollment Programs- Greater Waco Chamber Green Business Initiatives- Greater Waco Chamber Higher Education Job Fair- Greater Waco Community Education Alliance & Annual Summits- McLennan Community College’s University Center- MCC-Texas Tech Nursing Program Collaboration- McLennan County Hunger Coalition- McLennan County Reintegration Roundable- SpaceX Falcon Rocket Program- TSTC-Waco Dual College Credit Enrollment- Waco Prospector Website- Waco Solutions Youth Employment Expo- Waco Transit DASH Trolley and 6 to Success- Waco-McLennan County Economic Development Corporation Incentives- Workforce Center Summer Jobs Fair

LeadershipPlenty Institute 2013-2014 Class Graduation

The Downtown Waco Farmers Market brings people of all ages downtown every Saturday

ENGAGE Leaders

INCREASE Economic & Educational Activities

STRENGTHEN the Heart of the Community

DEVELOP Our Distinct Advantage

NEW DEVELOPMENTS- Celebrate Waco Events- MCC’s Tree Campus USA Designation- Riverwalk Extension & Wayfinding Project

ONGOING PROJECTS- Branding the Brazos Public Sculpture Project- Community in Focus Television Series- Doris Miller Memorial- Greater Waco Aviation Alliance

NEW DEVELOPMENTS- Baylor Club at McLane Stadium- Baylor’s McLane Stadium & Baylor-Waco Stadium Authority- Collaborative Initiative to Reduce Pet Over-Population- Copa de Waco Soccer Match- Electronic Trail Mapping in Cameron Park- Family Health Center’s Group Medical Visits- Missoula Children’s Theatre at Waco Civic Theatre- Providence Health Center’s Robotic Surgery Institute, the DaVinci Robot- Providence Health Center’s Woodway Medical Plaza- Relocation of KWBU Transmitter

ONGOING PROJECTS- Art on Elm- BaylorScott&White’s NICU Follow-Up Clinic- BaylorScott&White’s Palliative Care Team- Baylor University Student Government’s Passport to Waco Program- Baylor University’s Community Garden- Brazos Nights Concerts- City of Robinson’s New Park- Expansion of Live Music Venues in Downtown Waco- Family Health Center’s Adult Dental Care Fund- Family Health Center’s Patient-Centered Medical Home Model- Healthy Babies Coalition- MCC Summer Sounds Concerts at Bosque River Stage- Tri Waco Olympic and Sprint Triathlon- Urban Gardening Coalition- VA Hospital Center for Excellence for Research on Returning War Veterans and Brain Imaging Center- Waco Arts Alliance- Waco Cultural Arts Fest

ENHANCE Life Outside the Workplace