Island Plan Livelihood and Commerce Work Group Releases Recommendations

The Island Plan’s Livelihood and Commerce Work Group has released its Preliminary Recommendations about the Vineyard economy. These findings derive from a series of inquiries, from meetings with many Islanders (farmers, fishermen, health care workers, school officials, entrepreneurs, employees, and others), and from the work of consultants John Ryan of Development Cycles and Michael Shuman and Doug Hoffer of Training Development Corp. The findings of both consultants are summarized in John Ryan’s Martha’s Vineyard Economic Profile (see below).

The Work Group notes that “the Vineyard economy is largely driven by its vacationers and seasonal residents, who bring significant economic activity to the island. We need to keep this part of the economy – hospitality, construction, and real estate - robust, vital, and responsive to changing needs.  At the same time, a more diverse and stronger year-round economy would be good for the Island’s residents, seasonal and year-round alike.”   The Work Group identified the two fundamental purposes of the current effort, namely to help year-round residents -- individuals and families -- live meaningful and productive lives in harmony with the values that make Martha’s Vineyard unique, and to help build a vibrant economy that inspires, welcomes, and enables those who grow up here to stay or return.  The Work Group then outlined six economic objectives: 1) Emphasize initiatives that are environmentally benign or restorative.  2) Find ways to provide “career path” jobs for the next generation.  3) Expand the proportion of higher paying “living wage” jobs.  4) Use the community's buying power to keep mroe dollars circulating within the local economy. 5) Create new "export" opportunities appropriate to the Vineysrd. 6) Strengthen and gradually re-align our core economic activities.  Finally, it identifies fourteen specific promising initiatives that would help achieve these objectives.  

Economic Profile : This study of the Vineyard demography and economy includes an analysis of key issues, paradigms, opportunities, and initiatives. It was carried out by John Ryan of Development Cycles.

Economic Profile with Appendices: This version of the John Ryan study includes a series of appendices.

Economic Leakage Study (pdf 387k): This study was commissioned by the MVC on behalf of the Livelihood and Commerce Work Group.

Livelihood and Commerce Discussion Paper (pdf 248k): This document summarizes the efforts of the Work Group as of summer 2007. It includes Emerging Directions and Promising Initiatives.

Livelihood and Commerce Summary Document (pdf 146k): The current version of the Summary working document, listing the emerging possible Goals, Objectives, Strategies etc. is available by clicking on Livelihood and Commerce Summary in the list to the left. We invite you to give comments and make suggestions on this document.

If you are interested in participating in this important planning process, please go to the Get Involved section and either take the current survey, or sign up for the mailing list.

For further information, contact Mark London london@mvcommission.org.

 
Home • Planning Process • Get Involved • Calendar • Discussions
© Copyright 2006-2007 by the Martha’s Vineyard Commission