For too long, our narrative has focused on what we’ve lost: the factories that closed, the storefronts that emptied, downtowns in disarray, the neighborhoods that dimmed. Time has not served us well. Is this really what we want to cling to?

What if we shift the focus? Not on what we don’t have, but on everything we do?

Wayne County is rich with possibilities. We have the bones of beautiful historic buildings, walkable streets, hardworking people, entrepreneurs in abundance, and a deep well of local pride. Our Main Street and the Depot District are full of potential and opportunity.

The Heart

At the heart of it all and leading the way is the Wayne County Land Trust. The Trust builds on more than a decade of preparation and aligns with successful local and regional initiatives to amplify rural impact; all while being led by local decision-makers who understand Wayne County’s unique communities and challenges.

Decision-makers who live here, work here, raise families here, and who have expertise in real estate, construction, law, finance, and economic investment. Decision-makers that care about preservation, purpose, and passion, rather than tearing down.

It started with the purchase of Main Street and Depot District buildings. Some from out-of-state owners, but most from local owners who wanted to focus on their businesses and not their building, or who wanted to retire. They saw the Wayne County Land Trust as a trusted partner in the preservation and redevelopment of their buildings.

It takes a lot to give up something you love, and we are grateful these owners believe in the Trust’s ability to revitalize these spaces.

Local Accountability

Local ownership means local input and local accountability. It means we get to decide what goes into those storefronts, how the spaces look, and who benefits. It means keeping wealth in our communities, creating more housing options, and building intergenerational business opportunities for everyone.

And at no cost to taxpayers. The Trust is funded through philanthropic and investment capital. Although the trust is a 501c3, its properties will remain on the tax rolls and continue to contribute to local tax revenues. Our aim is to always reinvest back into the community.

All of Us

We are working in tandem with  Revitalize Richmond, AP Development, Flaherty & Collins, the Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County, and others to take sections of the downtown and Depot and make the buildings mixed-use.

This revitalization effort is about broadening our economic vision and welcoming a diverse set of businesses that reflect our people. Imagine with us. Coffee shops and tech startups. Event venues and design firms. Local markets, restaurants, music venues, makerspaces, and everything in between.

New businesses that complement our current Main Street and Depot businesses. Businesses that welcome and attract our residents and visitors alike. Businesses that are thriving and can stay open later into the evening, that are open on the weekends, and maybe, just maybe, a few brunch spots on Sunday.

Intention

We’re going to renovate the spaces with intention. We’re restoring buildings not only to their former beauty, but to future functionality. Places where businesses thrive, people live, families gather, and life happens.

It won’t happen in a year, but Main Street and the Depot will look different in the next five to ten years.

We’re creating a new future. One where community drives development, where inclusion is the foundation, where private and public investment intersect, and where hope is built into every brick and beam.

Can you imagine this? If not, what’s holding you back? This is your invitation. Look forward and see the potential and support the new future of Wayne County.

Together, we’re not just rebuilding the Main Street and Depot District. We’re reclaiming it. And we’re building it to last.

The post Reclaiming Revitalization in Wayne County appeared first on Forward Wayne County.

Workforce Talent

One of the most meaningful areas of progress in 2025 was workforce and talent development. Forward Wayne County facilitated the organization and alignment of five public school systems and one parochial school system. The focus was on preparedness for work-based learning and the State’s new graduation requirements. This work ensured that students, schools and employers are aligned around shared expectations.

Complementing this effort, we hosted a second round of internship education training for employers. This helped local businesses strengthen their capacity to provide meaningful, high-quality learning experiences for students. These efforts are laying the groundwork for a stronger, more connected talent pipeline—right here in Wayne County.

To ensure residents clearly see opportunity at home, Forward Wayne County’s Employability Coalition launched the “Right Here in Wayne County” career campaign. This initiative highlighted the diverse and growing career options available locally, reinforcing the message that meaningful, fulfilling jobs and careers don’t require leaving the county. By elevating local employers, the campaign supports talent retention and attraction, two key ingredients for long-term prosperity.

