City of Martin Seeking Residents to Serve on Strategic Planning Committee

Martin, Tenn. February 23, 2026 —MARTIN, TN —  The City of Martin is launching a new long-range strategic planning process and is seeking residents to be part of the effort. Applications are now open for the Vision, Voices, & Viability (VVV) Strategic Planning Citizen Committee. This committee will help guide the development of a 10-year Strategic Plan that will focus on sustainable growth, economic opportunity, strong infrastructure, and quality of life for the Martin community.

Applications are available here  or residents may find the application link on the City of Martin Facebook page. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 6, 2026 at noon. 

The VVV Citizen Committee will serve as an important part of the strategic planning process by helping gather community input, identifying priorities, and working alongside city leadership to create a clear and realistic roadmap for the future.

Mayor David Belote emphasized the importance of long-term planning and strong community engagement. “Our goal is to bring people together and create a shared vision for the future of Martin,” said Mayor Belote. “This will not be a plan that sits on a shelf. It will be a working guide that helps us make thoughtful decisions, strengthen our local economy, and ensure Martin remains a welcoming and vibrant place for generations to come.”

Dr. Kent Kelso, who introduced and developed the Vision, Voices, & Viability initiative for consideration and approval by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen stated “This process is about bringing people together and making sure every voice in our community has a place at the table”. “The future of Martin should be shaped by the people who live, work, and invest here. When residents help create the vision, they become part of the solution and the success.This is an opportunity to build stronger connections and create a future that reflects the heart and soul of our community.”

The City is seeking a diverse group of residents to ensure a wide range of perspectives are represented on the committee. Potential members may include business owners and entrepreneurs, young professionals and college graduates, retirees and longtime residents, educators and school representatives, nonprofit and community leaders, healthcare, agriculture, and industry representatives, as well as new residents who bring fresh ideas and experiences.

The VVV Citizen Committee will begin orientation in March 2026. Over the following months, the committee will help lead community surveys, public meetings, and town hall discussions to gather feedback and identify priorities.

Residents will have multiple opportunities to stay involved and share their input as the process moves forward. The final Strategic Plan is expected to be presented to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen for consideration in September 2026.

Committee Timeline 

Action	Deadline/Date
Application Deadline	March 6, 2026
Committee Orientation	March 2026
Community Engagement	Spring–Summer 2026
Final Plan Presentation	September 2026

The VVV Strategic Planning Initiative is built around three core areas:

Vision: Defining Martin’s unique identity, strengths, and goals for the next decade, while establishing the core values that will guide decision-making.

Voices: Ensuring meaningful community input by providing opportunities for residents, businesses, nonprofits, educational institutions, and city employees to share their ideas and experiences.

Viability: Creating realistic and financially responsible strategies that support long-term growth and align with the city’s capital improvement planning and budget priorities.

For more information and to apply, please visit www.cityofmartin.net. Follow the City of Martin on Facebook and Instagram for updates and community news. For questions, please contact Martin City Hall at 731-587-3126.

Apply to be on the committee here – Click Here 

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Additional Information for Committee Responsibility:  Vision, Voices, & Viability 

VVV Chair – Alderman

The Chair for Vision, Voices & Viability will provide strategic leadership and coordination for a temporary committee established to collect community input regarding the City of Martin from March through late summer 2026.

• Lead and facilitate committee orientation, community meetings and planning sessions
• Encourage inclusive public input and stakeholder engagement
• Coordinate communication strategies to ensure transparency and community awareness
• Facilitate committee identification of priorities and actionable recommendations that support long-term viability
• Provide progress updates and the committee’s final report with recommendations to city leadership

VVV Vice-Chair – Alderman

The Vice Chair for Vision, Voices & Viability will support the Chair in providing leadership and coordination for the temporary committee established to collect community input regarding the City of Martin from March through late summer 2026. The Vice Chair assists in guiding discussions, advancing engagement efforts, and ensuring continuity of leadership throughout the committee’s term.

• Support the Chair in leading and facilitating committee orientation, community meetings, and planning sessions
• Preside over meetings in the Chair’s absence
• Encourage inclusive public input and stakeholder engagement
• Assist in coordinating communication strategies to ensure transparency and community awareness
• Support the committee’s identification of priorities and development of actionable recommendations that advance long-term viability
• Contribute to progress updates and assist in preparation of the committee’s final report and recommendations to city leadership

VVV Committee Member – Resident of the City of Martin

A committee member for Vision, Voices & Viability (VVV) supports the City of Martin’s community engagement process from their appointment in March through approximately late summer.

Each member commits to

• attend a half-day orientation (March)
• participate in at least three scheduled community meetings (March, April & May)
• assist in documenting the verbal feedback from the attendees at the scheduled meetings regarding the City of Martin
• participate in a full-day retreat to assist in analyzing community input, identifying key themes, and helping prioritize findings to present to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen for future planning and decision making (summer)