thedailytimes.com : Your 24/7 news source

After three days, three focus groups and a total of nine hours of collaboration, United Way of Blount County's Community Impact Committee and other concerned citizens laid the foundation to begin crafting the organization's measurable goals to improve self-sufficiency, education and health in Blount County.

More than 75 people attended the focus groups which were held Tuesday through Thursday. Each session centered on the topic of self-sufficiency, health or education.

Michelle Hankes, president and CEO of United Way of Blount County, expressed how pleased she was with the community's involvement.

"It was wonderful to see all of these groups together -- business leaders, agency directors, education experts and community minded individuals, many meeting each other for the first time, and all there to discuss the needs of Blount County," Hankes said. "The spirit of collaboration was truly alive and well throughout the process."

The groups will continue to plan in October and November, creating five-year goals and prioritizing sub-categories for each benchmark and community need.

For exact times and locations of upcoming focus group sessions, call United Way of Blount County at 865-982-2251 or visit the ADVOCATE section of liveunitedblount.org.