2025 State of Our Communities a triumphant Stellar-bration

Wabash County, IN  – For Grow Wabash County’s eighth annual State of Our Communities event on Thursday, Feb. 20, a jubilant Stellar-bration was held; complete with novelty noisemakers, Stellar-related puns, and a full agenda of wins and next steps outlined by the community leaders taking charge of Wabash County’s future.

The community speakers featured were: Tracie Hensely 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 Cheryl Ross from the Wabash County Commissioners.  

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

During her opening remarks, Zartman gave a quick history of Wabash County’s past and present involvement with the Stellar program through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, as well as the ongoing work that has been done for several years in Wabash County to promote growth and future prosperity.

“Collectively, we have a vision, a strategy, and a plan to make our community even better,” Zartman said in her remarks. “We have a strategy of fostering continued positive growth. In fact, for the first time since the 1980’s, we are predicted to grow in population by 2028.”

The presentations from the community representatives focused heavily on the quality-of-life projects they hope to complete with the help and support of the Stellar Pathways program. Some of the other 2024 wins that were highlighted during the event included funding for housing and other amenities in North Manchester and the new Level Up Lagro plan focused on furthering Lagro’s community development efforts.

Following the presentations, these local leaders participated in a roundtable Q&A session with the current Leadership Development Wabash County cohort. This encouraged further, deeper conversation between the leaders and participants about what progress and growth may look like for Wabash County in 2025 and beyond.  

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

Breakfast Sponsors: Josiah White’s; Lundquist Appraisals & Real Estate; Manchester University; MKM Architecture & Design; Nuway Construction; Star Excavating; TF Property Solutions  

Gold Sponsors: The Arc of Wabash County; Besiege LLC; City of Wabash; Duke Energy; Ford Meter Box; Parkview Wabash Hospital; Pathfinder Services; POET Biorefining  

Silver Sponsors: American Structurepoint; Beacon Credit Union; Bionutrients Ag; Bowen Health; Community Foundation of Wabash County; Crossroads Bank; First Merchants Bank; G6 Military Grade I.T.; Lake City Bank; MPS Egg Farms; Wabash County Museum

Bronze Sponsors: Autumn Ridge Rehabilitation Centre; Bachelor Creek ; Downs, Tandy, & Petruniw PC; First Farmers Bank & Trust; Friends Counseling Center; Haist Farm IT Support; Halderman Real Estate & Farm Management; HF Group; Hoosier Chiropractic; INGUARD; Metronet; NIPSCO; Paperworks Industries; Ruoff Mortgage; Terrell Realty Group; The Hagerman Group; The Town of North Manchester; Wabash Castings

Copper Sponsor: Eads & Son Bulldozing; J&K Mega Pet!; Pro Resources Staffing Services