About Us

The first step in establishing a successful Coastal Training Program (CTP) was to conduct a Needs Assessment of decision-maker audiences likely to be targeted by the CTP in effort to determine the knowledge, skills, training delivery preferences and attitudes relevant to proposed issues and topics.  Additionally, a Market Analysis was carried out to help identify the target audiences of and opportunities provided by other training organizations within the Narragansett Bay Watershed.

The results of the Needs Assessment indicated that the following categories and respective topics are of primary importance to decision-maker audiences:

• Valued Community Assets:
• Rural character
• Amount of open space in communities

• Scientific:
• Wetlands ecology
• Invasive species
• Endangered species

• Economic Development/Growth:
• Planning town-wide greenways
• Integrating affordable housing
• Recreation/tourism development

• Planning/Management:
• Analyzing natural features to protect
• How to incorporate water quality and supply issues into the planning process
• Knowing what to ask to make sure designs fit into neighborhoods and surrounding landscape

Also based on the results, it was agreed upon by the CTP Coordinator and the CTP Advisory Committee that the CTP’s initial primary audience would consist of municipal staff and volunteers. These include:

• Town planners
• Town council members
• Planning board members
• Zoning board members
• Tax assessors
• Town solicitors

However, the CTP continually implements and assesses informal evaluations to allow for the flexibility to include other audiences and training programs.

The next steps in creating a successful CTP were to use the results and assessments of the Needs Assessment and Market Analysis to develop a Strategic Plan (PDF link) and a Marketing Plan (PDF link) for the program.  The Strategic Plan outlines the goals, objectives and approach for the CTP over a three- to five-year period (an updated Plan will be posted in July 2007).  The Marketing Plan discusses how the CTP will be promoted and marketed throughout the Narragansett Bay watershed.

The CTP maintains an Advisory Committee whose members help evaluate CTP target audiences and priority issues, training methods and potential partners and other opportunities for collaboration, as well as review CTP documents and provide recommendations.  Members represent a diversity of stakeholder groups, each of them offering unique perspectives.

Calendar

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Community Connection RI
Calendar of events in related topics by Grow Smart RI and the Narragansett Bay Research Reserve

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