Community visioning/strategic planning programs were stimulated by the Take Charge: Economic Development in Communities initiative published by the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development (NCRCRD) in 1990 and revised in 2001. Since then, many approaches have been used by universities, state agencies, and local groups in working with communities. Visioning/planning for community development remains in high demand and the practice continues to incorporate new techniques, deployment strategies, and approaches. More than two decades of experience with these programs in the U.S and other countries offer an opportunity to learn from experiences and outcomes. This special issue of Community Development will document premier visioning/planning programs and demonstrate how/why they have been effective.