U.S. State Programs
Minnesota
Oregon
Maine
New Jersey
North Carolina
Minnesota
Minnesota Milestones was begun in 1991 on the
premise that defining shared vision, setting goals and measuring
results would lead to a better future for Minnesota’s people.
Thousands of Minnesotans contributed to the planning process
by attending one of 45 meetings across the state, completing
surveys, reviewing draft documents or writing letters. The result
in 1992 was the development of a citizen-based, 30-year plan
titled "Minnesota Milestones: A Report Card for the Future".
The original Minnesota Milestones has been updated four times.
The latest version, from 2002, uses 70 progress indicators to
determine whether the state is achieving 19 publicly determined
goals. The goals are grouped in four broad areas: People, Community
and Democracy, Economy and Environment.
The indicators, a report summary, a custom
reporting function using the Milestones data, and a user's guide
are all available as part of the Minnesota
Milestones website operated by Minnesota Planning.
Oregon
In 1989, the Oregon Progress Board was formed
to implement and monitor strategies developed in a broad 20-year
vision for Oregon’s strategic development called "Oregon
Shines". The Board established "Benchmarks" as
a system for monitoring progress from year to year and decade
to decade.
Ninety active benchmarks are measured by the
program, and a list of these is available online, along with
criteria for benchmark selection.
To obtain reports, contact:
Oregon Progress Board
155 Cottage Street, N.E.
Salem, OR 97301
(503) 378-3201
A full version of the Board’s most recent
2003 Benchmark Performance report to the Oregon Legislature
is available at the Oregon
Progress Board website.
Maine
The Maine Economic Growth Council was established
in 1993 “to put some stakes in the ground, hang some banners,
and broadcast for all Maine people the issues that are fundamentally
important to the state's long term economic growth.” From
a vast array of recommendations, the Council chose 13 goals
and 54 performance measures by which to continually assess the
state's progress towards achieving those goals. The Council
has held workshops, focus groups, and has solicited advice from
experts and the state's leaders from all walks. A report
is prepared annually that examines progress using 60 different
measures. Measures
of Growth 2003 is available online in PDF, or from:
Maine Development Foundation
45 Memorial Circle, Augusta, ME 04330
(207) 622-6345
Fax (207) 622-6346
E-mail: megc@mdf.org
The Maine Development Foundation also makes available the 2002
report of the Land and Water Resources Council on Indicators
of Livable Communities, with graphs and discussion on
23 indicators of livable communities, grouped in three categories:
Vital Cities and Towns, Revered Natural Environment and Productive
Countrysides.
New Jersey
New Jersey Sustainable
State Institute is an independent, non-profit institute
providing objective information, analysis, and practical strategies
to help New Jersey develop on a sustainable path. The Sustainable
State project identified 11 goals for the furtherance of sustainability
in New Jersey:
1. Economic Vitality
2. Equity
3. Community, Culture & Recreation
4. Education
5. Good Government
6. Housing
7. Health
8. Efficient Transportation and Land Use
9. Ecological Integrity
10. Protected Natural Resources
11. Minimal Pollution and Waste
Within these, the project identified 41 indicators that help
track the state's progress in achieving its goals. The 1999
and 2000 editions of Living With the Future in Mind describe
each of the goals and indicators, and provide trend data on
the indicator values.
New Jersey also participates in the National
Environmental Performance Partnership System, which
was developed jointly by the US Environmental Protection Agency
and the Environmental Council of the States to revitalize environmental
protection by establishing new state-federal partnerships which
will strengthen public health and environmental protection through
management for environmental results. This involves the use
of goals and indicators as measures of progress.
In addition, the New
Jersey Center for Environmental Indicators works with
practitioners and scientists from academic institutions, governmental
and non-governmental research programs and from New Jersey Department
of Environmental Protection to develop and use the most applicable
environmental indicators to inform scientifically sound decision-making.
North Carolina
North Carolina
Progress Board was created by the North Carolina General
Assembly in 1995 and charged with tracking the state's progress
in eight "issue areas":
- Healthy children and families
- Quality education for all
- A high performance workforce
- A prosperous economy
- A sustainable environment
- 21st century infrastructure
- Safe and vibrant communities
- Active citizenship/accountable government
The North Carolina Progress Board produced a comprehensive report
in 2001, NC
20/20, examining the state's progress in these areas.
The Progress Board has formed a vision of North Carolina for the
next 20 to 30 years, and with goals and targets set, state leaders
and agencies can work now toward making that vision a reality
Last updated: February 19, 2004
Back to Top
HOME
| SEARCH
|
