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| David Beurle, CEO of Future iQ, outlines the findings of the extensive Vision Romulus study to city officials and residents. |
David Beurle, CEO of Future iQ, the consultants responsible for preparing the report, said there were two major aspects prevalent in the project which was developed following extensive community engagement beginning in July 2022 and continuing through January 2023. The engagement process included community surveys, five focus group sessions, and the Vision Romulus - Our Community, Our Future ThinkTank workshop. “The engagement process was designed to provide an open, inclusive, and transparent platform for community members to help create a shared vision for Romulus, looking out to 2030. This report represents Future iQ's analysis of the engagement outcomes,” Beurle said.
The first aspect of the visioning process noted in the report was the leveraging the unique geographic advantage that Romulus enjoys as the site of the international Detroit Metropolitan airport. Beurle said Romulus is on the edge of the Detroit metropolis yet is also a peri-urban space embracing both rural and urban amenities. “It is perfectly positioned for economic growth,” he noted.
The second aspect of the visioning process has been the community evolution, according to the study. “This community is unique in its enduring, close-knit nature and sense of place. It also is very focused on thriving families and education. It has been our pleasure to work with this vibrant community and with the deeply invested and committed mayor and city staff,” noted the report.
More than 1,000 people responded or shared in the visioning sessions and process, according to the report, with most people sharing a similar desire for the future of the community. The report states that “there is a strong desire among residents to see the Romulus community evolve and those who participated in the study want a more forward looking community that intentionally embraces and leans into change.”
The report also noted that there is a high priority placed on “innovative education, creating strong social connectivity, and building a safe, vibrant, and engaged community fabric.”
Community participants expressed a desire for Romulus to take a more aggressive approach to leveraging the competitive strategic positioning as a transportation hub, in a key peri-urban location, Beurle reported. “The focus should be on building community infrastructure for the future, that appeals to emerging businesses and workforce.”
Throughout the process, according to the presented findings, a common theme was excitement that things were beginning to happen in Romulus. Participants repeatedly expressed a desire to be engaged, informed, and included in the evolution of the community.
The complete report is available on the city website www.romulusgov.com and the City of Romulus Facebook page.
