Posted on October 4, 2018
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI
When North Judson Town Council members met on Monday, Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Larry Wickert alerted them about an upcoming asset mapping workshop that they’re invited to attend.
This opportunity was first discussed during a meeting at the SCEDF office in August where local officials spoke with representatives from OCRA about the Regional Stellar Communities Initiative.
Stellar Project Manager Michael Sinnet emphasized the importance of identifying existing assets within the community. He explained that this can mean natural, human, financial and physical assets.
The workshop will be a chance for local officials to sit down and really dig into what the county already has to offer and how those assets can be expanded or improved upon.
The asset mapping will be held next Tuesday at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center. Community members who believe they have something valuable to contribute to this conversation should contact Executive Director Wickert to indicate your interest and he can provide further information. He can be reached at 574-772-5627.
Showing posts with label asset mapping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label asset mapping. Show all posts
Thursday, October 4, 2018
Wednesday, September 5, 2018
North Judson Clerk-Treasurer to Serve as Town Representative in Regional Stellar Community Efforts
Posted on September 5, 2018
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI
North Judson Town Council members decided who would serve as their community representative for the local Stellar Executive Team when they met Tuesday night. Clerk-Treasurer Andrew Rowe had expressed an interest in representing the town and council members voted unanimously to allow him to serve in that capacity.
Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Larry Wickert was present at the meeting. He noted that one of Rowe’s responsibilities as the community liaison will be to attend a series of workshops that OCRA will be offering throughout the wintertime.
He also provided some information about an opportunity coming up next month that’s related to the Regional Stellar Communities initiative.
Wickert said that an asset mapping exercise will be held at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in Knox on Tuesday, October 9th from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. This will be a chance for community members to assess all the existing assets within the county and develop plans for how to better utilize or expand on them.
If you feel that you’d have something valuable to bring to the table during these discussions, contact the SCEDF office at 574-772-5627.
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI
North Judson Town Council members decided who would serve as their community representative for the local Stellar Executive Team when they met Tuesday night. Clerk-Treasurer Andrew Rowe had expressed an interest in representing the town and council members voted unanimously to allow him to serve in that capacity.
Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Larry Wickert was present at the meeting. He noted that one of Rowe’s responsibilities as the community liaison will be to attend a series of workshops that OCRA will be offering throughout the wintertime.
He also provided some information about an opportunity coming up next month that’s related to the Regional Stellar Communities initiative.
Wickert said that an asset mapping exercise will be held at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in Knox on Tuesday, October 9th from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. This will be a chance for community members to assess all the existing assets within the county and develop plans for how to better utilize or expand on them.
If you feel that you’d have something valuable to bring to the table during these discussions, contact the SCEDF office at 574-772-5627.
Monday, August 20, 2018
Local Officials Consider Existing Assets Within Starke County while Talking with Stellar Community Project Manager
Posted on August 20, 2018
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI
When community leaders gathered in the Starke County Economic Development Foundation’s office last week for an informational meeting about OCRA’s Regional Stellar initiative, they were asked to consider some of the existing assets within the county.
Stellar Community Project Manager Michael Sinnet said they should consider a variety of different elements within the community that could encompass a number of categories including natural, human, financial and physical assets.
Knox Mayor Estok noted the relaxed atmosphere as an existing asset as well as the air quality and safety compared to bigger cities.
Starke County Commissioner Kathy Norem mentioned a few of the county’s natural resources such as the lakes and reserve as well as the county forest. She said officials are working to better utilize these areas but there are definitely some things that could be done to build on those existing resources.
She also said she considers the Starke County Justice Center as a strong asset. She noted that it has been recognized as a model for small and medium-sized jails. She mentioned that some discussions have been happening about the possibility of expanding some of the helpful substance abuse recovery programs and potentially utilizing the additional acreage around the jail to build a rehabilitation center.
She said in addition to addressing the existing drug problem that plagues the county and surrounding areas, it would also result in the professionals who work at that type of facility searching for homes and utilizing local services in the community.
North Judson Clerk-Treasurer Andrew Rowe listed the cross-country trails that the Erie Trail is a part of as something that their town brings to the table.
He noted that while it does result in people from across the continent coming into the area, it would be great to get a local connection going to give people who bike from Knox to North Judson to have a more direct pathway.
Hamlet Councilman Brian Earnest noted that though it may be considered negative currently, the existing space that they have can be an asset when looking for places to build and expand within the county.
Knox Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston added that he considers the altruistic nature of the citizens to be an asset, with a large portion of the community members who are willing to volunteer to lend a helping hand and assist with events. It was also mentioned that Starke County also has a very good network of charitable organizations that work together to assist the community in so many ways.
Sinnet stated that while it’s good they were able to come up with a few key assets, in order to construct useful comprehensive plans and a compelling letter of intent, they would need to have a lot more in mind.
An asset mapping exercise will be held in the future to help local officials identify more assets and to assist them with developing their own plans for improving or capitalizing on the existing ones.
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI
When community leaders gathered in the Starke County Economic Development Foundation’s office last week for an informational meeting about OCRA’s Regional Stellar initiative, they were asked to consider some of the existing assets within the county.
Stellar Community Project Manager Michael Sinnet said they should consider a variety of different elements within the community that could encompass a number of categories including natural, human, financial and physical assets.
Knox Mayor Estok noted the relaxed atmosphere as an existing asset as well as the air quality and safety compared to bigger cities.
Starke County Commissioner Kathy Norem mentioned a few of the county’s natural resources such as the lakes and reserve as well as the county forest. She said officials are working to better utilize these areas but there are definitely some things that could be done to build on those existing resources.
She also said she considers the Starke County Justice Center as a strong asset. She noted that it has been recognized as a model for small and medium-sized jails. She mentioned that some discussions have been happening about the possibility of expanding some of the helpful substance abuse recovery programs and potentially utilizing the additional acreage around the jail to build a rehabilitation center.
She said in addition to addressing the existing drug problem that plagues the county and surrounding areas, it would also result in the professionals who work at that type of facility searching for homes and utilizing local services in the community.
North Judson Clerk-Treasurer Andrew Rowe listed the cross-country trails that the Erie Trail is a part of as something that their town brings to the table.
He noted that while it does result in people from across the continent coming into the area, it would be great to get a local connection going to give people who bike from Knox to North Judson to have a more direct pathway.
Hamlet Councilman Brian Earnest noted that though it may be considered negative currently, the existing space that they have can be an asset when looking for places to build and expand within the county.
Knox Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston added that he considers the altruistic nature of the citizens to be an asset, with a large portion of the community members who are willing to volunteer to lend a helping hand and assist with events. It was also mentioned that Starke County also has a very good network of charitable organizations that work together to assist the community in so many ways.
Sinnet stated that while it’s good they were able to come up with a few key assets, in order to construct useful comprehensive plans and a compelling letter of intent, they would need to have a lot more in mind.
An asset mapping exercise will be held in the future to help local officials identify more assets and to assist them with developing their own plans for improving or capitalizing on the existing ones.
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