Getting the community involved in local and regional development efforts is fundamental to the successful creation and implementation of development plans. Community involvement not only improves community and economic development outcomes by utilizing local knowledge and networks, but can also grow community cohesion and vitality, as members feel more invested in the place that they live. Residents are more likely to embrace development proposals when invited to contribute their opinions and shape efforts to reflect their challenges and needs. Furthermore, shaping the efforts to reflect the challenges and needs of community members can only improve those efforts. Similarly, community members are more likely to be invested, and, in turn, more willing to invest the time to implement the proposals.
Read more in a new publication out by Dr. Rebekka Dudensing and me: http://agrilifelearn.tamu.edu/Getting-Community-Involved-in-Local-Development-p/eag-045.htm