July 18, 2019 - Fort Wayne’s latest public art display is a nod to one of Fort Wayne’s most famous historical residents, John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed. The “Making Children Smile” statue features Johnny Appleseed seated on a bench with a shiny red apple in his outstretched hand. The statue is designed to be interactive, with an open seat where admirers can join alongside the American icon.

White Lodging, along with Mayor Henry, other city officials and Michael Thena of the Johnny Appleseed Festival, today unveiled the statue along West Jefferson Boulevard, just outside the new Hampton Inn & Suites Fort Wayne Downtown and across the street from the Grand Wayne Convention Center.

July 18, 2019 - White Lodging today announced the opening of Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Fort Wayne Downtown. The property offers two new-to-Fort Wayne restaurant concepts – Burger Bar and the city’s only open-air rooftop bar, Conner’s Rooftop. Conner’s Rooftop opens today; Burger Bar opens on Monday, July 22.

The 136-room hotel is located on West Jefferson Boulevard – immediately adjacent to Parkview Field and the Grand Wayne Convention Center. The property features spacious rooms with direct views of Parkview Field or the downtown skyline and offers travelers value-added amenities with the spirit of Hamptonality.

July 16, 2019 - The City’s Redevelopment Department will soon begin clean-up work on the North River (former OmniSource) site, thanks to a grant from the Indiana Brownfields Program, funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The EPA has approved up to $283,400 for removal of up to 2,400 tons of potentially contaminated soils. Additionally, 10 groundwater monitoring wells will be installed as part of the grant. There are five existing monitoring wells on the site at this time and samples from those existing monitoring wells have not indicated any groundwater concerns.

July 15, 2019 - Fifteen local entrepreneurs are new graduates of the Build Institute Fort Wayne Business Planning Education classes. The program is sponsored by the City of Fort Wayne’s Summit City Entrepreneur and Enterprise District (SEED) and Indiana Michigan Power. Launched in April of this year, the program now boasts 26 graduates.

The entrepreneurs recently graduated from the eight-week course designed for individuals interested in developing a business plan. The Build Institute program offers a general curriculum that is adaptable to any kind of startup; meals and childcare are provided to help remove barriers to participation.

July 11, 2019 - Mayor Tom Henry today announced a new initiative designed to enhance neighborhoods and provide additional opportunities for other programs aimed at improving the quality of life in Fort Wayne.

The programming possibilities are a result of additional revenues collected by the State of Indiana through income taxes. A total of $3.86 million is being distributed to the City of Fort Wayne over and above what was budgeted for in 2019.

July 9, 2019 - Today, the City of Fort Wayne received the official BETTER CITY FOR PETS™ certification, as part of the Mars Petcare BETTER CITIES FOR PETS™ program, showcasing its commitment to creating a pet-friendly community. More people than ever view pets as members of the family, and with 85 million pet-households in the United States, Fort Wayne is on the forefront of creating a vibrant community where pets are not only welcome, but thrive.

The City of Fort Wayne received high marks for its Community Cat Program, partner organizations working together to reduce pet homelessness, and Humane Education programs that ensure future generations of responsible pet owners. Signage around the city and in recreational areas was also spotlighted.

July 2, 2019 - Mayor Tom Henry is seeking applicants for his Mayor’s Youth Engagement Council for the 2019-20 school year.

The Council’s vision is to be a service learning group comprised of youth members. The members provide a voice for the youth of Fort Wayne to local government by engaging their peers, creating innovative solutions, and working on projects. The program also includes panel discussions, guest speakers, and the opportunity to be involved in a special event.