The Seed is Planted’ For Turnstone Growth’
News Coverage:
April 27, 2016
The Seed is Planted' For Turnstone Growth
FORT WAYNE -
The chief executive officer of Turnstone in Fort Wayne says the nearly $15 million "Turnstone of Tomorrow" project is helping the agency grow its economic impact on the area. Mike Mushett is expecting a more than 200 percent increase in visitors this year to the Turnstone Plassman Center, which is drawing an increasing number of events for athletes with disabilities. He says the agency is also applying to become a U.S. Paralympic Training Site, which would bring in additional business.
Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry is touring the venue today. Mushett says the city committed more than $2 million to the project, which he says helped create a "leading-edge athletic facility. In a release, he said, "The contributions of Federal New Markets Tax Credits from the city and PNC (Bank) has helped us better serve individuals with disabilities, as well as brought thousands more visitors to the region.
Mushett says Turnstone has had a "modest" $870,000 impact on Fort Wayne's economy this year, but says that number is set to grow. With the renovation, he says the "seed is planted" for a larger impact in the coming years.
The renovated facility includes a more than 9,000 square-foot pool, fitness and wellness center and multi-purpose athletic courts. Last year, the men's U.S. National Goalball team relocated to Turnstone and made it the team's official training facility. Goalball is a team sport designed for athletes who are blind. Turnstone will host the U.S. men's and women's Goalball National Championships in June.
Mushett says, as a nonprofit, Turnstone's economic impact is often overlooked.
'
