In 2005, LISC undertook an extensive strategic planning process to create a vision and a plan for the next five years that would build on our successful investments and experiences around the country, and take community development to the next level.  The result was an ambitious new plan for LISC to create what we are calling Sustainable Communities, communities that offer the positive environments needed to ensure that all residents of varied income levels are provided the opportunities and tools to build assets, participate in the benefits inuring to their communities, and become part of the mainstream economy.

We envision Sustainable Communities as places that people want to be in, contribute to, thrive in and be proud of.  Such communities will be able to attract and maintain their populations and contribute to the overall health of their cities and regions.  As part of the planning process, we identified five program objectives that, taken together, can lead to this larger goal of comprehensive community health and sustainability: