Page 206 - New Allen Alliance Digital Book

September 5, 2018

The Honorable Suzanne Crouch
200 W Washington St., Room 333
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Dear Lieutenant Governor Crouch,

The greatest challenge our community faces in growing the economy is talent attraction and
retention. NewAllen Alliance’s Stellar Communities plan, East Allen’s Rural Revival, is focused on
tackling this challenge through collaboration among seven unique communities. Together, they
are building a foundation and vision to improve quality of place. Greater Fort Wayne (GFW) Inc.
supports the reinvestment in these communities that fosters sustainable and regional renewal
of our rural areas.

As the local economic development organization for Allen County, GFW Inc. is focused on
growing jobs, growing wages, and growing the economy. We are driven to build our community
into a nationally recognized economy. To do so, we must attract and retain talent and
businesses throughout our county. We applaud the efforts of NewAllen Alliance to enhance the
livability of our rural areas, helping to cultivate sustainable economic growth.

Since 1991, the NewAllen Alliance has demonstrated to many Indiana communities the
importance of regional collaboration. The communities in east Allen County have worked to
create a unified vision through hard work and persistence over the last 27 years. The smaller
cities and towns throughout our county provide excellent opportunities for a rural lifestyle.
Each community brings a uniqueness to the county through diverse residential options, vibrant
economies, and high-performing schools.

By improving quality of life, updating infrastructure, and enhancing connectedness, East Allen's
Rural Revival builds on the momentum, ensuring continued growth in our local economy and
workforce. Thank you for your consideration of NewAllen Alliance’s Stellar Communities plan.

Sincerely,

John Urbahns
Executive Vice President- Economic Development
Greater Fort Wayne Inc.

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