Marshall County Crossroads was not chosen as a designee in the Regional Stellar Communities process this year, but officials from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs encouraged the group to keep moving forward with the projects proposed in the Stellar application. OCRA Executive Director Jodi Golden said a group from the state will meet with those involved in the Stellar process in a feedback session after the first of the year.
The Health and Heritage region and the New Allen Alliance were the regions designated as Stellar Communities, as announced by Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch. Greenfield, Fortville and Hancock County make up the Health and Heritage region and are going to put a plan into motion that improves health, heritage and heart in their communities. A focus on substance abuse treatment, expanding trails and revitalizing their downtowns are just a few of the facets of their plan to help create the front porch of Eastern Indiana.
Grabill, Leo-Cedarville, Monroeville, New Haven, Woodburn and Allen County are the region named the New Allen Alliance. The plan they will implement through Stellar funding will focus on increasing economic growth while also developing the quality of place in their area.
Marshall County Council President Judy Stone said she’s not about to give up. County Commission President Kevin Overmyer said they should move ahead with the projects planned.
“It’s disappointing,” said Overmyer.
“Highly disappointing,” chimed Bremen Director of Operations Trend Weldy.
Overmyer continued, “We have a good group and we can continue to work together. Even though we lost there was a lot of good that was done. We can take defeat. We can learn from defeat and we can move on. I think we all have the personalities and the leadership here to move us forward for the good of the county.”
Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter said the City of Plymouth missed out on being a finalist in the application process for a few years, but the city has been able to get the projects done in their Stellar plans through OCRA, INDOT and other grants.
Marshall County Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Jerry Chavez said he believes the county has a good plan and there are things to work on.
The term “building bridges” was noted as the group moves forward.
Overmeyer added that they will convene in 2019 to see what the next steps will be for the Marshall County Crossroads group.
