GFW Annual Meeting: Highlights and Future Plans

Greater Fort Wayne Inc., the organization formed by the unification of the Fort Wayne‐Allen County Economic Development Alliance and the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce, held its annual meeting last month on Thursday, May 26th.

The event is meant to highlight the city’s accomplishments of the previous year, acknowledge why each one was successful, and use that knowledge to better serve the community in the future. This acknowledgement comes in the form of the Chairman's Award, the Swagger Award, the Legislator of the Year Award, and the Small Business Award.

In order, the awards were given to GFW board member Jim Cook for his excellency in progressing the organization’s mission in 2015, CEO of Ash Brokerage, Tim Ash for the completion of the Skyline Plaza, Representative Dan Leonard for his continued support of the city in the House of Representatives, and to Dancer Concrete and Design for their attractive and functional additions to Fort Wayne’s homes and businesses. Each of these awards represents another point of growth for the city, each with the potential to become a starting point for more development in the years to come.

(Click the photo below to see all the award winners.)

Jim Cook Accepts Chairman's Award

Tim Ash Accepts Swagger Award

Representative Dan Leonard Accepts Legislature Award

Nick Dancer Accepts Small Business Award

In order to achieve this potential, GFW also unveiled its 10-year vision for the city. The plan’s overall themes are to increase the middle wage income, attract and retain top talent, and grow the economy. To attain these goals, the GFW will complete five major projects within the next 10 years.

Through the construction of a new downtown arena, continued development of The Landing, promotion of riverfront business and activity, the renovation of the General Electric campus, and the creation of a new park, Fort Wayne will become both more economically healthy and more magnetic to young professionals.

2015 was a success for the city, and Greater Fort Wayne Inc. has a plan to build upon recent achievements. Consider doing your part to help the next 10 years be even better than the last, by supporting your local businesses or volunteering your time with a community organization. This is our city, we can make it great together.

“Momentum is hard to gain, but is easy to lose. What you have seen tonight is a vision that in many cases has been talked about for years. This vision is big, it is bold and it is not without risk, but we know that the price of doing nothing is to continue to have declining wages. What we all have to agree on is that we want to be big and be bold, and if we do, our community will continue to win.”

— GFW Board Chairman Ron Turpin