recommended strategies - Hardee County

Residents, stakeholders and interested persons were invited to attend the community-wide kick-off and the thirty-four
Focus Group meetings held throughout the process to provide their input and comments on the various items
identified as being important to the community. These meetings provided the basis for specific projects, programs and
opportunities as well as identifying those who should be involved in making the vision a reality. In addition to the
public meetings, the County established an on-line method through the County’s website and email system to collect
responses for those members of the community that could not attend the meetings. Each meeting was recorded and a
copy of the audio recording was made available through the County’s website, along with a written summary of the
meeting’s recommendations, strategies and next steps, each summary building on the previous meetings to ensure and
assist with a consistent stream of information.
“Making decisions today that maintain and improve
the community as a whole based on Hardee County’s
Identification of implementation strategies and (targeted) stakeholders
The Sustainable Hardee Visioning Plan provides
a strategic review and assessment which in whole
or in part, can assist to identify actual or
perceived needs within the community both
from a public and or private sector approach.
Key components of the Visioning Plan include:
Identification of new and/or enhanced partnerships necessary for successful implementation of the Plan and
respective programs.
Program assessments and recommended enhancements
In addition, the Visioning Plan seeks to identify and highlight elements that answer the question, “How can Hardee
County grow while retaining the qualities that people expect and have come to identify with the community?”
The context of the Vision Plan, although specific policies may be modified over time to meet current needs, are the
main ideas and values expressed by the community that will remain constant. These include:
desires and values”
Maintain Hardee County’s rural and small town character and quality of life.
Create a range of obtainable housing opportunities and choices.
Support and encourage the core industries within the community including agriculture and agricultural support
services. Additional
Balance the need to protect natural resources with the need to provide economic opportunities.
Provide well designed, functional, and cost effective transportation, utility and public services to workplaces,
neighborhoods, communities, and centers of economic activity.
Promote excellence in educational, medical, employment, and recreational opportunities.
The choice to remain ‘rural’ and maintain the status-quo is not an entirely viable or sustainable option. Communities
that do not effectively grow and or embrace economic development strategies are at risk of declining populations and a
diminishing tax base. These communities are also at risk of not being able to adequately address their aging,
deteriorating infrastructure further compounding a general decline in the community. However, uncontrolled growth
and suburbanization, including moving away from the County’s core industries and assets, throughout the County is
equally not sustainable. By focusing efforts and directing resources on those locations where the community will allow
development (i.e., non-agriculturally based activities), it will also identify and preserve what is intended to remain ‘rural’.
Furthermore, diversification of the economic base is critical to Hardee County’s future and by identifying those targeted
industries, including eco-tourism and alternative agriculture enterprises, the community and its leadership can continue
to develop its employment and revenue base. By identifying, marketing and building on these assets, Hardee County
can attract public support for the various strategies developed throughout the Visioning process.
The Smart Growth Network in association with the International City/County Management Association identified
three goals as a framework for future growth in rural communities.
1. Support the rural landscape by creating an economic climate that enhances the viability of working lands and
conserves natural lands;
2. Help existing places thrive by take care of assets and
investments such as downtowns, main
streets, existing infrastructure, and
places that the community values; and
3. Create great new places by building
vibrant, enduring neighborhoods and
communities that people, especially young
people, don’t want to leave.
Hardee County has the assets and resources
necessary (i.e., land, incentives, strong leadership) to
pursue such activities based on:
Political support for economic development,
employment diversification and job creation.
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