Regional Partnership launches new program
Regional Partnership launches new program
Posted: Monday, September 1, 2014 9:00 pm
By Joseph Slacian, jslacian@wabashplaindealer.com
The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership will host a series of workshops in the 10-county area as part of the “Our Story Project.”
The workshops will seek input from participants on ways to change the way area officials and residents speak about the region.
The workshops are being conducted in two phases, partnership officials said. The first phase will focus on discovering the region’s personality, while the second will center on how residents talk about the area.
A phase 1 workshop, one of nine in the region, is planned from 7-10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 19 at the Wabash County Chamber of Commerce office, 210 S. Wabash St. A second phase workshop, one of 11 in the region, is planned from noon to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, at Manchester University’s Jo Young Switzer Commons’ Hoff Room on the second floor of the facility.
“The event is open to the public and we hope that as many Wabash County people attend as is possible,” Bill Konyha, President and CEO of the Economic Development Group of Wabash County, said of the workshops.
The workshops will consist of a series of interactive, proprietary exercises aimed at refining Northeast Indiana’s story, officials said.
“The information is being developed to enhance and improve our efforts to market the region, including Wabash County, globally,” Konyha said. “I anticipate that this project may impact the way in which not only the Regional partnership brands and markets the region, but it will impact our marketing as well.”
Courtney Tritch, vice president of marketing at the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership added, “By the end of this project, hundreds, if not thousands, or Northeast Indiana residents will have had a hand in shaping ur story.
“We look forward to discovering what common themes emerge from all of the input,” she continued. “This is a unique approach that hasn’t been done on this scale before.”
With input from all 10 counties in Northeast Indiana, officials said, the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership will be able to tell a unified story about the region, officials said.
“This is an effort to help each Local Economic Development Organization and the region as a whole, develop a better and more current understanding of who we are and of the community assets that we bring to the region,” Konyha said.
In addition to the local workshops, other workshops are planned
• 7-10:30 a.m. and 2 to 5 p.m. Sept. 15 in Angola and Auburn, respectively.
• 7-10:30 a.m. and noon to 3 p.m. Sept. 16 in Kendallville and LaGrange, respectively.
• 7-10:30 a.m. and 2-5 p.m. Sept. 17 in Fort Wayne and Decatur, respectively.
• Noon to 3 p.m. and 5-8:30 p.m. Sept. 18 in Bluffton and Columbia City, respectively.
• 7-10:30 a.m. and 2 to 5 p.m. Sept. 29 in Angola and Waterloo, respectively.
• 7-10:30 a.m. and 2 to 5 p.m. Sept. 30 in Albion and Shipshewana, respectively.
• 7-10:30 a.m. and 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 31 in Columbia City and Huntington, respectively.
• 7-10:30 a.m., noon to 3 p.m. and 5:30 to 8:30 pm. Oct. 2 in Berne, Bluffton and Fort Wayne, respectively.
• 7-10:30 a.m. Oct. 3 in Huntington.
Because of scheduling conflicts, officials noted that the first and second phases in Huntington will both take place the week of Oct. 29.
Seating is limited, and reservations will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. To reserve a spot, go to www.neindiana.com/rsvp.
