Vibrant Community

Over the past year, we have come to know Jasper and Newton counties as treasures of the Midwest, hidden gems nestled in the heart of Americana. We’ve come to know yours as a second home-an extended family. More than that, though, we’ve come to know you all. Certainly not each and every one of you, but many. We’ve sat, broken bread, sipped coffee, and listened as you all described these counties. You’ve told us about the lived experience of rural Indiana-one we as fellow rural Hoosiers know well-and you’ve told us of the experience you want for your future. 

In these past 12 months, we’ve put the microscope on that very chasm: the distance between where you are and where you want to be. We’ve studied it intently, looked at models of success elsewhere in the country, and carefully considered how to deliver new ideas that are the right fit for the unique DNA of your communities. 

In that same time, we have, in equal measure, listened, and focused our microscope on those things that make your communities unique, interesting, and warm. It will undoubtedly be no surprise to you that they are many in number. Jasper and Newton counties are both individual and uniquely positioned for success for the coming generations. This plan is your shared vision of how to get there together.

It is easy for any consultant to do what is, by name, the same work we do: strategic planning. They sit back from afar; they study the numbers, the colorful line graphs, the Wikipedia entries, and the census data, then proclaim to know you… what ails you… and how to fix it. To the outsiders, it’s easy to think one rural community is the same as the next and that a visit on Google Maps tells the story of your lives. We know differently. We grew up in rural Indiana. We’re steeped in the lifestyle, the culture, and the challenges. Indeed, I recall many a weekend spent in Roselawn, tending to my grandfather’s Christmas tree farm. Most importantly, we understand that each community is wholly unique. 

If you’ve been bored enough to torture yourself with the reading of other strategic plans, you’ll note quickly that this plan is different. It isn’t ours. It isn’t an outsider’s vision of your future. It isn’t full of trendy buzzwords, empty rhetoric, and purposefully vague promises of a generically better tomorrow. It has none of those things. You won’t find little icons and confusing flowcharts talking about “pillars” of a plan for growth. You’re our sort of people. You see through that in a heartbeat. 

Instead, what we offer you is simple: a story. 

The following narrative plan is your words, your ideas, your vision for the future, to build a more welcoming community; to highlight a unique culture; to deliver on the promises of education and health, and to build up into a sustainable economically-prosperous area. We’ve simply drawn the composite sketch of your vision, put words to it, and created a plan to bring it to life. 

This process has delivered unique insight and an actionable plan for several others in the past. But, we have not yet seen a story as vibrant as this. We look forward to, together, breathing life into this story and highlighting the strengths of your communities. 

Thank you for an opportunity to share with you in progress and build something extraordinary.

-Marc Oestreich, Director of Strategy at Crane + Grey

Home.

When we think about building community, too often we get caught up in the flashy trends of the exercise. We get caught chasing squirrels – adorning bridges, adding placards, emulating the actions of towns wholly unlike ours. We get caught up building a community and forget what it takes to build our community.

You see, home isn’t the “Pure Jasper–Newton” billboard or the flashy Facebook advertisements framing up our great community to outsiders. Home doesn’t require the pretense, the dog-and-pony show, the fake smiles, and photoshopped images… Home is something deeper, richer, more interesting… more pure. Home is here. (I hope you are sitting there now, reading this.)

It is building that sense of pride that flows through everything we do together. It is reflected in the vibrancy of our community – through art, culture, food, and festival. It is attracting, employing, and retaining the human talent to do the work and the good businesses themselves to bring
prosperity to our communities.

It is including all our neighbors in a quality place that helps us all build healthy, active, and fulfilled lives. It is educating our children and becoming. a great place to grow families with established roots that continue to thrive generations later.

Jasper and Newton Counties are perfectly planted in some of the best soil in the great state of Indiana. We are uniquely. positioned, central to the American arterial system, with unmatched access to the largest population centers in middle America. With the whole world at our fingertips, we are rich in resources, full in heart, and safe and secure in our smallness.

For years, communities like ours were branded as Lilliputian by our metropolitan neighbors. But we’ve always known what they’re learning now. Jasper and Newton counties provide the best foundation for crafting vibrant and prosperous communities that provide a true quality life for growing the best kids, families, and neighbors… for building up a home.

Doing so won’t be for the weak of spirit. We’ve dreamt big for our shared home, and only we can bring that dream to reality. It’ll take a concerted effort across all aspects of our shared lives. We must reach deep into our history and our culture. We must focus attention on the economic lifeblood of our communities. We must keep near to heart the lives we aim to collectively protect. And, among them, we must continue to support the young kids and young families who will be the next generation of leaders, workers, and builders of this place we affectionately call home. Not one of these areas can be left behind as we drive forward.

The Jasper Newton Foundation could not be more excited to see our communities coming together, growing, changing, adapting to what life dishes out, and connecting on what we see as our future. The last twelve months have been a true gift of insight from all of you.

I can feel it now. The engine is running, the cab is warm and cozy, a warm house and a warm meal are just a few minutes away. Let’s climb in together, tug on the transmission lever, and drift away a bit into our shared vision for the future. Let’s glance at the mirrors and imagine at one time all the sensory experiences that make this beautiful community home. And let’s not take our eyes off the road ahead for long. It’s time we tune the radio dial, roll down the windows, and take a drive home.