2024 State of Our Communities energizes community for year of growth, progress

Wabash County, IN (FEB. 19, 2024) – Grow Wabash County’s had a full house of almost 240 community members for its seventh annual State of Our Communities event on Thursday, Feb. 15. 
 

The crowd listened enthusiastically as local community leaders each took turns in the spotlight to talk about the great things to come for Wabash County in the year to come. 
 

The community speakers featured were: Tracie Hensley from the Town of LaFontaine,  Kristie Bone from the Town of Lagro, Jim Smith from the Town of North Manchester, Bob Ferguson from the Town of Roann, Mayor Scott Long from the City of Wabash and Barry Eppley from the Wabash County Commissioners. 
 

Tenille Zartman, president and CEO of Grow Wabash County, emceed the annual event. 
 

During her opening remarks, Zartman drew inspiration from the impending total solar eclipse that is slated to cross through Indiana this spring. She talked of how transitions, of any kind, can seem “dark” and troubling at times, but there is always light on the other end. She encouraged the entire crowd to embrace those transitions and to equip themselves with the tools necessary (like some handy solar eclipse glasses) to help make the transition all the more easy.
 

The presentations from the community representatives drew laughs and applause and even a few tears courtesy of Bob Ferguson as he shared the exciting news that construction on the new Roann park will begin this spring. Communities like Lagro and LaFontaine celebrated and welcomed their new businesses and big plans for what comes next. Other communities like Wabash and North Manchester talked about large-scale initiatives and programs aimed directly at continuing the momentum of growth and prosperity that Wabash County has grown accustomed to. 
 

Following the presentations, these local leaders participated in a roundtable Q&A session with the current Leadership Development Wabash County cohort which encouraged further, deeper conversation between the leaders and participants about what progress and growth may look like for Wabash County in 2024 and beyond. 
 

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.
 

Breakfast Sponsors: Arc of Wabash County; Josiah White’s; Manchester University; MPS Egg Farms

Gold Sponsors: BioNutrients Ag, LLC; City of Wabash; Community Foundation of Wabash County; Intertech Products; PaperWorks Industries; Parkview Wabash Hospital; Pathfinder Services; Town of North Manchester
 

Silver Sponsors: American Structurepoint; Beacon Credit Union; Bippus State Bank; Bowen Center; Carey Services; Crossroads Bank; Downs, Tandy & Petruniw; Duke Energy; Integrity Control & Automation, LLC; Lundquist Appraisals & Real Estate; Wabash Carnegie Public Library; Wabash Castings, Inc.
 

Bronze Sponsors: Autumn Ridge Rehabilitation Centre; Downtown Wabash, Inc.; First Farmers Bank & Trust; NIPSCO; Regional Chamber of NE Indiana; Star Excavating; Tri-Oaks Realty
 

Copper Sponsor: Tim’s THAI 2 GO