PREFERRED VENDOR/PARTNER n People’s Bank www.peoplesbancorp.com Peoples Bank combines the sophistication of a large institution with the heart of a community bank, pursuing its vision to be the Best Community Bank in America. With 7 branches in Warren County, we proudly live, work, and invest in the same communities Peoples Bank serves. building generational change right now.” The city’s infrastructure investments exemplify this philosophy. Electric vehicle charging stations, initially limited by outdated electrical systems, can now expand following the downtown grid upgrade. Franklin’s comprehensive plan, updated before the downtown master plan, ensures coordinated development across the city. “Those two together fit like a puzzle piece. It’s that one last missing piece that snaps it all together,” Westendorf says. The downtown master plan sets high standards for future development, recognizing that each project must enhance what comes next. “We want it to be a destination of choice, and we want to make sure that whatever development comes in is helping the next development grow even nicer.” The approach acknowledges uncomfortable realities. Success could disqualify Franklin from community development block grants and other aid programs the city has relied on for generations.“We’re basically disqualifying ourselves from some of those programs that we have come to live on,” Westendorf admits. “We have to be wise and smart about the moves that we’re making.” For Franklin, preserving historic buildings while building modern infrastructure, leveraging unique riverfront access, and creating sustainable funding mechanisms positions the city for another 228 years of growth.The firefighter-turned-city-manager who once saved lives now works to save his community’s future, one infrastructure project at a time. 10 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07
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