Greater Bakersfield Vision 2020 is a broad-based community endeavor to create a Vision for the Greater Bakersfield area and set in motion efforts to realize that Vision. The Vision will be a comprehensive, integrated picture of what the community wants the Greater Bakersfield area to be in 20 years.

 The Vision will include the physical city and its infrastructure; the business and economic climate; educational strategies to improve the future workforce; and the desired quality of life of our community; the cultural, social and civic fabric of the city; the environment, and the health and welfare of our residents.

 The Vision will be created through a broad-based, collaborative, consensus-based process involving business, the City of Bakersfield, Kern County, the non-profit sector, and the community at large, including our youth.  The anticipated timeline for this process is two years.  The process is as important as the Vision and resulting action plans.  A �Facilitating Team� of individuals representing the broad diversity of our community has come together to design and run this process.

 The Vision will be actionable, that is, its elements will be translated into short and long term action plans to be recommended for implementation by the city, the county, business and industry, the non-profit sector, and individuals.

Vision 2020 builds on past efforts (Future Bakersfield; Community Development Summits) and will enhance present planning activities (2010 General Plan update; Kern County 2000 Plan; KEDC Natelson Report). It is much more than a land-use plan as it covers all aspects of our community - infrastructure, jobs, education, quality of life.