Action
Bringing quality-of-place initiatives to life!
The 2024 Action Agenda 2.0 starts with you! Like our original Action Agenda from 2016, this second report was created to give Elkhart County residents like you a voice in strengthening and improving our communities. In 2022, community engagement sessions with the public provided input and feedback that led to the prioritization of five pillars, or themes, for quality-of-place improvements throughout Elkhart County.
In 2023, municipalities used those priorities as a framework for creating specific action items within each community. The process has since led some communities to incorporate additional pillars into their priority action items, and the Action Agenda 2.0 report—since being introduced—has been directly responsible for completed projects, projects currently underway, and planned projects throughout Elkhart County.
You can review the priority action items in your community using the buttons below.
Priority Action Items by Community
Select a community for a list of related action items.
BristolElkhartGoshenMiddleburyMillersburgNappaneeWakarusaElkhart County
In total, over 3,200 public ideas and comments contributed to the development of the vision and recommendations in 6 areas: Downtowns, Parks & Trails, Arts & Cultural Activities, Neighborhood Projects & Programs, Volunteerism & Community Involvement, and Environmental & Natural Resources.
Our vision starts with you
Our vision is to provide the opportunity for all of our residents and neighbors—people just like you—to have an in-depth forum for sharing your honest thoughts and opinions about what would make life better in Elkhart County.
The Action Agenda 2.0 report, developed through input from the community, our Steering Committee and Organizing Group, and several task forces, fulfills a vision that begins with YOU. Ideas and feedback from folks like you led to the creation of our well-crafted, 94-page Action Agenda 2.0 report—which includes plans and projects for quality-of-place improvements throughout the county.
In short, your participation is the fulfillment of our vision.
VISION STATEMENT
Elkhart County is a Vibrant Community with places and culture that highlight its assets and diversity, where everyone is engaged, involved, and loves where they live.
A look at some of the Action Agenda projects completed since 2016
Voices like yours, joined by so many community members, expressed the desire to renovate the Goshen Theater, a 115-year old heritage building with a rich history. In 2020 the facility reopened its doors after completing a $5 million dollar face-lift. The building now includes beautiful and upgraded spaces and holds many community events, performances, and concerts, and provides an extensive education department for people of all ages in the community.
In 2019, you spoke and Vibrant Communities listened. The Elkhart Health and Aquatics Center opened as one of the largest natatoriums in the county. Located in the heart of the Elkhart River District, this $70 million effort resulted from a collaboration between public and private partnerships, and—bolstered by input from folks like you—was the largest project completed from the original Vibrant Communities Action Agenda.
Over the past five years, Vibrant Communities has received an enormous amount of feedback from residents just like you supporting upgrades to our parks and trails. Projects like the River Run Trail in Middlebury and completed stages of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail have been fueled by your support, and future plans are underway for additional trail development connecting more neighborhoods in Elkhart County.
The Little BIG Idea Grant is a micro-grant program that inspires residents like you to bring your big ideas to life! Grant applicants submit fun, creative ideas for projects, events, and community initiatives promoting love, unity, and the arts. More than 80 projects have been awarded grants since 2017, including the annual pumpkin race in Downtown Middlebury, artist murals, and an initiative to spread positive messages at Concord High School.
Your support and feedback helped the WaNee Vision campaign result in an unprecedented public/private partnership. Nearly $6 million was raised for programs and initiatives to support great organizations across our county, including the Boys & Girls Club, Family Christian Development Center, Elder Haus, and Wellfield Park soccer fields.
Thanks to your ideas and input, various community grants have created and supported initiatives such as Vibrant Neighborhoods—which offers education, resources, and micro-grants of $500. These grants help community members spend more time with their neighbors and support neighborhood clean-up days, barbecues, and concerts. Your neighborhood is important to us!
Previous Reports
Community Report | 2019
This Report to the Community summarizes projects and programming accomplished in Elkhart County in the areas of placemaking and quality of place since the first iteration of the Action Agenda in 2016.
Action Agenda | 2016
The Vibrant Communities Action Agenda emerged from more than 7,000 ideas offered by 1,000 unique participants into a collection of 77 community projects, policies or programs to thoughtfully moves Elkhart County toward a brighter more vibrant future.
