The Olathe 2040: Future Ready Strategic Plan is designed to position Olathe to get out ahead of issues our community will face through 2040. This plan sets a course for future generations to live and work in one of the best future-ready cities in the nation.

However, the completion of the Olathe 2040: Future Ready Strategic Plan document doesn’t reflect the end of the strategic planning process; rather, the work has just begun.

Olathe 2040: Future Ready is a living document that will be updated regularly to reflect changing conditions and challenges. The success of the planning process lies in the execution and implementation of the strategies moving forward, and requires the collaborative efforts of the community to achieve the Olathe 2040: Future Ready vision.

Download the full strategic plan.

In March 2018 the Olathe City Council established the foundation for the Olathe 2040: Future Ready Strategic Plan, including five focus areas: Future Ready, Economy, Exceptional Services, Infrastructure, and Quality of Life.

A comprehensive public engagement process gathered 3,202 ideas for Olathe’s future from residents using online and in-person engagement. The business community and other key community groups also contributed their input. The Strategic Planning Advisory Committee considered those ideas along with local, regional, and global trends to establish the Vision Framework and developed a vision for each focus area.

A team of approximately 100 City staff members contributed to creating goals, strategies, measures, and targets to make this new, community-focused plan ready for implementation. Staff considered thousands of ideas and narrowed them to ones that are most consistent with the Guiding Principles set by the Strategic Planning Advisory Committee.

Strategic Planning Advisory Committee

• Dustin Avey
• Christina Beaird
• John Bennie
• Weston Curnow
• LeEtta Felter
• Jimmy Gaona
• Brian Geary
• Mike Jensen
• Amy Leffert
• Alan Marston
• Greg Mosley
• Anne Oswald
• Barry Sutherland
• Dean Vakas
• Marcia Youker

The Advisory Committee developed Guiding Principles as a lens to help evaluate the vision statements, goals, and strategies included in the strategic plan.

• Comprehensive
• Bold
• Innovative
• Inclusive
• Enduring
• Flexible
• Realistic
• Measurable

Olathe takes a future ready approach. We are resilient, innovative, nimble, and collaborative in how we address tomorrow's challenges today.

In 2040:

• Residents and businesses are thriving, engaged in the community, and continuing to adapt and plan into the future.
• Regionalism has made our metropolitan area a model for the nation.

Learn more about how Olathe is Future Ready.

People choose Olathe. It is filled with healthy, safe people living in quality neighborhoods, connected to important places and each other.

 In 2040:

• Olathe is a great place to live and age well.
• People come to Olathe and stay because it is a place that provides hope for their future.
• Olathe is an inclusive community where everyone can live a productive life, where there are good jobs, attainable housing, quality amenities, access to quality education, child care, and health services.
• People feel safe and connected to their neighbors and have community pride.

Learn more about Quality of Life.

Olathe delivers smart, connected, integrated, innovative infrastructure that is safe, reliable, efficient, and sustainable.

In 2040:

• Our infrastructure is innovative, reliable, efficient, affordable, and sustainable.
• Transportation is safe, convenient, affordable, connected to the regional transportation system, and environmentally-friendly.
• Our infrastructure is prepared for and can recover quickly from disruption.

Learn more about Infrastructure.

Olathe is an economic leader in the region. Our strong economic base is built by highly successful businesses of all sizes, entrepreneurs, a skilled workforce, a vibrant downtown, and other attractive places throughout the community.

In 2040:

• Olathe’s diverse business and strong tax base thrives even during economic downturns.
• Olathe’s residents are prosperous.
• Downtown Olathe features vibrant businesses, residences, civic services, and a popular community gathering place.
• A highly-skilled and diverse workforce serves the needs of all segments of the community.
• Educational training programs create job opportunities for young people to remain in our community.
• Olathe’s built environment supports success for retail and service-oriented businesses and is sustainably positioned for the economic currency of the future.

Learn more about Economy.

Olathe efficiently provides high quality services the community values.

In 2040:

• The City of Olathe utilizes resources to meet or exceed public expectations.
• Residents have confidence in their community leaders.
• Community members participate in local government decision-making.
• The City of Olathe’s workforce sets the standard for excellence in local government.
• City officials collaborate with regional, state and federal officials to enhance service delivery and quality of life.

Learn more about Exceptional Services.