wayne tomorrow! …cultivating a vibrant future
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www.WayneTomorrow.com #WayneTomorrow! @WayneTomorrow
Wayne Tomorrow! …Cultivating a Vibrant Future Shared Vision . . .
Wayne Tomorrow! is a community-based, county commissioner-sponsored collaboration addressing the objectives, resources and tasks needed to move the county, its economy and its culture into a vibrant future.
The five-year effort identified specific areas that must be addressed and provided a base for dealing with them – affordable housing, agriculture, adequate transportation, promoting and growing entrepreneurial ventures, education, economic development and community health and wellness.
Collaborative Approach . . .
Wayne Tomorrow! is basically a new way of operating within the county in which many, diverse organizations are working together to support programs and projects that will ultimately strengthen our County.
This is all part of the effort to build a base for prosperity that supports the most important building block – the people of the community.
The collaborators agreed that efforts addressing these areas should be led by task forces of community leaders and should involve input from residents. They also agreed that recommendations from these task forces must focus on specific steps that need to be taken.
Wayne Tomorrow! Task Forces . . . Community Hubs Task Force works to develop central community facilities
where individuals can get to know their neighbors and otherwise connect to
the community. Co-chairs are Brian Wilken and Derek Williams.
Housing Task Force explores the barriers to homeownership and studies the
need for housing stock and affordable housing in the area. Co-chairs are
Margy Coccodrilli and Lori O’Malley.
Talent & Resource Development Task Force works to develop the human
and financial capital to move Wayne County into a prosperous new future.
Co-Chairs are Steve Daniels and Ryanne Jennings.
Transportation Task Force tackles both the need for transportation services
and the improvement of transportation infrastructure. The co-chairs are Carl
Albright and Shawn Garing.
Agriculture Task Force has
been working to
implement the Economic
Development Plan for
Agriculture completed
early in 2019. The Task
Force is working with a
consultant on a feasibility
study for a milk processing
plant, among other things.
Co-chairs are Bob Muller
Jr. and Jane Bollinger.
Elements of the Ecosystem
www.WayneTomorrow.com #WayneTomorrow! @WayneTomorrow
Wayne Tomorrow! Highlights: The Stourbridge Project:
Co-working Space
Business Incubator
Prototyping Lab
Training Programs Pending: Solar Project
100 panel solar electric project
in collaboration with Clean
Energy Coop, including kiosk for
public education.
Pending: E-vehicle Charging Station
County received grant for 2-port electric vehicle Level 2 charging station.
Wayne/Pike Trails & Waterways Alliance Project Results and recommendations from the Rails-Trails Feasibility Study, looking at
the possibility of a trail connecting Honesdale and Hawley along the Lackawaxen
River, are expected to be delivered shortly.
Wayne Tomorrow! Success Stories . . .
2 County Food Pantry – Wayne and Pike County collaborated on a project to
expand the Dreher Township Building in Newfoundland to house the pantry
programs for both counties in the area. The project will soon be operational.
Revived Agriculture Education – Working with Wayne Tomorrow!, the Wayne
Highlands School District reintroduced an expansive Agriculture Curriculum,
focusing on all facets of the industry from food & animal sciences to forestry &
horticulture to engineering & aquaponics. The program attracted more than 100
students who see themselves as part of the future of
agriculture.
Park Street Kitchen – Along with providing learning
opportunities for those with special needs, local
entrepreneur Dawn Cole uses the commercial
incubator kitchen to produce Milly’s Italian Cookies
& Pastries.
Contact Community Network Specialist Kim Rickard:
Phone 570-253-5970 ext. 1308 or Cell 570-493-0080
Plans & Studies
Dairy Feasibility Study –
Looks at the practicality of a
dairy processing plant as well
as investigating the costs and
other key factors.
Agriculture Economic
Development Study –
Assesses the current state of
the Wayne County Agriculture
industry, identifies potential
growth areas and sets short
and mid-term goals for
capitalizing on those
opportunities.
Community Investment
Model –
Explores avenues for funding
economic and community
development projects through
government grants,
philanthropic foundations,
traditional banks and non-
traditional lenders.