Today, Our Stone County released the Our Stone County Action Plan, a 10-year roadmap outlining 38 projects to expand access to affordable housing, protect water quality, and create welcoming places for people to gather and connect in the county.
The plan represents a commitment to invest in Stone County and its people, while preserving the rural character, natural beauty, and sense of community that make it special. More importantly, it provides a clear strategy for turning community priorities into completed improvements.
The Action Plan builds on more than a year of listening, research, and collaboration. Hundreds of residents participated through surveys, interviews, focus groups, and community events, identifying shared priorities and opportunities for investment.
Three Action Teams, represented by 47 Stone County community members, worked alongside technical experts to evaluate ideas, identify practical solutions, and develop recommendations for the county's future.
Their work resulted in 38 projects organized around three priorities:
Affordable Housing: Preserve existing homes, expand housing choices, and help local families, workers, and older adults find homes they can afford.
Water Quality and Infrastructure: Protect drinking water, improve water and wastewater systems, and conserve the lakes, rivers, and natural resources that support Stone County's quality of life.
Community Gathering Spaces: Improve parks, trails, downtowns, and public spaces that bring people together and strengthen connections across the county.
Some improvements can begin with existing partnerships and modest resources, while others require additional funding, coordination, and years of preparation. To guide implementation, the plan sorts projects into three stages so that immediate improvements can move forward while we prepare for larger investments in the future.
Stage 1: Take Action Now: Beginning in 2027, Our Stone County will prioritize achievable improvements that directly benefit residents. Projects include free residential well water testing, housing preservation assistance, community art, and improvements to local gathering spaces. These early successes will demonstrate progress and build momentum.
Stage 2: Build the Capacity to Do More: Larger investments require stronger partnerships, dedicated resources, and better coordination. The plan proposes initiatives such as a Rural Housing Resource Center, Parks and Trails Conservancy, and Water Infrastructure Council to help communities secure funding, coordinate investments, and manage increasingly ambitious work.
Stage 3: Make Lasting Investments: Over time, these partnerships and resources will support larger improvements, including new housing choices, regional parks and trails, community facilities, and water infrastructure investments that benefit Stone County for generations.
The Action Plan highlights nine signature projects that illustrate the range of improvements possible across the three priorities areas. These projects offer a closer look at what the plan aims to accomplish, from free residential well water testing and housing preservation assistance to establishing new organizations that coordinate investments in housing, water infrastructure, and parks. Larger initiatives, including expanded housing choices and a community event center, demonstrate what sustained partnerships and funding can make possible over time.
The release marks an important milestone, but the work is just beginning. Success will depend on continued participation, strong partnerships, and a shared commitment to turning ideas into action.
Explore the Our Stone County Action Plan and discover how you can help shape what comes next.
