Virginia Governor Ralph S. Northam

WHEREAS, changes in economic and population growth affect all Virginia cities, counties and towns; and

WHEREAS, community planning and plans can help manage these changes in a way that provides better choices for how people work and live; and

WHEREAS, citizen engagement, which is a hallmark of community planning, provides an opportunity for all residents to be meaningfully involved in the decisions that shape the future of their community; and

WHEREAS, the full benefits of planning come through public officials and citizens who understand, support, and demand excellence in planning and plan implementation; and

WHEREAS, the month of October is designated as National Community Planning Month throughout the United States of America and its territories; and

WHEREAS, the American Planning Association and its professional institute, the American Institute of Certified Planners, endorse National Community Planning Month as an opportunity to highlight the contributions sound planning and plan implementation make to the quality of our settlements and environment; and

WHEREAS, National Community Planning Month is an opportunity to recognize the Commonwealth’s planning commissions and citizen planners, who have contributed their time and expertise to the improvement of the Commonwealth of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Virginia also recognizes the many valuable contributions made by professional community and regional planners of the Commonwealth and extend our heartfelt thanks for their continued commitment to public service;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ralph S. Northam, do hereby recognize October 2018 as NATIONAL COMMUNITY PLANNING MONTH in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.