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Leaders of the Imagine One 85 Comprehensive Plan process will host meetings across Wabash County to collect ideas about the future of the county and its communities. This first, in-person community workshops – Focus on the Future Community Workshops –  will take place in locations across the county on the first week of March. These events are open to everyone and will help shape the county’s comprehensive plan. Participants will be asked to register for these events and will receive a special meeting invitation from the event organizers. 

In light of a COVID-19 spike and to preserve momentum for Imagine One 85 engagement events, in-person meetings have been rescheduled for the first week of March 2021 and planned in each of the county’s incorporated cities and towns. These in-person meetings will be fun, engaging and will include feedback and learnings from the virtual meetings throughout the winter. The agenda for each meeting is identical and participants are encouraged to attend the session that works best for them. Registration for these virtual events is not required but appreciated and available at www.imagineone85.org.

A team of elected and appointed officials, civic leaders, and organizations are launching an innovative, comprehensive planning process for the five incorporated communities of Wabash County. The plan, called Imagine One 85, is prompted by Wabash County’s steady and alarming decline in population that threatens school funding, industry and job growth, economic development and competitive wages, the availability of retail and professional services, and home values. Together, leaders and citizens from all sectors will develop a bold, comprehensive plan for the growth and prosperity of the entire county and the incorporated communities of La Fontaine, Lagro, North Manchester, Roann and Wabash.


During the meetings, participants will learn about the Imagine One 85 process and its initial findings through a brief presentation from the planning team. Discussion stations spread throughout the venue will focus on various topics covered in the plan including housing, economic development, land use and others. The meetings will use technology such as smart phone feedback and polling to test larger concepts. To ensure the safety of participants and event volunteers, all events will adhere to strict safety protocols outlined by the
Indiana Department of Health

The results from the first round of community meetings will be shared through the process website in late March. This input will help the process Steering Committee shape critical plan elements like the vision statement, goals, principle components of the overall conceptual direction. The second major community engagement series will test this direction and is tentatively scheduled for the spring of 2021. 

If you would prefer to participate in an in-person event, these have been rescheduled to occur in the first week of March in locations across the county. All of the in-person meetings will follow the safety protocols laid out by the Indiana Department of Health including mask-wearing, social distancing, and other basic safety precautions. In-person meetings will be hosted in an “Open House” style. Attendees can arrive and participate at any time during the event window. Each meeting is identical and participants are encouraged to register for the event that is most convenient for them.

Roann
Monday, March 1 – 6:00 to 9:00 PM
Roann Community Center
105 N. Chippewa Street
La Fontaine
Tuesday, March 2 – 6:00 to 9:00 PM
The Learning Center
207 N Wabash Ave.
North Manchester
Thursday, March 4 – 6:30 to 9:30 PM
Manchester Community Schools
Admin Building Auditorium
404 W. 9th Street
Lagro
Tuesday, March 2 – 6:30 to 9:30 PM
Lagro Town Hall
230 Buchanan St.
Wabash
Wednesday, March 3 – 6:00 to 9:00 PM
Honeywell Center, Legacy Center
275 W Market St.

Visit the Imagine One 85 process website to find out more about the process and register for an upcoming community meeting.

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