Wabash County, IN
A strategy to address population loss
Wabash County leaders knew that the County was on track to lose 5,000 residents by 2050, a 14 percent decline. A critical focus of the work was to take advantage of the fact that regionally, the population was growing. This presented an opportunity. The planning process in Wabash County recognized that land use and economic strategies needed to tap into that growth, to collaborate beyond the County’s borders, and to find ways to capitalize on the growth and prosperity of the surrounding region.
A collective response to challenges
This process was a community-driven effort that utilized collaboration between five communities—Wabash County, Wabash City, Lagro, Roann, and LaFontaine—to establish a vision for the people of Wabash County and develop a road map for growth and investment for decades to come. This work was open, inclusive, and informed by the experiences of community members and stakeholders. Over the course of a year, the Imagine One 85 Steering Committee helped lead each of the county’s unique communities through this critical conversation. Through Imagine, close to 1,000 individuals contributed their time and ideas.
A bold and realizable comprehensive plan
The leadership guiding the Imagine One 85 process was clear from the outset that this was not to be just another plan. The community—like many other communities—had been through countless recent planning efforts and realized few results. Leaning into the word “comprehensive,” the plan addresses housing, land use, education, public health, transportation, and more, while squarely focusing on the issue of population decline. Imagine One 85 elevates the work of countless partners in the community, aligning public, private, and non-profit goals to ensure a more vibrant community.
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Tags
Project Type: comprehensive plan
Community Type: county
Client: Grow Wabash County
Services: comprehensive planning, public engagement, social media and online engagement
