Seeking feedback for community assessment

The Odessa Chamber of Commerce is about to kick off a community assessment that it hopes will inform and inspire decision-making throughout the town. In partnership with Avista Utilities, the Chamber is inviting all residents of Odessa to engage in the process and help drive the future of the community. The assessment itself is built on a popular self-help book for communities titled “13 Ways to Kill Your Community,” which refers to a list of 13 ways that communities across the nation unintentionally limit growth and opportunity. The book was written by community development expert Doug Griffiths, who was hired by Avista to consult on assessments in 21 of the communities it serves.

Residents of all ages are encouraged to participate by taking the survey found at http://avista.surveysby13ways.com/ and/or in hardcopy form at the town clerk’s office, community churches, the school and The Odessa Record. Once completed, the surveys will be combined, analyzed and turned into suggestions that will enable community members to gain new insights and create the desired future for the community. The survey will be available until early December, and results will be shared with the public once they are received.