In 2013, the Valdosta-Lowndes Metropolitan Planning Organization completed the Greater Lowndes County Common Community Vision report. 2018 marks the fifth Annual Report of Accomplishments of the community’s progress toward a common vision. The annual report was released this week by the Valdosta-Lowndes Metropolitan Planning Organization, the federally-designated regional transportation planning agency of the Southern Georgia Regional Commission, and is available on their website at www.sgrc.us.

The VLMPO and the communities in Lowndes County faced a unique situation in 2013, when both the regional transportation plan and local comprehensive land use plan were due for an update. Through a shared visioning and goal setting exercise more than 800 comments and statements from community members and more than twenty local plans were evaluated to develop a Common Community Vision to fit the needs of transportation, education, workforce and economic development, land use, health and safety and other areas. The resulting Common Community Vision developed 18 goals across various topics that a multitude of agencies throughout the community would work to achieve in the coming years.

During the past year local governments and other organizations have been working to carry out their own plans and strategies that strive to achieve the Common Community Vision. The Annual Report of Accomplishments highlights several news articles that document overall progress towards these goals Included, this past year, is recognition of the community support of Moody Air Force Base as a Great American Defense Community, the investment by the City of Valdosta in improved traffic signal timing and management, an emphasis on the Youth Entrepreneurship Academy, the Valdosta Youth Council and Youth learning to make Healthy life choices.

The City of Valdosta and the City School Board were also recognized in the past year for investments in solar energy. Other infrastructure improvements were completed in the community in 2018 that included recognition of clean drinking water systems and improvements to parks and recreation facilities.

The Southern Georgia Regional Commission as the designated Valdosta-Lowndes Metropolitan Planning Organization (VLMPO) is a multi-county, federally funded transportation planning agency for the Valdosta Urbanized Area. The VLMPO conducts long range and short range transportation planning in areas including: highways and bridges, public transit, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, freight movement among other areas.