Picente Releases Progress Report On ‘Vision 2020′

Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente has released a progress report on the accomplishments of the Vision 2020 initiative.

The initiative is a collaborative effort to make sure Oneida County is ready to meet the demands of new growth, and Picente says Phase one of the plan has made significant progress.

Phase one of Vision 2020 saw an adoption of tax incentives that pushed the development of lofts and supported neighborhood revitalization throughout Oneida County.

Some other key highlights include:

• Expansion of college dual credit offerings in high schools and the development of multiple career pathways to incorporate current and new career clusters
• An 80% increase to more than 1,000 internships offering real-world learning experiences for students, up in 2015 from the previous school year
• Better alignment of English as a Second Language (ESL) programs with the needs of our English language learners, including expansion of the APPLE model, an alternative high school program for 17-18 year-old students to learn the language, graduate, and get a job or go to college.

Picente says Vision 2020 is now looking ahead to Phase two, which will focus on improving the county's transportation network.