Investing in Ourselves

Housing and neighborhood revitalization also took a significant step forward with the launch of the Wayne County Land Trust. This new entity represents a commitment to additional housing options, neighborhood stability, and reclaiming our downtowns, while supporting reinvestment into historic buildings.

In tandem, the Wayne County Foundation, through Forward Wayne County, made its first-ever impact investment in the Vaile neighborhood, demonstrating a new approach to community development that blends financial stewardship with measurable social impact. This milestone underscores our commitment to innovative housing solutions that are affordable and attainable for our residents.

GIFTS

2025 also marked the beginning of implementation for GIFT VIII projects, moving from vision to action. These catalytic projects in Cambridge City and Richmond are now advancing toward tangible outcomes that will strengthen quality of place, economic vitality, and community pride across the county.

We capped the year with a $1.5 million gift from Lilly Endowment Inc. through GIFT IX. This investment affirms both the strength of our partnerships and the readiness of Wayne County to steward resources effectively.

The SIP

A cornerstone of 2025 was a year-long planning process to develop a countywide Strategic Investment Plan (SIP). This effort brought together leaders, residents, and stakeholders from across Wayne County to align priorities and identify catalytic projects in five areas: housing, infrastructure, parks and recreation, revitalization/beautification, and tourism.

Ten of the county’s fourteen incorporated communities actively participated, demonstrating a shared commitment to collaboration and collective impact. The SIP reflects local voice, data-driven decision-making, and a clear roadmap for strategic investment in the next seven years. You can read it here.

2026

That momentum carries directly into 2026. In the year ahead, Forward Wayne County will begin implementing projects identified in the SIP, deploy asset-based community development training across the county through our Main Street organizations, and celebrate the opening of the Cambridge City Outdoor Venue Space.

We will also begin work on Phase 3 of the Whitewater Gorge and launch two new coalitions focused on Government and Arts & Culture, further strengthening collaboration across sectors.

Preparedness made 2025 a success. This progress belongs to all of us. In 2026, that preparation becomes action. Together, we will continue turning shared vision into lasting impact—right here in Wayne County.

The post Preparing for Generational Impact: Forward Wayne County’s 2025 Year in Review appeared first on Forward Wayne County.

Conveniently located on 227N, right off I-70, it provides a unique experience for all visitors. Visitors are greeted with the sweet aroma of natural beeswax melting, honey tasting, and educational conversations about ways to promote a healthy environment for the honeybees and local pollinators. In the retail side of the business you can find souvenirs, lots of honey, as well as beekeeping tools and equipment in the back for new and seasoned beekeepers.

History

Four Leaf Honey Farm founded by Earl M. Alexander after retiring from teaching in the late 1930s. Earl or “pop” as he was known in the community, supported the community by employing local high school teenagers to help in the bee yards during the summer. The original Honey Plant was located in Middleboro, IN, in the old school house building (which still stands today). Earl kept over 3000 hives throughout the Wayne County area and transported hives down to Egypt, GA. Fast forward to today, 2024, we are keeping up with some of Earl’s traditions, by hiring some college kids from the community to help during the summer break. While the apiary continues to grow, we currently tend to and keep about 130+ hives.

The BIG BUZZ

While Four Leaf Honey Farm is a small Christian family farm, we are a family worth getting to know. Our honey farm is an attraction to many in the community because of the honey and honey related treats, but also because our family promotes a healthy way of living in the community.

How? By becoming involved in volunteering with various non-profit organizations, providing locally grown produce, and sharing in the philanthropy work of beekeeping education. We promote a healthy environment for the honeybees, educate the next generation of beekeepers, and provide information on all the health benefits of local honey products.

We also provide a platform for small gatherings through pop-up shops where local, small homemakers and business owners can reach a broader audience during the annual Honey Fest, which usually takes place in November and or December.

Personal Passion

Honestly, we are humbled by the work that God has given us to do. We are called to help our neighbors, friends, and the community. For us, we serve our community through our summer produce and transcription services. It allows us to connect with and serve minority populations in the community all over Wayne County and specifically the Latino community.

