We know our community has big dreams for Janesville and want to see them come true. Our strategic plan charts a course for the future that identifies the results we want to achieve. The strategic plan defines a shared mission and vision for the future and focuses the City’s resources on clearly defined priorities, along with goals, objectives and clear measures for tracking progress and accountability.

Guiding Principles 

• Adaptability: We are creative and flexible in response to our community.
• Respect and Diversity: We embrace diversity, empathy, and collaboration through a foundation of mutual respect.
• Service: We serve with kindness, integrity, and professionalism. We are accountable for making ethical and innovative decisions that reflect community-driven goals.
• Communication: We value honest and clear communication. 
• Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging: Through inclusive and equitable practices, we create spaces that reflect the diverse perspectives of our community and foster a culture of belonging.

The City's Strategic Plan serves as the road map over the next five years to guide our community’s vision. The plan is a living document that creates a framework, and the steps needed to meet and exceed our community’s needs over the next several years. The mission tells us what we are to be doing. It keeps our elected and appointed officials and staff focused on the tasks to be done. The vision tells us where we are going. It keeps us focused on the destination and the future we are trying to create. The guiding principles tell us how to do what we are doing. They remind us of the way we intend to serve the people and community of Janesville.

Seven Priorities, One Vision

At its core, the strategic plan maximizes our chances of realizing the City’s vision by balancing the short-term, immediate reality with long-term goals that help us prepare for and navigate a changing environment. It provides a north star direction that keeps us on track and working together to keep our commitment to the City’s mission and reach our desired destination.   

Input was incorporated from across the community to develop the plan's seven priorities: community engagement, economic development, financial sustainability, housing for all, infrastructure, organizational excellence, vibrant community.

Each of these goals is detailed in the plan to clearly identify keys areas and objectives the City can pursue to make a significant impact in achieving that priority.

Moving Forward, Tracking Progress

The plan's five-year timeline allows for thoughtful sequencing of initiatives that will make our continued high quality of life possible. With the strategic plan in place, the City is building an implementation plan to translate the priorities, goals, and objectives into action steps with assigned responsibilities and timelines. This allows City departments to work together to achieve Janesville's desired future. 

The City is committed to focusing resources on the priorities that best serve the community's needs as captured in this plan, so we will align the strategic plan with the City's annual budget process. This alignment will ensure that resources are utilized efficiently and directed toward the most critical priorities. As needs or opportunities shift during the life of the plan, the City expects to address any needed changes as part of the annual budget process. 

The City will monitor progress toward strategic plan goals and objectives and report on performance measures with an annual report and year-end presentation shared with the City Council and on this webpage. Through this reporting, community members can expect to understand what we are working on and the benefits that will result for our residents, businesses, and the community overall.

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