Construction Begins on One-of-a- Kind Hotel 
Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry recently joined local entrepreneur Barbara Bradley Baekgaard, Bashar Wali, President of Provenance Hotels, a Portland, Ore.-based hotel owner and operator, and local dignitaries to ceremonially break ground on a new 124-room boutique hotel in downtown Fort Wayne.
  
Bottle Works Lofts Opens On Pontiac Street
Bottle Works Lofts, the historic rehabilitation of the former Coca-Cola bottling facility, is now open at 1631 E. Pontiac St.  The $14.5 million development includes 31 affordable rental units, on-site management office, community room, business center, media room, fitness center, outdoor shelter and indoor and outdoor playgrounds. Also included are 19 lease-to-purchase single family homes located throughout the Renaissance Pointe neighborhood.

Do You Want to See Public Art in Your Neighborhood? Take the Public Art Survey Now
Residents have just one more week to take a short survey about what kinds of public art they'd like to see in Fort Wayne. The input will be used to create the Public Art Master Plan, a comprehensive vision for public artworks now and in the future that will help define locations and projects appropriate for Fort Wayne and its neighborhoods. 

Regional Neighborhood Network Conference Offers Dozens of Workshops and Tours
Registration is now open for the upcoming Regional Neighborhood Network Conference (RNNC) in Fort Wayne, and the organizing committee is planning an event filled with outstanding learning opportunities. The keynote speaker will be Shawn Dunwoody, an artist from Rochester NY who collaborates with neighborhood organizations and other community groups to revitalize urban neighborhoods through art and placemaking activities. 

Public Service Grants Support Non Profits
Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry recently announced that eight local nonprofits will receive funding from the City's federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars.  Approximately $170,000 will be available to help low- and moderate-income residents with shelter, employment skills, domestic violence support and youth development. The Mayor made the announcement at the LSSI Works office, which provides job training and coaching for motivated candidates who are focused on obtaining a career path.
Time to Apply for 2019 Neighborhood Improvement Grant
The 2019 Neighborhood Improvement Grant program is now open. This is the second year for the program, which is designed to support neighborhood projects that beautify public spaces and strengthen community involvement.  Information and guidelines about the Neighborhood Improvement Grant program can be found at  www.FortWayneNeighborhoods.org  by clicking on the resources menu item. 

Tall Grass/Weed Program Opens
T he City of Fort Wayne's Tall Grass/Weed Program kicked off May 20, 2019. Neighborhood Code Compliance is responsible for enforcing the program, which calls for weeds or grass to be no taller than nine inches.  Reports of high grass or weeds that exceed nine inches are being accepted now; the public should call 311 or 260-427-8311 to report a possible violation. Online reports may be filed at  www.cityoffortwayne.org  by clicking on the Contact 311 menu item. 

11 Entrepreneurs Graduate from First Build Institute Class
Eleven local entrepreneurs are now graduates of the first Build Institute Fort Wayne Business Planning Education class. The program is sponsored by the City of Fort Wayne's Summit City Entrepreneur and Enterprise District (SEED) and Indiana Michigan Power. The entrepreneurs recently graduated from the eight-week course designed for individuals interested in developing a business plan. 

State Historic Preservation Office Looking for Input 
Public input is needed to help the Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology (DHPA) revise Indiana's Cultural Resources Management Plan for 2020-2026. This plan will help guide local preservationists, DNR staff, and everyday citizens alike in their efforts to preserve Indiana's heritage resources.

Latest Shell Building Set to Accelerate Economic Development Efforts
Construction on Fort Wayne's latest shell building is now underway. Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry, Fort Wayne Redevelopment officials, and representatives from GH Land Company, LLC and The Hagerman Group broke ground on the property at 8611 Avionics Drive recently.

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