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The Planning for Results Guidebook: Practical Advice for Building Successful Rural Communities (2003, 104 pp.)

This publication describes how to design and conduct a community planning process that is both inclusive and action-oriented.  Its intended audience includes county elected and appointed officials as well as planning commissioners and interested citizens.  The guidebook includes sections to help people:

• Develop a broadly shared vision of the future;
• Understand local economic conditions within the context of national, regional and global economies;
• Assess a community’s natural and cultural assets and how they are affected by population growth and development; and
• Effectively manage growth and change by using a wide variety of both regulatory and non-regulatory tools to protect or enhance local assets.

Ordering Information

• One free copy of the Guidebook will be sent to the chief elected official of NACo member counties by December 2003.  Additional member copies are $10.00 each.
• Non-members $12.00 each, $10 for quantities over 10.
• To order on-line Please Click Here
• For other orders or questions, call NACo Publications at (202) 942-4256.

The Guidebook was written by Lee Nellis and Karen VanGilder on behalf of the Western Community Stewardship Forum (WCSF).  The WCSF is a training and assistance program designed to provide rural Western county officials the resources to effectively manage growth and is partnership project of NACo and the Sonoran Institute.  For more information about the WCSF and the Guidebook, contact Abby Friedman at (202) 942-4225 or afriedma@naco.org.