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TEXAS 2036
Texas 2036 is a long-range strategic plan for the state of Texas that aspires to empower the people and political institutions of
Texas to make decisions necessary to preserve the state’s role as the leading place to live and do business in the United States.
Currently, Texas is thriving as shown by healthy growth across numerous categories, including gross domestic product, population, and median household income to name only a few.
Looking 20 years into the future, though, will the state’s outlook still look as rosy? Will Texas’ courage and larger- than-life personality be able to sustain its vitality beyond its bicentennial?
The dramatic population growth over the last 40 years is expected to continue with Texas projected to reach 41.5 million residents by 2036. This growth will be accompanied by accelerating demographic, workforce, and resource changes.
Key challenges for the state include managing growth; sustaining resources; meeting infrastructure, education, and healthcare needs; and preserving the business environment and quality of life Texans enjoy now.
It’s a tall order, and Texas 2036 aims to help fill in the big picture with nonpartisan, data-driven strategies the state can use as a roadmap for the future.
It will require numerous conversations throughout the state to understand what communities are doing really well now and what they need for collective, long-term viability.
The first step for Texas 2036 has been building a database of current and projected demographic and socioeconomic
information alongside existing strategic plans and studies from Texas universities, nonprofits, and state agencies. With this data, Texas 2036 can begin projecting long- range public service needs and the costs associated with meeting them as well as identify ways to pay for these services.
The second step will be developing a specific plan that encompasses all of the state’s major needs and concerns, such as transportation, K-12 through higher education, energy, water, health and human services, environmental impact, criminal justice, and information technology. The plan will prioritize needs with proposals on how to execute and pay for them on a state and regional basis.
The third step will be bringing as many people to the table as possible to build support for and implement the plan. Reaching out to citizens, business and community leaders, and policymakers to understand obstacles and build consensus will be central to Texas 2036’s efforts.
“It’s truly building a roadmap for how we keep Texas prosperous - a Texas we want to live in in 2036 that balances economic vitality and quality life,” said Tom Luce, Chairman.
OUR FUNDING AND PARTNERSHIP
The future success of Texas and its citizens requires a vision of what that picture looks like and a map for getting there. Doing so in nonpartisan, data-driven ways invites more people to be part of the solution. The Meadows Foundation was honored to support Texas 2036 and its efforts to create a long-term, nonpartisan strategic plan for the state of Texas with a $200,000 grant.
THE DALLAS FOUNDATION FOR TEXAS 2036
Toward developing a long-term strategic plan for the state of Texas to address the education, transportation, and healthcare needs of Texas’ rapid growing population |