Reaching the Latino Community means of offering produce they are familiar with, promoting the goods in Spanish, and getting to know what their needs are. It is a blessing, and we are thrilled to work with Purdue Extension, Gateway Hunger Relief Center, Hayes Arboretum, and other organizations to transcribe materials in Spanish to further enhance the value of our community.

We also collaborate with local schools to teach about gardening and fresh produce. We also prepare meals when time permits at Bridges for Life’s program, Dinner at the Lamp. When we help our fellow citizens with no expectations, our cups overflow with gratitude.

Visit Us

What do we look forward to in each season of life? To share the blessings, we have been so graciously given with anyone who wants to learn.  We welcome public schools, home schooled kids, organizations, seniors, and more. We’ll provide a setting to learn about beekeeping, growing your own food, and seed preservation at Four Leaf Honey Farm.

Be sure to stop by and visit our bee shop, where you will find an array of delectable honey treats, candles, hot honey, and DRIP Honey Soda! You’ll experience the most refreshing sip of a zero-guilt honey soda!

The post Four Leaf Honey Farm- Creating a big BUZZ in Wayne County appeared first on Forward Wayne County.

The Wayne County Council is the County Government’s fiscal body and is comprised of seven elected officials. Our main duties are to oversee the budget for the entire County and to set the salaries of our employees.

The Council also sets tax rates for the County. We are very fortunate to be in a solid financial position and have not raised taxes in many years. We were even able to lower the local income tax when the jail bond was finished. Sometimes we have to do more with less. It requires learning how to find innovative ways to fund projects and come up with new ideas when challenges arise.

Accountability

We use these funds to fix roads, bridges, partner on special projects, pay for assessment needs, and to ensure that the county government runs as efficiently as possible.

Elected officials are accountable to the public who elected them. It is our goal to always be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. All our decisions are based on what is best for the citizens of Wayne County.

As President, it has been my honor to also represent the Council at local functions and be involved on various boards and committees. Being engaged in the community is important for all elected officials. There are always opportunities to learn about the various projects developing around the County. Gaining knowledge from others helps with making informed decisions.

Working with others makes the job bigger than just yourself. We have formed a strong bond with the County Commissioners that has resulted in your local government being more efficient and more cohesive. People often confuse the duties of the Council with those of Commissioners.

Both bodies are willing to help citizens find the right person to talk to better serve them, but we do have specific functions. While the Commissioners will bring projects to the attention of the Council for budgeting and funding requests, it is ultimately the responsibility of the Council to approve the spending.

Purpose

I’ve asked a few of my fellow council members to share why they serve Wayne County and what it means to them. Here’s what they had to say:

“Serving on the Wayne County Council is a meaningful way to give back to my home community. I was raised in a family that served our community in many varied ways and taught me how important that is. In whatever I am doing, I want to leave that organization in a better position than when I arrived. It was a privilege to serve the citizens of Wayne County as a Commissioner in the 80s and 90s, and now again over the past 4 years. Thank you to everyone for the opportunity to serve.” – Max Smith, Vice President

“Having been a prior elected official and full-time county employee for 14 years, it was important to me to continue to serve the people of Wayne County. This is my 4th year on County Council and Wayne County is my home and I care about all the people who live here, that includes those who are less fortunate and struggle with mental health, drug addictions and recidivism. County Council not only is the financial “decision makers” for Wayne County, but we each also serve on several committees and are liaisons to the different county departments. This way we each have a little different perspective on the needs of our constituents and can make our decisions accordingly.” – Cathy Williams

“To be entrusted by the citizens of Wayne County to ensure their tax dollars are being handled in a fiscally responsible manner, is one of the highest honors.” -Jeff Cappa

“I enjoy being a servant of the people and working with the strong and experienced members of County Council, who have led Wayne County to the sound financial position that we are currently in today, while being part of the health and well-being of all the citizens of Wayne County.” – Gary Saunders

Privilege

Working in the public sector is a privilege that entails great responsibility. Those of us that have the opportunity to be public servants don’t take it lightly. We know that what we do has purpose. Our work forces us to find financial solutions, to adapt to the circumstances that arise and to keep finding ways to serve. We also welcome your input in to how we can make Wayne County a better place.

