Gov Gab: City of Fort Wayne, IN (Ep. 7)

Operate Intelligently Podcast

We have a great chat with Mayor Tom Henry from the City of Fort Wayne, Indiana who talks about his journey into local government, his 20-year run on the Fort Wayne Council and his current 3rd term as Mayor of the City. Mayor Henry shares some tremendous stories about the city and its growth, as well as him learning from other mayors across the state and the many challenges they face as a fast-growing city.

Mayor Tom Henry's Biography (https://www.cityoffortwayne.org/meet-the-mayor.html)

Tom Henry is serving in his third term as Mayor of Fort Wayne. Leading Indiana’s second largest city, Mayor Henry is making government the best it can be for residents and businesses by demonstrating a commitment to engagement, innovation, and performance.

Mayor Henry has a strong record of successes in neighborhood infrastructure improvements, downtown development, job creation, business expansions, advances in public safety, and enhancements to the City’s world-class park system.

Before being elected Mayor, he served from 1983-2003 on Fort Wayne City Council, representing northwest Fort Wayne.

Mayor Henry has lived in Fort Wayne almost all his life and began his career in the private sector as CEO of a group purchasing organization serving hospitals. He then went on to become a successful small business owner of a local insurance agency and healthcare consulting firm.

Highlights of successes under Mayor Henry’s leadership since he took office January 1, 2008:

• Completion of the Harrison Square downtown development (Parkview Field, Courtyard by Marriott hotel, and The Harrison mixed-use facility with housing and retail)
• Light Lease Settlement between the City of Fort Wayne and Indiana Michigan Power
• Creation of the Legacy fund to provide catalytic investment, leverage additional resources, and benefit residents. The fund is expected to grow to over $62 million at the end of 2025.
• Purchase of Aqua Indiana’s southwest water utility that allows for all City residents to have City Utilities water
• Completion of the Ash Skyline Plaza downtown development project that includes the national corporate headquarters for Ash Brokerage, a residential component and parking garage. The total project investment is more than $100 million.
• Since 2012, 21,600 jobs have been retained, nearly 6,900 jobs have been created and there has been a total private investment of more than $2.3 billion
• A commitment to public safety, which has included multiple academy classes for the Fort Wayne Police and Fire departments and enhanced technology to better serve and protect the public.
• Creation of the Fiscal Policy Group that resulted in additional funding for more police officers and firefighters, maintenance projects throughout the Parks and Recreation system, and a record amount of neighborhood infrastructure improvement projects in all four quadrants of the City. Since 2014, $130 million has been invested in neighborhoods.
• Completion of the first-ever Riverfront Development Study to provide an outline for the opportunity for a world-class river development in the heart of the city. The first phase of construction on riverfront development started in 2017.
• Completion of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Bridge in downtown Fort Wayne
• The successful merger of Fort Wayne and Allen County 911 communications services
• Expansion of the 311 call center to provide efficient and effective services to residents and businesses
• The SmartGov transparency initiative, using new methods and technologies to make government more open, effective and responsive
• Expansion of the greenways and trails system to over 100 miles

A 1970 graduate of Fort Wayne Central Catholic High School, Mayor Henry earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology and his MBA from the University of Saint Francis. He is also an Army veteran.

One of 17 children, Mayor Henry and his wife, Cindy, have been married since 1975. They have two grown children and four grandchildren and are members of Most Precious Blood Church.

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