The strategic plan for the Wood County Economic Development Commission, introduced formally last week, sets lofty goals for improvements across the county.

Executive Director Christine Thomas and board Chairman Tom Keenan briefed board members on some of the highlights of 16 pages of recommendations.

Thomas said the challenges include balancing growth with country living, having an accepting environment for business – but the right types of business – and developing tourism.

Opportunities for improvement include health care, education, tourism, manufacturing and retail business and development at the airport, art and hospitality, and growth that is coordinated.

Keenan said he is excited about what’s going to happen.

He described “centers of excellence” to be developed, which can be groups as well as individuals.

As an example, the WCEDC website should serve as a model for promoting the county and providing information.

Three areas of focus will be jobs, workforce and housing, and determining which of those comes first, he said.

The slogan for marketing the effort is “Wood County united.”

Economic development is a team sport, he said.

It will include a regional strategy, partnering with other counties.

The WCEDC’s committees will need to be aligned, and Keenan and Thomas will be meeting with each to formulate plans, as well as reactivating some committees such as real estate.

“There are a lot of great things going on in the county,” Thomas said.

A lot of organizations are doing their own thing, but no one has attempted to place them all under one umbrella. Coordinating will require open lines of communication.

It’s a lofty goal,”she said. “There’s no reason why we can’t.”