All our meetings are televised locally and are available online at WGTV. The public is welcome at our meetings which are held on the first Wednesday of each month at 8:00 am and the third Wednesdays at 6:00 pm. Come and see what we are about.

The post County Government- Service and Fiscal Responsibility appeared first on Forward Wayne County.

I became the Clerk/Treasurer after moving back home to Economy after 26 years of living in four different states. I grew up in Economy, went to school in Economy (first through third grade), was involved with the United Methodist Church, played softball and did 4-H. At that time Economy had two gas stations, a post office, a bank, a convenience store, an Implement store and a Tool and Dye business.

I realized when I moved back to my childhood home things had changed drastically. No longer did we have gas stations, a bank, a convenience store or an Implement store. The only things left were the post office, the Tool and Dye business and the Implement Store became a Service Center for Farm Equipment. But I still had so much love for my hometown and wanted to see it start thriving again.

I was approached by the Council Members a year or so after moving home if I would be interested in becoming the Clerk/Treasurer. The current Clerk/Treasurer was ready to retire after 30 plus years. I decided that maybe being involved with the Town would be a way to give back and to advocate on behalf of our residents.

I have now been the Clerk/Treasurer for eight years and I believe our Council has made great decisions and improvements for our Town. We hope to see more in the future. Our small-town government is just as important as any larger city government.

Economy Town Council

The Town of Economy is a small town located in the Northwest part of Wayne County Indiana with a population of 157. There are three council members and me, the clerk/treasurer. We have monthly meetings open to the public. At each meeting we go over expenses and other issues. The public is also invited to bring up concerns or other issues.

In a small-town people tend to know each other by name, and this creates a sense of responsibility for the local community. Unlike in a larger city where the political leaders may seem far removed from the people they serve, in Economy, council members live in the community and are impacted by all the same issues the residents face. So, when decisions are made, there is a shared understanding of how it will affect everyone involved. The residents in a small town also have direct access to officials and can contact us if they have problems.

The Town of Economy provides essential services that a larger city probably does not provide. The Town pays for all trash pickup for all residents in town. The other service that some people may take for granted is street lights!  The Town pays for electricity each month. The Town also makes sure the streets are in good condition and the snow is removed in a timely manner. We are small, but organized and resourceful.

Collaboration

Because the Town of Economy is an incorporated town in Wayne County, we can collaborate with County Government on projects for the Town. This relationship has benefited the Town in the past few years.

Through fundraisers and grants, we were able to:

• Update the Economy playground
• Waterproof the basement of our gymnasium
• Add Wi-Fi in the park, and
• Get a Mural on the gymnasium

We were also able to participate in the countywide Housing Blight program and the Main Street program. That is a lot of positive momentum for a town of 157. The relationship we have built with the county and other stakeholders has really helped our community build a sense of pride in our small town. And we are not planning on stopping anytime soon!

This past weekend, we held a ribbon cutting for our new playground. We invite all of Wayne County to come and see it and explore our town.

While national and state governments make the headlines, small-town governments are the unsung heroes of local democracy. The Town of Economy may operate on a smaller scale, but our impact on our community makes a difference.

The post Why Small-Town Government is Important appeared first on Forward Wayne County.

It was where people did their grocery shopping.

It was where the stagecoaches dropped off and picked up passengers.

Where moms bought their kids school supplies for the new school year.

And it was where people did their most important business transactions.

Progress

Then the times changed. Progress happened and many of things that happened on the Main Streets moved to different parts of the communities.

Grocery stores became their own buildings.

Malls and superstores took the shopping.

Restaurants and hotels closed up.

The Main Streets suffered. Our communities also suffered. Collectively, we began to forget the important role the Main Streets had in creating community, a sense of place, a sense of pride, and more importantly, history. But Forward Wayne County’s Main Street Coalition, as well as other key stakeholders, are striving to make Main Streets a place you want to be again.

