OBJECTIVE 1

Increase coordination and resilience of community health services to create a healthier community.

OBJECTIVE 2

Improve outcomes in physical, mental, and behavioral health, and increase social connectedness.

OBJECTIVE 3

Improve community well-being by providing person-centered, trauma informed services.

Work with community partners to improve access to a variety of health-related resources for community members through the use of a community referral system.

Support aging community members and seek to decrease number of residents over 65 with reported independent living difficulties.

Support young people aging out of the foster care system in developing independent living, vocational, and other life skills through the Extended Foster Care program for 18–21-year olds.

Decrease the infant mortality rate in Buncombe County.

Increase opportunities for community members to participate in in-person programs for recreation, social connectivity, mental health, physical wellness, and overall well-being.

Decrease the amount of deaths by suicide in Buncombe County.

Decrease the amount of deaths as a result of substance use in Buncombe County.

OBJECTIVE 1

Increase opportunities and support for local workforce.

OBJECTIVE 2

Increase economic and business opportunities in Buncombe County.

 Increase the number of job opportunities that offer worker benefits beyond health care (Ex. childcare, housing, transit, etc.) in Buncombe County.

Support STEP (Skills, Training and Education Program) participants in securing employment after completing the program.

Support access to employment resources and information through Buncombe County libraries programming and services.

Support the expansion of new industries, types of employers, and number of jobs in Buncombe County.

Increase the average wage among employers identified under the Buncombe County Economic Development Investment Program.

Increase average entry level wage among employers identified under the Buncombe County Economic Development Investment Program.

 Improve access to high-speed internet across Buncombe County.

Support the growth, development, and sustainability of small businesses in Buncombe County.

OBJECTIVE 1

Enhance early and adult learning.

OBJECTIVE 2

Improve outcomes in education.

Partner with community organizations to increase the percent of children ages 0-5 in who are childcare and Pre-K programs.

Work with community partners to decrease the percentage of youth ages 16-24 who are disconnected from school or work.

Work with community partners to increase graduation rates in Buncombe County.

Work with community partners to reduce disparity rates for at-risk populations in referrals to court from schools in Buncombe County.

Engage with partners to help all children in Buncombe County be ready for kindergarten.

Work with community partners towards parity in the public-school graduation gap, as identified by the NC Department of Public Instruction.

OBJECTIVE 1

Preserve the agricultural heritage of Buncombe County and prioritize the conservation of natural resources.

OBJECTIVE 2

Reduce greenhouse gas emission and protect air quality.

Increase economic viability and stability of agriculture through workshops, business planning, and farm estate planning for local farmers.

Recycle 20% of all waste generated in Buncombe County.

Focus on streambank restoration efforts to address the impacts of Tropical Storm Helene through erosion control, increasing water quality, and flood mitigation.

Conserve natural lands and protect acreage from development through conversation easements.

Increase the amount of County vehicles that are zero emission.

Incorporate countywide solarize campaigns with current community clean energy programs resulting in 200 residential solar installations in Buncombe County by 2030.

Increase the amount of eligible materials converted to compost from the county landfill.

Increase electric vehicle charging ports at County facilities.

Achieve 100% renewable energy usage for County operations by 2030 (board adopted goal).

OBJECTIVE 1

Encourage a diversity of housing as a foundation for affordable, healthy, and thriving communities, particularly for the most vulnerable residents.

OBJECTIVE 2

Maximize the use of land, guiding development to targeted growth areas that lead to resilient communities. 

Build more housing that will be accessible to renters who earn mid-low income (households at or below 80% AMI).

Build more housing available for purchase by mid-low income earning households (at or below 80% AMI).

Help fund home repair work for mid-low income earning households (at or below 80% AMI).

Ensure that the majority of new development in the county occurs in areas identified as identified as appropriate to preserve natural lands and reduce strain on infrastructure 

Build more greenways in Buncombe County.

Meet federal floodplain management standards, as identified by the FEMA Community Rating System (CRS).

OBJECTIVE 1

Increase prevention and harm reduction.

OBJECTIVE 2

Increase hazard mitigation and disaster preparedness to support a climate resilient community.

OBJECTIVE 3

Enhance individualized diversion services.

Partner with community organizations to reduce gun-related injuries and deaths in Buncombe County.

Improve readiness and safety in the face of disaster events through risk reduction and readiness trainings for community members.

Increase the percentage of Child Protective Services cases that are initiated on time.

Increase scenario-based trainings/testing of emergency response capabilities within Buncombe County operations.

Increase the number of stream gauges in Buncombe County from 12 to 18.

Improve 911 and emergency communications resiliency by Implementing the PACE model for public safety communications – Primary, Alternative, Contingency, and Emergency – to ensure readiness during disaster and everyday scenarios alike.

Develop and conduct new wildfire hazard seasonal awareness campaigns targeting areas where risk is high.

Increase the number of responses by alternate emergency responder services, including the Community Paramedic’s Post-Overdose Response Team and Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office trauma-informed Co-Responder Unit.

Support people leaving the Buncombe County Detention Facility to reduce the risk of receiving new criminal charges received after release from jail.  

 Increase referrals for diversion from incarceration for cases eligible through Justice Services programming.