Once you have established your leadership team and worked with the community to create shared goals, much of the rest of the transition-planning process can move forward—with clear objectives and with clearly stated expectations. This type of change management has happened in many places, under a range of conditions. Examples of transition efforts are abundant. Although many are related to other types of economic change, they contain relevant ideas and lessons for communities struggling with an economic transition away from coal.
There is no endpoint in transition planning. This is an ongoing process. As new information, trends, and stakeholders emerge, you must continue to evaluate, adapt, and refine your community’s plans and programs to reflect internal and external factors.