Historians

Fortunately, for our communities and residents, the local historians didn’t forget. They are the keepers of history and the ones that know the importance of the buildings on the Main Streets. Forward Wayne County, the Main Street Coalition, and the Richmond-Wayne County Convention & Tourism Bureau were lucky enough to work with them on a fun and creative tourism trail with them. It’s called Mystery on Main and highlights some neat buildings across the county.

We could have listened to these historians for hours as they shared the history of the buildings; the architecture; and what important things happened in the buildings on Main Streets. To be honest, we still might do that.

History Trail

Back to this tourism trail. Mystery on Main will take participants on an adventure across four Main Streets in Cambridge City, Centerville, Hagerstown, and Richmond. Those looking to complete the trail will visit five buildings in each community (20 total) in order to crack the case. Brochures can be picked up at the Tourism Bureau or one of the public libraries in Cambridge City, Centerville, Hagerstown, or Richmond.

From there, participants will travel across Wayne County to each of the locations in the brochures. At each building, a sign with a QR code will be displayed in a window, doorway, or on a yard sign. Scanning these QR codes will direct individuals to a web page that contains a historical account of the building, as well as the answer needed to solve the Mystery on Main.

Audience

Who can do this trail? Anyone with a cell phone. It’s as simple as opening your camera to scan the QR code. There is no cost. Once you have cracked the case, take your answer back to the Tourism bureau for a small prize.

Make it a family affair. Take a friend. Bring your spouse. Make this your first date. Gather a church group. Create an educational opportunity for students. Bring the dog or the cat (if it will walk on leash). Heck, bring them both.

This trail can be done in a day or over the course of a few days. While you are in each community, check out the shops, grab a bite to eat, and see all the fun things Wayne County has to offer.

Joe Smith, historian for Hagerstown said it best. “Communities are the backbone of our Nation. Whether it be communities in large cities or communities in small towns, communities give us a sense of belonging. The Mystery on Main tour is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to learn from the past stories of buildings and people.”

Go get a brochure and happy sleuthing!

The post Mystery on Main appeared first on Forward Wayne County.

It has been a sold 18 months of ups and downs, but many things have remained the same including Wayne County’s need for workers in all industries. This is not a secret. The Employability Coalition is doing their part to introduce and affirm career awareness for the adult population.

They want people to get back to work. And they want people to explore the possibility of furthering their education. After all, Wayne County needs you.

More importantly, they want our residents to know that they have possibilities right here in Wayne County. You can get educated here, employed here, and grow here. You can level up your life here.

Everyone’s career path looks different. The same for education. But a change of course is possible in whatever stage of life you are in.

In a previous blog, Forward Wayne County said possibilities mean opportunities. This campaign shows that.

The Coalition has created an explainer video, job cards, links to training providers and employers, and career pathways. The neat thing about these career pathways is that they have been verified and approved by Wayne County employers. Real stuff.

Real Possibilities

The career pathways show our residents where they may start in a career, but also where they could go. Sometimes it is hard to see the full picture. The career pathways give you a glimpse of your potential with just a little more education and experience.

The Coalition has also tried to incorporate Spanish versions into a majority of these pieces. They want to reach all of Wayne County’s workforce.

You will start seeing a new career pop up every two months. And most of them are tied to Next Level Jobs. Meaning you can have your training paid for by the State. Think about that.

Real jobs. Paid training. Local employers hiring. A career pathway. You could be on your way to a new you and a new life.

The Coalition wants to do more. And they know that Wayne County can help them get the word out. Please consider sharing Forward Wayne County’s social media posts and guide people to our campaign page. Finally, when you see the billboards around the county, encourage others to take advantage of the possibilities in Wayne County.

Most of all, help them share this message: You can level up your life in Wayne County. We’ll help you get started.

The post You Have Possibilities appeared first on Forward Wayne County.

I’ll tell you what happened.

I was in a meeting about career awareness and a gentleman asked, “Do people value work anymore?”

Internally, I’m yelling, “Well of course they do!”

Same gentleman. “I’ve never seen as many opportunities within the last year and half for people to take advantage of and they won’t do it.”

Chewing my lip, “Some people value work.”

“You can’t throw a rock without hitting a help wanted sign in this county!”

