Regional Planning
and Development
population of over 1.4 million people,
the twelve counties that make up this region \ 1 -
are increasingly bound together by common
The economic linkages in the Triad are indicated / Mon4onwv\
by the significant numbers of people commuting
across county lines to their jobs every day. The .
1990 census showed that 13320 persons commute to work from Forsyth to
Guilford County every day. They pass 5,407 persons commuting in the
opposite direction from Guilford to Forsyth County.
Our increasing economic interdependence means that planning for transpor
tation systems, provision of sewer and water, and open space needs to take
place within a regional context. We have, therefore, envisioned a future in
which we are active participants in regional initiatives aimed at fostering
appropriate growth and development in the Triad Region.
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Regional Identity
? Use education and the media to increase awareness of regional issues and
build a strong regional identity.
Regional Transportation
? Support the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation in plannmg for
and coordinating regional public transportation planning, including rafl, in
the Triad.
?,
Development Patterns
? Prepare and implement a regional plan which would identify preferred land
use patterns along intercity transportation corridors.
Economic Development
? Increase the recognition of the region as a global business center by developing
programs to promote the region nationally and internationally.
Open Space and Recreation
? Continue to fund development of the regional Triad Park and develop a
regional greenway plan for trails linking the Triad Park with Winston-Salem,
Kernersville, Greensboro and High Point
? Work with the Piedmont Land Conservancy, whose mission is to preserve
natural and scenic lands in the Piedmont to protect areas of regional
significance.
? *
Economic Vitality
Goal: Attract environmentally sensitive
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and smatl businesses to provide a broad A
range of employment opportunities and a I
high quality of life for people living and 1
working in Forsyth County. V
The potential for continued economic growth
in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County looks
bright, strategically, our community benefits from a central location
within the burgeoning "Piedmont Crescent" of North Carolina. This
mega-region of Over 3.5 million people, includes not only the Piedmont
Triad, but also the Charlotte and THangle metropolitan areas. With
a desirable climate and good transportation links both within and
outside the region, the Piedmont Crescent appears destined for contin
ued economic success. However positive the economic future may be
for the region as a whole, Winston-Salem and Forsyth County must still
compete to share in the region's economic strength. Just as businesses
must compete with each other for market share, whole communities
_ must now compete more aggressively with other communities for
quality jobs and economic stability.
While good development sites with supporting infrastructure such as
roads, water, and sewer are vital for economic growth, communities
must also offer a quality living environment to remain competitive in
today's business climate. Especially, in the context of a growing high
tech and service economy, quality employers must offer their employ
ees a desirable place to live and work, in addition to good salaries, if
they are to attract and retain highly educated and skilled workers, lb
a huge extent, excellent educational opportunities, safe and attractive
neighborhoods, and dean natural environments have become part of
the competitive formula for a community's economic success.
Key Recommendations
Sustainable Development
? Seek and ioe EPA grants to identify, cleanup and rejuvenate "brownfield'
sites.
? Forge new public, private, and nonprofit alliances and develop local
incentives to encourage business reinvestment in "brownfieW sites.
? Identify and create development-ready "greenfield" industrial sites.
Economic Diversification
? Promote public-private partnerships, including the selective use of
local incentives which facilitate the growth of capital investment and
high paying jobs.
.
Educated Work Force
? Promote community initiatives to improve
the quality of primary and secondary schools
in Forsyth County.
? Support Forsyth "Technical Community Col
lege and other institutions of higher learning
I to meet the challenges of providing a well
trained and highly educated work force.