The Indiana Chamber of Commerce recently honored Fort Wayne as the Indiana 2020 PNC Community of the Year during the Chamber’s annual awards presentation that took place virtually over Zoom.
“As the state’s second-largest city, Fort Wayne continues to gain prominence as an outstanding place to live, work, and raise a family,” said Indiana Chamber President Kevin Brinegar. “It’s a testament to the dedication of business and community leaders in attracting new talent, retaining top talent, and enhancing quality of life.”
Among the reasons Fort Wayne was honored:
- Promenade Park and the accompanying multi-phase riverfront redevelopment downtown.
- Public investments that are expected to generate about $1 billion in private investment over a 10-year period.
- Renovation of The Landing, Fort Wayne’s original business district, which includes restoring historic buildings and a new streetscape.
- The Summit City Match program that boosts neighborhoods by pairing emerging businesses with vacant storefronts.
- Building of a five-story downtown boutique hotel.
“Indiana Michigan Power has long been an important part of Fort Wayne’s history, and our success in providing reliable power is an important part of our ongoing strategic efforts to support and attract businesses and industries in the region,” said Toby Thomas, I&M President and Chief Operating Officer. “I’m very pleased to see Fort Wayne earning this recognition which highlights its efforts to promote economic growth and enhance the quality of life for all residents.”
The city was among award winners honored at a lunchtime virtual event with the theme of “One Indiana.” The event opened and closed with video tributes celebrating Hoosier resilience and noting that despite a challenging 2020, we are better together.
“We’re honored and humbled to receive the 2020 Community of the Year Award,” Mayor Tom Henry said. “That kind of recognition means a lot to us. We’re proud of the collaboration. We’ve had a number of employers compliment the city of Fort Wayne for trying to make sure they’re as comfortable as possible even during this COVID pandemic. It all goes back to relationships and communication.”
Fort Wayne previously won the Community of the Year Award in 1999.