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Intern Insights on Wayne County
In September we are focusing on all things related to government. Forward Wayne County hired two interns this summer to assist with community planning and development. Tucker Burris, an IU East student, and Jaxin McCree, a Ball State student, spent...
Residents’ Guide: Things To Do In Wayne County, Indiana
What is at the intersection of population, talent attraction, quality of life, and things to do in Wayne County, Indiana? What do you think that number represents? If you guessed the population of Wayne County in 1970, you’d be right! Yes, almost 80,000 people lived...
Celebrating Wayne County High Schools’ Class of 2020
Big shout out to Wayne County High Schools' grads and school administrators for being creative in these unusual times! 2020 has been...a challenge. The typical events we take for granted were postponed, if not canceled entirely. Kids looking forward to the last...
Young, Free, & … Settling in Wayne County?!
Local high school and college graduation season tends to be a bittersweet time for us. We're thrilled to see our students reaching these milestones, but we know that graduation also tends to signal a mass exodus of young residents leaving Wayne County to make a home...
Hello, Neighbor!
Have you been staying home a lot more than usual? The good news is that the weather is improving and you'll be able to spend more time outside in your neighborhood. This is a great opportunity to take in some fresh air and reconnect with your neighbors at a safe,...
COVID-19 Grant Recipients Weigh In
You may recall that the Wayne County Foundation offered rapid grants to local non-profit organizations to assist their support of our community. We followed up with two of the grant recipients to learn what these grants mean to their organization and how they're using...
Forward Wayne County’s 2020 Vision – Annual Report
Wow, 2019 was whirlwind year for Forward Wayne County! Wayne County faces significant and persistent challenges that include declining population, lack of high-skilled employment pool, high percentage of families living in poverty, and low levels of educational...
Forward Wayne County: Your Partner in Strengthening Communities
Strengthening communities has always been important work, and it is even more essential now that families across America are facing so much uncertainty. Forward Wayne County (FWC) partners with local leaders and organizations to create more vibrant, thriving,...
We Will Get Through This Together
The Power of Hope It seems like only yesterday we were all gearing up for the new decade. We were excited about the 2020 Vision and as a community, Wayne County residents, we were ready to be done with bike paths, road construction, and winter weather. Then, without...
Prioritizing Workforce Development
At a recent Agbioscience Innovation Summit held in Indianapolis, a panel of experts discussed industry challenges: "What’s the key factor in a startup’s success? Employees. Why had a particular agbioscience company moved to Indiana? The people. What does a CEO think...
Breaking News: Resident Opinions Needed
WAYNE COUNTY, Indiana - Forward Wayne County asks for residents' opinions in county-wide survey designed to develop a comprehensive plan to improve local communities. Background: Forward Wayne County is a backbone organization that helps better align...
Make Wayne County a Better Place in Five Minutes
"I can't find affordable daycare around here." "There are no jobs close to where I live.""I feel like nothing fun happens in our area." Do any of these statements resonate with you? Let's fix it! Forward Wayne County is developing a countywide plan to create more...
Census 2020 & Wayne County
You’ve probably been hearing a lot about the 2020 Census in recent days, but most of that is coming from the country-wide perspective. What about here in Wayne County? We’re going to dive into some facts about the Decennial Census and why it matters to our hometown....
Using Data for Collective Impact: Measuring Impact and Success
We just moved into our lovingly named Gingerbread House. We knew when we first crossed the threshold that it was the home for us, and after a lot of collaboration, we have finally closed. Buying our home required help from a number of people and...
How Muncie Did Community Redevelopment
One of the best ways of learning is to learn from others. Forward Wayne County did just that with a trip to Muncie, Indiana. While there, representatives visited two organizations that are doing fantastic work in the community. Their work spans from restoring and...
Opportunities for Success for Young Children in Wayne County
Hey you, yeah you! Are you a Wayne County resident that provides care to a youth in our area? I bet you know how important is it to provide enriching experiences to our kids while they are young. If you play an important part of a child’s life, you are...
