A crowd of 55 helped put focus into a series of goals they believe will make Allen County a healthier, more vibrant place to live, work and play.
The second annual Allen County Tomorrow vision session took place Thursday in the new Thrive Allen County location at 7 S. Jefferson Ave., above the Treasure Chest.
Construction is still ongoing, noted Damaris Kunkler, Thrive’s program director and emcee for Thursday’s get-together.
Still, mild temperatures outside coupled with strategically placed fans indoors kept the environs comfortable for the nearly 2-hour session.
Participants focused on six primary objectives spelled out last August at the inaugural Allen County Tomorrow session.
— Employment and business development, particularly for downtown businesses in Iola and Humboldt
— Public safety through storm alert systems and razing condemned houses
— Safe and clean green spaces by further developing parks and trails, adding playground equipment and making the community more aware of those facilities
— Complete streets development in Iola and Humboldt
— Opportunities for physical activity, by working with school districts to make gymnasiums and other facilities more available to the general public
— Student achievement, in particular, support for the proposed regional technical education center in the old Diebolt Lumber facility east of LaHarpe
Each of Allen County’s communities — even Petrolia was represented — has spelled out concerns of their own. Some were taken care of in short order; others remain works in progress.
It’s now up to a steering committee to keep the focus on all six areas to ensure the vision becomes reality, Kunkler said.
AMID THE planning, Kunkler presented a $20,000 check from Allen County Tomorrow to the soon-to-open community technical education center at the old Diebolt Lumber facility east of LaHarpe.
She noted the tech ed center was but a mere blip on the county’s radar a year ago, until LaHarpe businessman Ray Maloney acquired the Diebolt property early this year.
Maloney has been an outspoken advocate for the center.
