mission

The ultimate mission of Westport Community Partnerships is to make the neighborhood of Westport cleaner, greener and safer.  Partnerships are formed with nonprofit organizations and city agencies to facilitate this goal.  But most importantly, community members are encouraged to join in and work together to “take back” their neighborhood and make it a nice place to live, work, and raise a family.

strategy

The Community Partnerships Strategy Plan is a working plan for accomplishing set goals.  To reach those goals most effectively, the Plan includes short-term and long-term solutions, and is a flexible plan that will evolve and grow even during its implementation as community participation and program successes and improvements generate new ideas and opportunities in the neighborhood.  Primary objectives include:

1. Outreach & Communication  – Reaching out and communicating effectively with neighbors and business owners to encourage participation in Community Partnership projects. 
2. Trash Clean-Up  – Cleaning up the trash.  No other single community improvement effort is as effective in improving the overall quality of life. 
3. Greening & Beautification  – Implementing a community greening program, planting as many as 200 trees in the neighborhood and restoring the neighborhood playgrounds. 
4. Housing Initiatives – Working with public and private investors and nonprofit partners to help neighbors improve their properties and to promote the rehab and resale of vacant properties.
5. Workforce Development  – Facilitating a workforce development program in Westport and helping to provide opportunities for jobs and job skills training.
6. Youth Programs – Working with the local school to improve conditions and support school programs.  Helping to facilitate the redevelopment of the Recreation Center building to bring a YMCA and/or other youth programs to the neighborhood.
7. Streetscape Improvements – Working with the City and other organizations to improve sidewalks, curbs, lighting, streetscapes and gateways into the community.
8. Business Development – Implementing business revitalization initiatives to bring back small businesses to the main corridor of Westport, providing needed goods and services to the neighbors, giving the neighbors more job and business opportunities, and bringing life to the streets.
9. Drug Corner Initiatives – Working with Southern District Police and the community to implement neighborhood safety initiatives and address the number one issue on every resident’s wish list:   Make the neighborhood safer.
10. Grant-writing – In support of various projects, working with appropriate IRC §501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, etc., to pursue grant and other public funding opportunities for community programs.
11. Plan Review – Reviewing and updating the Community Partnerships Strategy Plan on a regular basis, revising and expanding it as appropriate.