Building a Stronger Future Through Community Engagement in Henry County

Toussaint Kirk, Executive Director of Planning & Economic Development Division, Henry County Government

Toussaint M. Kirk serves as Planning and Economic Development Cluster Lead for Henry County Government, with expertise in urban planning and economic development. His experience spans local government and real estate, providing a holistic, end-to-end perspective on the development lifecycle.

In an exclusive interview with Govt CIO Outlook, Toussaint M. Kirk shares insights on why community engagement is essential to managing growth in Henry County, how inclusive planning builds public trust, and what local governments must prioritize to create sustainable, people-centered development.

Community Engagement at the Core

As a planner who has worked across multiple communities in the Metro Atlanta region, I can say with confidence that Henry County is at a pivotal moment in its growth. With expanding neighborhoods, new businesses coming online, and increasing transportation demands, our future will depend on more than solid infrastructure alone. It will depend on how well we engage the people who call this place home.

Community engagement isn’t a box to check in the planning process, it’s the foundation of sustainable growth and public trust. When residents, business owners, and public officials are working together, we build a shared vision that creates pride, strengthens transparency, and ensures growth works for everyone, not just a few.

Why Engagement Matters Now More Than Ever

Henry County’s growth has been impressive, but growth also brings complexity. Challenges like traffic congestion, housing affordability, and land-use decisions can’t be solved behind closed doors. They require open, ongoing dialogue. When engagement is done right, it helps planners align community values with development strategies and turns potential tension into thoughtful, consensus-driven solutions.

Residents bring insight that data alone can’t capture, the flooding spot that shows up after every heavy rain, the hidden stream on a development site, the intersection that feels unsafe during rush hour, or the park that could be so much more with the right investment. Bringing those voices into the conversation early leads to smarter, fairer, and more durable decisions.

What Engagement Looks Like in Practice

Effective engagement in Henry County means meeting people where they are, both literally and digitally. While traditional town halls still play an important role, we’ve embraced a blended approach to broaden participation:

• Pop-up meetings at community centers, libraries, schools, and local events to make engagement more accessible.

• Interactive digital tools that allow residents to review projects, visualize changes, and provide feedback online.

• Youth-focused outreach, including partnerships with local schools, to build civic awareness early.

• Community ambassadors - trusted residents who help bridge the gap between neighborhoods and county departments.

These efforts do more than collect feedback. They build trust, strengthen relationships, and reinforce a culture of collaboration.

Moving Forward Together

We’ve intentionally invited residents to participate in key initiatives, including master plan project areas designed to preserve community character while guiding responsible growth. We’ve hosted town halls, conducted online surveys, created virtual discussion spaces, and established project-specific committees to ensure voices are heard throughout the process, not just at the end.

Meaningful engagement takes time, commitment, and empathy. As Henry County plans for its next chapter, public participation should be viewed not as an obstacle, but as an opportunity, an opportunity to co-create solutions and build a stronger, more connected community.

At the end of the day, planning isn’t just about zoning codes or land-use maps. It’s about people. And when people are genuinely engaged, we create the shared vision for a Vibrant, Innovative, Connected, and Exceptional Henry County.

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