Staring hard at this man, “I mean, he’s not wrong…”

And that’s what I’ve been thinking about the past several months. What’s going on with employment in Wayne County? Why aren’t more people working?

Wages are up

Many employers have raised starting wages close too or past that magical $15 an hour number. And yet people aren’t applying.

Per capita income is up

One of the Employability Coalition’s goals is see higher per capita income levels in Wayne County. That’s shown a steady increase as well.

Everyone is hiring

Literally every industry in Wayne County is hiring. And I’m not one to throw rocks, but you could just take a drive around Wayne County and see hundreds of help wanted signs.

Childcare

This used to be one of the top two reasons for not being able to work. But even with pandemic funding, there are many options to pay for childcare at little to no cost for some people. And yet, childcare seats remain open.

Transportation

This is still a valid reason for a select group of people. However, some employers are rewarding workers that give rides to other workers. They are also looking at implementing ride-share programs to get people to work.

Sign on bonuses

Even this carrot is not working. So what’s going on? Can it all be attributed to the “great resignation?”

Great Resignation

Created by Texas A&M Professor Anthony Klotz, this thought implies that people would rather leave their jobs than return to the status quo. People had a year to think about priorities and work was important, but not as important as other things.

I think this is part of the reason. The pandemic showed us that people can work from home and more importantly, they can work from anywhere. Forbes published a great article about how this is translating for a worker.

Priorities

I ramble on about this because I still believe people value work. But maybe they value work-life balance more.

Are our employers taking note and making changes? Or are they trying to get their businesses operating back to the status quo? Employees don’t want rigidity, they want flexibility.

One the other side, workers need to understand that not every position can be flexible. And that they can’t expect to make high wages with little to no experience or training. Further, employment is still important. Large gaps in employment is hard to explain in interviews.

Don’t make a self-imposed case for employers not to hire you.

Possibilities

I don’t have specific answers as to why more people aren’t working. There are certainly options. But I want to throw this thought out there too.

Do people see the possibilities ahead of or in front of them? Or do they think that what they are currently experiencing is the best they’ll ever get?

Perhaps if people could see the possibilities, it would change what the “value of work” means to them.

Sometimes all it takes is a little education. Maybe a person is in a lower wage job. Have they thought about getting a credential? Next Level Jobs is still available. More education leads to higher wages and more opportunities. The data proves it.

Do people know that they have options? The employment field is so open right now, that it might be time to consider a career change. And employers are willing to train people on the job.

Sometimes you have to get started. Get back to work Wayne County! Your efforts, time, and experience will lead to promotions, new opportunities, and areas of growth both personally and economically.

Do people know about career pathways in their field of choice? You may start off as a C.N.A., but you don’t have to stay there. What’s stopping you from becoming an R.N.? Don’t limit yourself.

Finally, 2020 gave people time to think and prioritize. Is it possible to turn what you are passionate about into a new employment opportunity? It’s all about possibilities. And putting value into the kind of work you want to do.

Let’s get started.

The post What’s going on Wayne County? appeared first on Forward Wayne County.

The long answer is that good environmental practices in a community makes it stand out. It is important to attracting and retaining residents.

It’s also a key factor in a company’s social responsibility and how consumers respond to that. Last but not least, we should all strive to want to take care of our living spaces.

Let me explain.

Environmentally-Friendly Communities

Environmentally-friendly communities are vibrant, thriving communities because they care about how their actions impact what’s around them.

What could that look like in Wayne County? Here are some ideas:

Home associations, apartment complexes, senior living facilities, and more could incentivize recycling.

Communities, towns, neighborhoods, or community groups could introduce quarterly cleanup days.

Cambridge City Main Street will host a cleanup day on June 19^th, from 8am-2pm. Visit their Facebook page for more details.

Richmond has already installed bike paths. What if there was a county-wide established bike path?

Home builders could use sustainable building practices and materials with new housing developments. They could also design systems that conserve water and electricity.

We also like that parks departments around the county are taking donations to buy and plant trees.

One our web site, we highlight some county organizations that can give your more ideas.

