2023-2027 Community Strategic Plan
Northumberland County is on the cusp of transformational change. Set to grow to over 122,000 residents by 2051, the intersection of critical requirements related to workforce development, housing, transportation, health, and broadband connectivity reveals a clear overarching mandate for our organization:
To guide this growth with intention.
In the face of both opportunities and challenges arising from this anticipated growth, this strategic plan will be the County’s principal guidance document. It will inform how we shape our community in alignment with the County’s mission, vision and values, Council’s direction, and shared community priorities.
Vision
To bring together people, partnerships and possibilities for a strong and vibrant Northumberland County.
Mission
To be a best practices leader in county government, and a collaborative partner with member municipalities and community partners.
Values
- Accountability
- Care & Support
- Collaboration & Communication
- Honesty & Integrity
- Innovation & Excellence
- Mutual Trust & respect
The development of this plan involved consultation with Council, staff, residents, businesses, and community partners. The end result is a well-informed plan that positions actions in response to the opportunities and challenges facing our community.
Principal Direction
The Community Strategic Plan Principal Direction is a shared vision for the future of Northumberland, based on a consolidation of feedback gathered through this process:
Northumberland is recognized as a vibrant and connected twenty-first century county. We embrace innovation, respect our natural environment, celebrate diversity, and care for one another. Together, we are shaping an inclusive, prosperous, and thriving community for all.
Strategic pillars
Five strategic pillars will underpin the important work required to actively pursue this vision:
Innovate for Service Excellence
Ignite Economic Opportunity
Foster a Thriving Community
Propel Sustainable Growth
Champion a Vibrant Future
Northumberland County will regularly assess its progress in delivering the strategic priorities outlined in this plan. This includes reporting on actions taken to achieve the stated goals and objectives, and on alignment of key outcomes with overall strategic direction.
View the plan
Advancing priorities in the plan
Watch the short video below to see highlights of some of the initiatives completed or underway in 2024, to advance priorities in our Community Strategic Plan.
Check on our progress
We will be taking steps to provide regular updates on progress towards key goals and fulfillment of service commitments outlined in our Strategic Plan. These updates are available on our Performance Dashboard, which tracks over 30 indicators across a range of topics, including:
- expansion of licensed child care spaces
- paramedic response times
- financial performance
- small businesses launched
- general indicators of community health and growth
- waitlist for subsidized housing
Each metric is accompanied by an explanation of its importance, how it is measured, and performance data over time. The dashboard will be updated regularly – either quarterly or annually depending on the metric, with some data pulled from the national census every four years – to reflect the latest data and insights.