Elevate Huntington County program begins

Sand Strategies, a consultancy specializing in economic development, has entered a strategic partnership with Huntington County aimed at advancing initiatives to enhance quality of life. This partnership marks a significant step forward in the county’s efforts to bolster its economic landscape.

Under this partnership, the Sand Strategies team will spearhead 12 county-wide quality of life initiatives, ranging from enhancing broadband access to expanding residential housing options. Additionally, the team will lead the efforts in identifying, developing, and implementing grant opportunities.

Erik Long, right, will serve as Project Director of “Elevate Huntington County,” a collaborative program centered on quality of life in Huntington County. In addition to Long’s focus on county-wide quality of life initiatives, he will support various projects and programs identified by municipalities within the County, including the communities of Andrews, Huntington, Markle, Roanoke, Warren and Mt. Etna.

“We are excited to collaborate with Huntington County on initiatives that will drive sustainable economic growth and improve quality of life,” said Erik Long. “Our team will serve as added capacity to county-wide departments, providing expertise and support to further both county and local objectives. Our goal is to emulate the success of neighboring Wabash County’s Imagine One 85 plan, which was developed through a process of constructive collaboration between the individual towns. This model has measurable results in securing funding support for similar quality of life efforts.”

“This is the missing economic development piece for Huntington County,” said Commissioner Tom Wall. “The investment in this initiative is the County’s investment in each of our individual communities. Our goal is to ensure that these communities are not just places to exist, but to truly live, work and play.”

The initiative will be branded as “Elevate Huntington County,” symbolizing the shared commitment to elevating Huntington County into a bustling hub of opportunity, growth and vibrancy making it the ideal destination to call home. Focusing on quality of life is proven to improve a community’s ability to attract and retain top talent to support new and existing employers. By leveraging the expertise of Sand Strategies and aligning with Huntington County’s vision, this partnership aims to deliver long-term economic benefits and enhance overall community well-being.

For more information about Elevate Huntington County, contact Zack Sand at (574) 265-5563 zack@sandstrategiesllc.com or Erik Long at erik@elevatehco.com.