Social Responsibility

As residents are looking at ways to lessen their environmental impact, they are also seeking out businesses that are doing the same or businesses that are purposefully partnering with environmental agencies to do this work.

We have many companies around the county that have a strong environmental conscience and they sponsor community events or have processes in place that mirror their social responsibility. Here are a few examples:

Wayne Bank recently sponsored a community shred day in April. Reid Health Pace Center will hold a county-wide shred day June 26^th.

Seton Catholic schools recently sponsored an e-cycle day. We hope others will too! But for now, Best Buy will help you e-cycle your electronics, computers, printers, and tvs at no cost.

Business like Primex Plastics reduce, recycle, and reuse plastic materials.

The majority of Johns Manville’s ingredients is recycled glass; they have an initiative to reduce their waste to landfill allowance; and they have replaced 35% of their lighting with LED lights.

We know that many other are doing similar things. The point is, is that they are actively doing it. Not just thinking about it.

Ownership of Our Living Spaces

We touched on it briefly earlier, but eventually it comes down to how we, as residents, take ownership of our living spaces.

Do we recycle? Is this even a priority in your home? Do we volunteer on clean up days? Are we properly disposing of batteries, computers, and more?

Our social media this month focused on small things you can do to make a big impact in the long run. Forward Wayne County would like to put out a three-month challenge. Choose from one of these:

1. Buy three reusable shopping bags and don’t use any plastic bags at the grocery.
2. Recycle cardboard, plastic, glass, and aluminum.
3. Be conscious of the amount of water and electricity you use.

And then tell us how it went. We think you will be surprised by the outcome. If we all do our part, it will make our county great, sustainable, and attractive.

The post Environment and Forward Wayne County appeared first on Forward Wayne County.

In my experience, health and wellness varies so vastly that people often become overwhelmed and simply give up before they ever start. If you have done this, join the club…WE ALL HAVE!! How should you avoid repeating the cycle every year or every 6 months?

Tip 1: Hire a Trainer

I think it is best to hire a trainer with a reputable background and STICK WITH IT! “Nothing great happens overnight.” Someone with a solid background and knowledge will stick with you for the long run. And joining a gym will also give you some accountability.

Tip 2: Find Accountability

There is nothing wrong with admitting that you need to be held accountable. Everyone needs some level of accountability so let someone else do it for you! With a trainer, you will be able to:

Tip 3: Change Takes Time

Creating new habits and a healthier lifestyle is going to be a process and takes time. Any ‘quick fixes’ will never last, I promise you. Be prepared for it to take 1-2 months before you see changes and up to a year before you reach your goal.

One thing is for sure. Giving up after a month will not get you any closer to losing the same 40 pounds that you have wanted too for the last 4 years.

Changing several bad habits at once can usually lead to failure, so it works best to tackle 1-3 goals every month. For example, eat 3 meals and 2 snacks a day. Or come into the gym 3 times a week and complete 20 minutes of cardio each time.

Tip 4: Proper Movement

Besides accountability, proper movement is an especially important factor that often gets overlooked. Most of us sit all day at work. You also might have knee issues or back issues. If you are not addressing these issues prior to lifting weights or attempting to run a 5K, these issues will only get worse.

Your body must be able to move properly in order to eliminate issues down the road.  Be creative in how you get moving!

Tip 5: Move Your Body

If working out in a gym is not your style, there are many great ways to move your body during your day-to-day routine. Take a walk during your lunch break. A perfect place is our wonderful outdoor trails at Hayes Arboretum or Cope Environmental Center.

Consider making an investment in a bike and use the Cardinal Greenway trails.

Using a fitness tracker can help keep you stay on track as well. It will give you hourly reminders to stand up and help you set goals

Tip 6: Reward Yourself

Rewarding your goals is always a great way to get motivated. Don’t go crazy, but choose rewarding options that fit your new lifestyle.

I hope these tips have helped and that they help you get back on track. And just know, Anytime Fitness is always willing to help you reach your goals.

Jackie Gettinger, Owner, Anytime Fitness

The post Tips for Getting Back on Track appeared first on Forward Wayne County.