WORCESTER, Mass. - The City of Worcester has launched a citywide planning process to engage the community on several issues, including housing, land use and economic development. 

The “Worcester Now | Next” plan includes a series of virtual and in-person events between now and May 2023.

“Now is the time to build on Worcester’s recent successes,” Mayor Joseph Petty said the plan’s announcement. “This is an opportunity to ensure Worcester thrives as the heart of the Commonwealth for generations to come.”

The 18-month plan will start with Phase 1 and a Spring Citywide Survey to be released in March. Issues currently affecting city residents will be the focus of the survey. The City will hold the first public vision workshop in June, followed by a Listening Tour over the summer.

“This planning effort is a unique opportunity to engage with the people who live and work in Worcester,” City Manager Edward Augustus, Jr. said “The citywide plan will lay out a coordinated vision and strategy that allows Worcester to continue to grow and develop as a diverse, prosperous and innovative city.”

The survey, workshop and tours will reset for Phase 2 in the fall and winter to focus on city priorities and neighborhood planning. 

The initial survey will be released in March. For updates and the latest information, visit the Worcester Now | Next Citywide Plan website here.