One of the biggest surprises – and announcements – from Mayor Tom Henry’s State of the City address had little to do with city government at all.FORT WAYNE – A new city committee will examine ways to improve gateways into Fort Wayne in an effort to spur economic development.
Mayor Tom Henry on Wednesday announced the creation of his 14-member Gateway Advisory Committee, which met for the first time after the mayor’s announcement.
Over the next year, the group will help city planning employees write a 10-year plan for improving corridors into Fort Wayne. That includes routes into the city along interstates and from the airport and toward destinations such as Memorial Coliseum and downtown.
The plan will include maintenance and improvement projects for gateways that could include landscaping, lighting, pavement design, signs and road design.
The plan would eventually go before the City Council for inclusion in the city’s comprehensive plan.
“Our gateways influence a visitor’s first impression of Fort Wayne, and they are an essential element in economic development,” Henry said.
Members of the committee are:
Cheri Becker, Leadership Fort Wayne, co-chairwoman
Karl Bandemer, Fort Wayne-Allen County Economic Development Alliance, co-chairman
Dan O’Connell, Fort Wayne-Allen County Convention and Visitors Bureau
Jonathan Ray, Urban League
Irene Walters, IPFW
John Shoaff, City Council
Karen Goldner, City Council
Nick Hobbie, Lutheran Health Network
Rick Poinsatte, Steel Dynamics Inc.
Kevin McCrory, LandPlan Group
Nelson Peters, Allen County commissioner
John Morrison, downtown bank employee
Matt Kelly, One Lucky Guitar, Downtown Improvement District Board
Debra Williams, Parkview Health
