to be raising kids that will feel responsibility and empathy toward the other people in our community. And I think that’s where the secret is.” This sentiment of service runs deep throughout the county’s leadership. For Mayor Long, it’s rooted in advice from his father: “No matter what you do, give it your all.” He has carried this wisdom through his diverse career – seven years in the Army, 22 years with the Wabash Police Department, and 16 years on the city council before becoming mayor. The county’s collaborative approach has caught the attention of state leadership, with their success in downtown revitalization, economic development, and community engagement serving as a model for other rural communities. As Downard puts it,“What we’re doing every single day, whether it be in the town of Roann with a population of 400 or the city of Wabash with almost 11,000 people, is positioning ourselves to be ready when that shift comes and have places for people to live and things for people to do because people are choosing where they want to live and then finding work at a much higher rate than they used to.” PREFERRED VENDOR/PARTNER n Manchester University www.manchester.edu Manchester University, with campuses in North Manchester and Fort Wayne, Ind., provides vibrant and transformative student experiences and offers a wide spectrum of exciting programs across all areas of study to enable students to achieve their professional and personal goals. essential character. “Infrastructure, housing, and setting the table for growth are top priorities over the next 18 months,” explains Zartman. “It’s one project at a time, but we’re working together to stay aligned and focused as a county, moving each initiative forward.” In smaller communities like Roann, the focus is on nurturing the next generation. “We’re working right now on a park because we know that we have to draw families into the town,” shares Ferguson. Through community support and donations, the town has already raised over half the funds for this million-dollar project – remarkable for a community with an annual operating budget under $500,000. “The kids are the present because when we work toward providing our kids with growth, we are going 10 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 02
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