Monday, January 13, the NM Historical Society will host Ms. Patty Grant, Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Wabash County, as she presents the findings of an investigative study concerning population decline in Wabash County. The program will be held in the Assembly Room at Timbercrest Retirement Center, 2201 East Street, at 6:30 p.m. There is no cost to attend the program and the presentation will be informative for all ages.
In early 2019, the Community Foundation of Wabash County collaborated with Grow Wabash County to commission a study that addressed a number of issues affecting population change in our area. The Community Research Institute at Purdue University Fort Wayne was tasked with preparing the report. They worked with Transform Consulting Group, Becker Consulting and Make No Small Plans, LLC to gather and analyze data.
Although population decline is not new or unique to our area, there are very real ramifications in relation to the negative effects to property values, school enrollment, a shrinking workforce and a declining consumer base for area businesses. Working with community leaders to understand why these trends are in place and how to reverse them has become a priority for the Community Foundation and Grow Wabash County.
The project was funded by the Community Foundation from a Lilly Endowment Inc., grant. The full report may be seen by visiting the Community Foundation’s website, www.cfwabash.org and Grow Wabash County’s website at www.growwabashcounty.com.