Mary Anne Gates

HUNTERTOWN – The Poka-Bache Connector Trail Task Force met July 12 at the Huntertown Town Hall to discuss funding sources and marketing venues. Task Force members are chosen by both city and county elected representatives in the counties, cities, and towns the trail is set to go through.

“Task Force members were appointed by elected governing bodies in Allen, DeKalb, Steuben and Wells counties, in addition to the cities and towns of Angola, Auburn, Bluffton, Fort Wayne, Huntertown, Ossian and Waterloo,” Beth Shellman, Huntertown town manager, said in an email.

The Poka-Bache Connector Trail is expected to connect Oubache (pronounced “Wabash”) State Park in Bluffton with Pokagon State Park in Angola. Plans call for the 81-mile trail, which is part of the United Trails project, to go through four counties and seven municipalities.

Currently, the task force is considering funding sources for the project. One potential source is the “Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability & Equity” (RAISE) grant program.

“We have talked about perhaps pursuing the RAISE grant eventually for the Poka-Bache Connector,” Dawn Ritche, president of the task force and Greenways manager for the city of Fort Wayne, said.

Speaking via Zoom, guest speaker Mitch Barloga of the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC) spoke to the task fForce members about the RAISE grant. He discussed the importance of working with the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) on a grant for a project of this size and complexity.

One reason to work closely with INDOT is to ensure that it would serve as the receivership or the administrator of the funds, if funds were awarded, Mike Lautzenheiser, Wells County Plan Commission director, said.

Barloga has experience with RAISE grants for Northwestern Indiana projects, and despite the competition for funds and any challenges in pursuing a grant of this scope and detail, the rewards appear to be worth the effort, according to Barloga.

“This is a phenomenal opportunity to pursue with all your gusto,” he said.

However, pursuing a RAISE grant is still being considered by the task force.

In other matters:

The task force discussed marketing strategies. Including creating a website, using social media and designing brochures.

Myndi Love, trail advocate who was appointed to the task force by the town of Ossian, agreed to draft guidelines that outline what the task force is looking for in a comprehensive marketing strategy. Additionally, Love said, she plans to reach out to previously selected area marketing firms to request quotes and see portfolios of successful marketing campaigns. Currently, the task force is not looking for any additional marketing firms to supply various materials.

Future Task Force Connector meetings are expected to consider bylaws, establishing goals, and setting the 2024 budget to support goals, Shellman said, in an email.

The Poka-Bache Connector Trail Task Force meets 3-4:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month at the Huntertown Town Hall, 15617 Lima Road.

Currently, more information about the Poka-Bache Connector Trail can be found at https://ftrails.org and at www.nircc.com.