Imagine One 85 official does his part to stem population decline

By Amanda Redman aredman@thepaperofwabash.com

Alex Downard was already doing his part to reverse the county’s population decline simply by living here.

The newly appointed director of Imagine One 85 decided to make North Manchester his home after college instead of returning to his hometown or moving to a bigger city.

“When I moved to Wabash County as an 18-year old from Indianapolis to attend Manchester University, I realized quickly that the people in Wabash County are different,”

Downard said.

“The pride Wabash County residents have in their respective communities is contagious. That’s why I stayed after I graduated when I was doing work in Fort Wayne and Indianapolis and it would’ve been easier to live elsewhere. I wanted to be a part of it. I believe in this place and the potential it has.”

Launched in 2020 — the same year Downard graduated with a degree in business and political science — Imagine One 85 is an initiative to reverse population decline while increasing growth and prosperity throughout the county’s future.

All county governing bodies adopted the Imagine One85 Countywide Comprehensive Plan in 2022.

“No one individual, city, town, or organization alone can reverse four decades of population decline in our community,”

Downard said.

“The foresight of the leaders here to create a collaborative, all-encompassing approach to do something that changes the trajectory of our county solidifies the very reason I decided to stay here.”

After college, Downard began working for Michael Kinder & Sons, a familyowned plan, design and build firm in Fort Wayne. Continuing his career in business development, he later launched Downard

Development Strategies.

“We are thrilled to contract with Alex and Downard Development Strategies to lead the implementation of the recommendations outlined in the Imagine One85 plan that our community has worked so hard on over the last couple of years,” said Keith Gillenwater, president and CEO of Grow Wabash County. “We have worked with Alex often, dating back to his time as a college intern for Grow Wabash County while he was studying at Manchester University.”

Downard was the first Wabash County resident to graduate from Indiana Leadership Forum, a nonprofit organization focused on preparing qualified Indiana residents for civil service Cont. on Pg. 11.

Heartland students help Special Olympics:

Students from the Heartland Career Center’s Auto Collision class, along with members of the faculty and officials from the Wabash County Special Olympics look on as a $3,000 check is presented to the Special Olympics program. The funds were raised through a coin challenge conducted among all the classes at the school. The auto collision class won the competition. Participating in the presentation were (front row, from left) John Poinke, Special Olympics president), Pat Lynn, Special Olympics board member, Vickie Houlihan, Heartland’s BPA Advisor; Heartland Director Mark Hobbs (second row, from left), Matthew Stair (OH), Brayden Orr (MHS), AJ McCord (WHS), John White (SHS), Kobe Cruz (WHS), Levi Hyden (WHS), Michele Biltz; Special Olympics treasurer; Eric DiazDeLeon (third row, from left) (MHS), Landon Shoue (NHS), Dallis Chain (NHS), Luis Gonzalez (MHS), Klayton Jackson (OH), Hayden Berry (SHS), Jackson Jacoby (WHS), Dwayne Johnson, Heartland Auto Collision Instructor.

by Joseph Slacian

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