6. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats Analysis
Statement of Issue:
This section presents the results of a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis to assist the Board in the development of the FY 2022 – FY 2026 Strategic Plan.
Staff Recommendation:
No Board action required.
Background:
A SWOT analysis is a process that identifies the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to an organization and, in this case, to a community. SWOT is a standard, structured strategic planning method used by leading organizations to evaluate these four (4) elements. Identification of SWOTs is important in informing later steps in the planning process – such as the development of priorities and initiatives.
Analysis
This SWOT analysis was compiled using the results of the citizen survey, the environmental scan conducted by County staff, in addition to the Board’s own perceptions as captured in a SWOT exercise submitted in advance of the Retreat. From this analysis, the Board is able to better gauge the perceptions of the residents, County staff, and Commissioners regarding the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats effecting Leon County as an organization and as a community. The SWOT results are presented in the form of a word cloud, a visual representation of the key findings from each data source. The size of each word in the word clouds indicates its frequency of the words/phrases appearing in the findings.
While this analysis provides a broad array of information, the results are useful in developing a Strategic Plan that reflects the greatest concerns and aspirations for Leon County. Much of the SWOT analysis reaffirms the foundational components of the Strategic Plan, but also supports revisions to other segments, such as priorities and initiatives. There are several key themes identified in the SWOT analysis, response, which are reflected in the proposed revisions to the plan in the following sections of the Retreat. Examples of these themes include economic equity, affordable housing, crime prevention, and emergency response among others.
Strengths
The following word cloud is a visual representation of the 30 Strengths identified from the community survey, environmental scan, and from Commissioner input. The size of each word indicates its frequency.
Strengths: (1) Parks, (2) Engagement, (3) Colleges & Universities, (4) COVID-19 Response & Recovery, (5) Art,
(6) Culture, (7) Educated Workforce, (8) Entertainment (9) Restaurants, (10) Stable Economy, (11) Sustainability,
(12) Entrepreneurship, (13) Family Friendly, (14) Great Neighborhoods, (15) Healthcare & Human Services,
(16) Collaboration; (17) Diversity, (18) Good Schools, (19) Job Opportunities, (20) EMS, (21) Library, (22) Quality of Life, (23) Minimal Traffic, (24) Natural Beauty, (25) Sports; (26) Retirement Spot; (27) Low Cost of Living , (28) Clean,
(29) Climate/Weather (30) Safe.
Weaknesses
The following word cloud is a visual representation of the 29 Weaknesses identified from the community survey, environmental scan, and from Commissioner input. The size of each word indicates its frequency.
Weaknesses: (1) Crime, (2) Poverty, (3) Divisiveness, (4) Private Sector Jobs, (5) Affordable Housing, (6) Affordable Healthcare, (7) Airport, (8) Gun Violence, (9) Broadband Access, (10) High Cost of Living, (11) Labor Gap, (12) Over Development, (13) Public Transportation, (14) Schools, (15) Segregation/Racism, (16) Sustainability,
(17) Afterschool Activities, (18) Aging Workforce, (19) Collaboration, (20) College Town, (21) Corruption, (22) COVID, Mandates, (23) Cultural Offerings, (24) Economic Disparity, (25) Economic Growth, (26) Gentrification,
(27) Pedestrian Safety, (28) Quality Jobs, (29) Roads/Traffic.
Opportunities
The following word cloud is a visual representation of the 30 Opportunities identified from the community survey, environmental scan, and from Commissioner input. The size of each word indicates its frequency.
(1) Amazon, (2) Colleges & Universities, (3) Tourism, (4) Airport, (5) Amtrak, (6) Downtown Development, (7) Private Sector Growth, (8) Public Spaces, (9) Technology, (10) Transportation Infrastructure, (11) Children's Services Council, (12) Citizen Engagement, (13) Collaboration, (14) Cultural Offerings, (15) Parks, (16) Recruitment of Talent,
(17) Senior Services, (18) Volunteerism, (19) Water Quality, (20) Affordable Housing, (21) Amphitheater, (22) Danfoss Turbocor, (23) Early Intervention, (24) Infrastructure Funding, (25) Job Creation, (26) Mag Lab, (27) Parking Enhancements (28) Railroad Square, (29) School Improvements, (30) Workforce Development.
Threats
The following word cloud is a visual representation of the 29 Threats identified from the community survey, environmental scan, and from Commissioner input. The size of each word indicates its frequency.
Threats: (1) Crime, (2) Homelessness, (3) Divisiveness, (4) Severe Weather (5) "Great Resignation," (6) Challenges to Home Rule, (7) Climate Change, (8) COVID-19 Variants, (9) Misinformation, (10) Distrust of Government,
(11) Affordable Housing, (12) Increased Costs, (13) Poverty, (14) NIMBY-ism, (15) Segregation/Racism, (16) State Government Downsizing, (17) Urban Sprawl, (18) Distrust of Police, (19) Airport Prices, (20) Bad Roads/Traffic,
(22) Cyber Security, (23) Human Trafficking, (24) Lack of Diversified Economy, (25) Lack of Social Services, (26) Low Local Wages, (27) State Redistricting, (28) Threats to Elections, (29) Unfunded Mandates.