CONNECT Our Future is a process in which communities, counties, businesses, educators, non-profits and other organizations work together to grow jobs and the economy, improve quality of life and control the cost of government. This project will create a regional growth framework developed through extensive community engagement and built on what communities identify as existing conditions, future plans and needs, and potential strategies. It is supported by a $4.9 million HUD Sustainable Communities Grant and $3 million in local in-kind public and private matching resources. The CONNECT Our Future three-year process will engage public, private and non-profit organizations across the 14-county region. It is based on, and builds from, the region's CONNECT vision.

A series of drop-in open house events are ongoing in February. Everyone is invited.

“I hope you come to an open house to chat with your neighbors as you consider the opportunities for creating a vibrant future for our region,”said Heidi Pruess, environmental policy administrator for Mecklenburg County’s Land Use and Environmental Services Agency. “CONNECT Our Future is developing a data-driven toolkit for visualizing the future of our region and the many opportunities we have for creating a vibrant region.”

For a schedule of open houses in Mecklenburg County, visit http://connectourfuture.org/.