2023 State of Our Communities charts course for growth, progress

Wabash County, IN (FEB. 20, 2023) – Grow Wabash County’s sixth annual State of Our Communities event on Thursday, Feb. 16, once again hosted a slate of community leaders to share their plans and optimism for the future of Wabash County. 

The community speakers featured were: John Krhin from the Town of LaFontaine,  Kristie Bone from the Town of Lagro, Adam Penrod from the Town of North Manchester, Bob Ferguson from the Town of Roann, Mayor Scott Long from the City of Wabash and Brian Haupert from the Wabash County Commissioners. 

Keith Gillenwater, president and CEO of Grow Wabash County, emceed the annual event. During his welcoming comments, Gillenwater credited the great work done by the Wabash County community to the leaders and community members that continue to show and buy in to the mission of growing a prosperous Wabash County. Gillenwater also provided a brief update on the Imagine One85 initiative, introducing Alex Downard, director of Imagine One85, to the audience. 

“Every year I walk out of this event feeling energized,” Gillenwater said during his opening remarks. “And I am confident that today’s event will likewise evoke those same feelings in you as we hear from this dedicated group of community servants.”

The care and commitment our local leaders hold for their communities, and Wabash County at large, rang true throughout the event. Attendees were given a glimpse into the exciting things happening like a fundraiser for a new park in Roann and progress on the Eel River Pavilion in North Manchester. Mayor Long even recounted his travels abroad with members of the Grow Wabash County team to generate business development opportunities for the county. 

Following the presentations, speakers from the event also paid a visit to the Leadership Development Wabash County cohort for small-group conversations between the leaders and the participants.

We are thankful to all of the local companies and individuals that showed their support for this annual event by signing on as event sponsors.

This year’s Breakfast sponsors include: City of Wabash; Duke Energy; Manchester University; MPS Egg Farms; Senator Andy Zay; and the Wabash Plain Dealer. 

Gold sponsors for this event included: Arc of Wabash County; Besiege LLC; Comfort Keepers; Community Foundation of Wabash County; Downs, Tandy & Petruniw, P.C.; Josiah White’s; Lundquist Appraisals & Real Estate; Pathfinder Services, Inc.; Town of North Manchester; and Wabash County YMCA

Silver sponsors for this event included: American Structurepoint; Beacon Credit Union; Bippus State Bank; Bowen Center; Crossroads Bank; Flow-Tech Plumbing & Heating, Inc. ;Frontline Pest Management; and Wabash Carnegie Public Library

Bronze sponsors for this event included: Downtown Wabash, Inc.; Ford Meter Box Company, Inc.; Michael Barnett; MSD of Wabash County; NIPSCO; Our House Real Estate; Regional Chamber of NE Indiana; Riverbridge; and Star Excavating

Copper sponsors for this event included: Groups Recover Together and Pro Resources Staffing Services