Virginia Governor Ralph S. Northam

WHEREAS, change is constant and affects all Virginia localities; and

WHEREAS, community planning 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 decision-making that determines the future of their community; and

WHEREAS, the full benefits of planning requires public officials and citizens who understand, support, and promote 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 organization, 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 environment and communities; and

WHEREAS, Community Planning Month is an opportunity to recognize the participation and dedication of the members of planning commissions and other citizen planners who have contributed their time and expertise to the improvement of the Commonwealth of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Virginia recognizes and extends gratitude to the community and regional planners of the for their continued commitment to public service and their many valuable planning contribution;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ralph S. Northam, do hereby recognize October 2020 as COMMUNITY PLANNING MONTH in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.