Fort Wayne is Indiana’s second-largest city, with more than 250,000 people, and is constantly developing to enhance its quality of living and business environment.
Although many of the counties surrounding Fort Wayne cannot compete with life in the city, they are still working hard to also enhance their local areas’ quality of living and provide substantial employment to retain population numbers by providing a decent income and lifestyle.
Steuben County had 34,358 people living in its borders in 2013, according to the most recent population data. In order to keep the population increasing, it is working to develop Trine University and also beginning to remodel some of its older buildings, while also benefiting from its lake community.
Some of the renovated buildings will be used for industrial training, like welding, maintenance, computer and math skills, while others may be used as co-working associations. The Enterprise Center, a newly developed facility in Angola, will also provide these amenities but on a larger scale.
Currently, a technology park is in-the-works at the interchange of Interstate 69 and U.S. 20 in Angola, which would work alongside Trine University and potentially bring in high-paying jobs and new industries. A 150-acre logistics park in Fremont is also under consideration as a possible location for distribution and logistics facilities.
The county is looking at bringing in culinary arts, customer services and safe serve-type training opportunities, said David Koenig, Steuben County Economic Development Corp.
LaGrange County is focusing on the business environment through business retention, expansion and attraction and entrepreneurial development for its 33,796 inhabitants. It recently created tax-increment financing districts (TIFs)to incentivize businesses beyond tax abatements, bonding and assistance from local funds. It also has an “Invest in Our Future” fund, which specifically works to help businesses relocate their operations and employees to the county, according to the LaGrange County Economic Development Corp.’s website.
Noble County had 47,570 people in 2013, and is focusing on its manufacturing sector. Currently, manufacturing jobs provide 58 percent of the wages of the county.
Roughly a year ago, the county developed an alliance between the manufacturing industry and the local educational facilities in order to provide an opportunity for manufacturers in the area to provide information on manufacturing careers. It also developed the Manufacturing Entry Training Academy to provide basic skillsets to those who have no experience in manufacturing, said Rick Sherck, executive director of the Noble County Economic Development Corp.
Community leaders hope that, by 2025, 60 percent of its residents will have an advanced degree or certificate of some kind.
Furthermore, the county is working to develop its trails, including Fish Line Trail, beginning in Rome City and ending in Kendallville.
DeKalb County, with 42,307 people, is working on its trails as well, with one that runs from Wells County through Allen County and DeKalb County and ends in Steuben County.
It is also working to develop its libraries, possibly providing 3-D printers in the future, and the construction of a YMCA soccer complex.
One of its biggest projects is the enhancement of the Amtrak train station in Waterloo, which connects the area to New York City and stops along the way, said Ken McCrory, the director of the DeKalb County Economic Development Partnership Inc.
Kosciusko County’s focus, with 77,963 people, is business retention, said George Robertson, the president of the Kosciusko Economic Development Corp.
Since 2010, the working population has risen from 33,000 to 40,000 – Kosciusko’s highest amount of working residents ever. Eighty percent of the newly-acquired jobs are due to the expansion of local companies.
While manufacturing accounts for 40 percent of the jobs available, the orthopedic companies in Warsaw provide the area with nicer restaurants and amenities than usually available in a town of Warsaw’s size. Anything that cannot be found in Warsaw is available in the other bigger cities nearby, like South Bend and Fort Wayne.
The Kosciusko region also benefits from its rural towns, small cities and the more than 75 lakes in the county, and is working on developing bike and hiking trails.
Wabash County, with a population of 32,358, is a manufacturing hub and has careers available in various healthcare venues as well. It also has business and industrial parks in its plans, and is home to Living Essentials, a maker of non-alcoholic beverages that employs more than 400 people; Novae, a utility trailer manufacturer; and MetroNet, an internet and cable service, according to Economic Development Group of Wabash County’s website. The area attracts people through Manchester University and its two lakes: Salamonie Lake and Mississinewa Lake, which it shares with Miami County.
Whitley County had 33,294 people in 2013, and is also looking to develop its trails for pedestrians and bikes, connecting an additional 200 homes. The trails would also connect to a 100-acre park, the YMCA, the hospital and other important locations in the county.
A new aquatics facility is also in-the-works, with enough lanes for swim competitions, and a new high school for Columbia City is scheduled for completion in 2020, said Jeff Walker, community development director of Columbia City. Additionally, Columbia City just saw the completion of the Thomas Marshall Plaza pocket park, a small park no bigger than a basketball court that provides a location downtown to eat lunch, visit or enjoy the weather.
“All three local Main Street Associations (Columbia City, South Whitley and Churubusco) have been heavily involved with planning community events, and helping with revitalization in each of the downtowns,” said Katie Dewitt, marketing projects manager the for Whitley County Economic Development Corp. This includes various summer concerts and a 5K, along with other initiatives in the area like the Whitley County Farmer’s Market, Art in the Alley the Annual Whitley County Junior Achievement Car Show and lake activities.
Churubusco also revamped some of its downtown, including new sidewalks, lighting, a new clock, parking, landscaping and benches.
Adams County, with 34,614 people, has training and infrastructure support and tax abatements available to develop the local business climate. It established three revolving loan fund programs to be used for expansion, startups, working capital, new jobs or job retention.
Currently, Adams County caters mostly to the manufacturing industry, with 5,038 people employed by manufacturing companies within the county. Other major employers include construction and health-related services, as indicated by StatsIndiana.
For the community, Adams County has the Blazing Saddles Bicycle Club, which hosts the “Flat 50 Bike Ride” each year and begins the ride at Bellmont High School in Decatur. The Decatur-Adams County Parks and Recreation is working toward enhancing the quality of living through program development, leisure and educational services and park maintenance, according to the Adams County Economic Development Corp.’s website.
Huntington County, with 36,791 people, has new trails and parks are currently under enhancement and construction, alongside improvements in its residential areas and retention of its historic homes. The area has Roush Lake, a reservoir on the southern half of the county, and Salamonie Lake, which is shared with Wabash County.
Huntington is also working with Huntington University, the school corporation and the business bureau to develop small business retention and retail activity. The county is likewise investing in its airport, as it currently has up to 90 aircraft. The airport is extending its ramp and just developed two new corporate hangars and an electronic messaging board, which provides advertisement opportunities, said executive director of the Huntington County Economic Development Mark Wickersham.
Some of its most exciting accomplishments include the Zagster Inc. urban bike rentals’ three locations and the ribbon cutting of the area’s new Learning Center, a $1.3-million project that will provide skills training and education for careers in precision machining, welding, CNAs, EMTs and technology, alongside some college coursework.
Wells County, with 27,814 in population in 2013, is working on its workforce, transportation and entrepreneurism. It has jobs available in advanced manufacturing, food processing and transportation and logistics.