A plan to create a better Allen County will be unveiled on Monday evening.
Representatives from Atlas Community Studios and McClure will present the “Allen County Placemaking Action Plan” at 6 p.m. Monday at the Creitz Recital Hall at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center, 205 E. Madison Ave.
The plan is the culmination of about a year’s worth of gathering information that included a series of meetings with the public and key officials in the county. Thrive Allen County worked with the groups to study the needs of the county and its citizens.
At Monday’s presentation, Atlas and McClure will:
• Discuss the results of their surveys regarding such areas as housing, economic development and workforce development. They’ll also talk about building revitalization, specifically for a Thrive owned property that was formerly a funeral home.
• Recommend strategies on how to move forward.
• Talk about funding sources and potential partnerships to make those plans a reality.
• Discuss “best practices” and what other communities have done to address similar concerns.
Jonathon Goering, economic development director for Thrive, said the event will be a good opportunity to learn more about issues facing Allen County, and also what’s happening in similar-sized communities across the country.
“We look forward to hearing what Atlas has to say about Allen County and how we can make this a better place to live, work and play,” Goering said. “We really want people to come out and share their ideas and thoughts.”
AT THE final public meeting last October, Atlas offered some its preliminary findings.
Top of the list was housing.
Atlas representatives noted that for most Allen County residents, the cost to build a new house outpaces wages. About 43% of Allen County houses were built before 1959, and only 7.7% of all houses have been built since 2000.
In discussion on workforce development, Atlas found the local labor pool is not enough to meet employer demand.
Housing, transportation and child care are some of the major reasons why someone may choose to live elsewhere, they noted.
They touted the benefits of collaboration, particularly on a regional level.
They also said Allen County benefits by having much to offer in the areas of recreation and amenities.
