What is Livability?
What makes a place livable depends on who you ask: a young professional, an older adult, a parent, or a newcomer may all value different things. At the same time, planning organizations have worked to define what livability generally includes. Groups like the American Planning Association and AARP identify core ingredients such as safe housing, reliable transportation, access to services, social connection, that form a shared foundation, even though every person’s experience builds on it in their own way.
By using a lens of livability, county staff can remain grounded, objective, and attuned to community needs as it relates to opportunities, needs, and challenges.
Our Goals:
Health and Thriving People
Guilford County supports individuals and families to thrive by ensuring access to high-quality health and human services and by promoting physical, mental, and social wellbeing.
Lifelong Success
Guilford County empowers individuals across their lifespan, from early childhood education through lifelong learning with economic opportunities, and supports upward mobility and long-term prosperity for all.
Safe and Resilient Communities
Guilford County creates a safe, prepared, and resilient community by investing in public safety, emergency response, and disaster readiness.
Connected and Accessible Infrastructure
Guilford County supports regional infrastructure investments including housing, water, sewer, waste management, transportation and broadband that enable residents of all ages and abilities to thrive in place.
Vibrant Experience and Spaces
Guilford County promotes healthy places and neighborhoods that are green, clean, and thriving, including vibrant cultural experiences and high-quality recreational opportunities for all ages.
Operational Support and Fiscal Sustainability
Guilford County is committed to attracting and retaining a talented County workforce, ensuring operational excellence and responsible fiscal stewardship for the delivery of sustainable, high-quality public services in partnership with the community.
2025-2030 Strategic Plan
This plan provides a data informed roadmap for where the organization is headed and how it plans to make our community desirable through clearly defined goals. outcomes, strategies and activities. This plan will help guide decision-making and resource allocation. This plan represents the first step in a continuous journey. Outcomes will continue to be refined based on new data. Strategies and activities will be updated annually through the Board’s annual retreat and budget process. Success will be celebrated through an annual report and new challenges will tackled.