{"id":42906,"date":"2014-09-08T14:00:43","date_gmt":"2014-09-08T18:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/?p=42906"},"modified":"2014-09-08T14:00:43","modified_gmt":"2014-09-08T18:00:43","slug":"fort-wayne-welcome-1000-indiana-cities-towns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/2014\/09\/08\/fort-wayne-welcome-1000-indiana-cities-towns\/","title":{"rendered":"Fort Wayne to welcome more than 1,000 from Indiana cities and towns"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-34844\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2013\/02\/FortWayneCitySeal.gif\" alt=\"City of Fort Wayne seal\" width=\"200\" height=\"201\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>News release from the City of Fort Wayne:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Fort Wayne to welcome more than 1,000 from Indiana cities and towns<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>(September 3, 2014) &#8211; Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry and Visit Fort Wayne are ready to welcome more than 1,000 officials from cities and towns across Indiana. The 2014 Indiana Association of Cities and Towns (IACT) Annual Conference &amp; Exhibition will take place September 9-11 at the Grand Wayne Convention Center and will feature dozens of workshops for municipal government employees and elected officials.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m pleased to once again be the host city for the IACT annual conference,&#8221; said Mayor Henry. &#8220;The conference gives us the opportunity to show hundreds of leaders from throughout the state the great things happening in Fort Wayne.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Visit Fort Wayne estimates the IACT annual conference will have an economic impact of $425,000-$450,000 as attendees visit local eateries, hotels and shops.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I see how proud our elected officials are when they host IACT,&#8221; said Dan O&#8217;Connell, president and CEO of Visit Fort Wayne. &#8220;They love showing off our convention center and downtown. I also see a little envy in those colleagues&#8217; eyes, too. IACT is a great convention to host to showcase Indiana&#8217;s 2nd largest city to the rest of the state&#8217;s leadership.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Conference attendees will have the opportunity to sit in on a variety of workshops, as well as weigh in on IACT&#8217;s 2015 Policy Platform. Events of note include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Tuesday, September 9: opening business session at 4 p.m. in the Grand Wayne Center,<\/li>\n<li>Wednesday, September 10: annual awards luncheon and keynote address at 11:45 a.m. in the Grand Wayne Center,<\/li>\n<li>Wednesday, September 10: mobile workshop highlighting growth in downtown Fort Wayne, 2 p.m. leaving from the Grand Wayne Center,<\/li>\n<li>Thursday, September 11: closing lunch and featured speaker St. Paul, Minnesota Mayor and National League of Cities President Chris Coleman, 11:30 a.m. in the Grand Wayne Center.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&#8220;We are thrilled to be back in Fort Wayne for this year&#8217;s IACT Annual Conference &amp; Exhibition,&#8221; said IACT Executive Director and CEO Matthew C. Greller. &#8220;The Mayor, his team and Visit Fort Wayne have shown us once again that the city is an ideal location for our event. They provide the leaders of Indiana&#8217;s cities and towns with just the right atmosphere for learning the latest trends and techniques that help them be the most efficient and effective leaders they can be.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Related Images:<\/h3><div class=\"ngg-related-gallery\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/71709.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Mayor Tom Henry announces call for referendum vote on the gaming issue during a press conference on February 27, 2009.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='3a5033a2536a5604c06d2015e4602a3d' data-image-id=\"199\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/71709.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/thumbs\/thumbs_71709.jpg\" data-title=\"2009\/02\/27: Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry\" data-description=\"Mayor Tom Henry announces call for referendum vote on the gaming issue during a press conference on February 27, 2009.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"2009\/02\/27: Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"2009\/02\/27: Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"199\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/thumbs\/thumbs_71709.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/71710.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Mayor Tom Henry shakes hands with Allen County Councilman Paul Moss after the press conference announcing his decision to seek a referendum vote on the gaming issue.  Photo taken February 27, 2009.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='3a5033a2536a5604c06d2015e4602a3d' data-image-id=\"200\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/71710.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/thumbs\/thumbs_71710.jpg\" data-title=\"2009\/02\/27: Mayor Tom Henry shakes hands with Allen County Councilman Paul Moss\" data-description=\"Mayor Tom Henry shakes hands with Allen County Councilman Paul Moss after the press conference announcing his decision to seek a referendum vote on the gaming issue.  Photo taken February 27, 2009.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"2009\/02\/27: Mayor Tom Henry shakes hands with Allen County Councilman Paul Moss\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"2009\/02\/27: Mayor Tom Henry shakes hands with Allen County Councilman Paul Moss\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"200\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/thumbs\/thumbs_71710.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/71712.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Fort Wayne City Council President Tom Smith makes a brief comment during the Mayor&#039;s press conference calling for referendum vote on the gaming issue.  Photo taken February 27, 2009.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='3a5033a2536a5604c06d2015e4602a3d' data-image-id=\"201\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/71712.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/thumbs\/thumbs_71712.jpg\" data-title=\"2009\/02\/27: Fort Wayne City Council President Tom Smith\" data-description=\"Fort Wayne City Council President Tom Smith makes a brief comment during the Mayor&#039;s press conference calling for referendum vote on the gaming issue.  Photo taken February 27, 2009.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"2009\/02\/27: Fort Wayne City Council President Tom Smith\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"2009\/02\/27: Fort Wayne City Council President Tom Smith\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"201\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/thumbs\/thumbs_71712.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/71714.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"City Councilman Tim Pape makes a brief comment during the Mayor&#039;s press conference calling for referendum vote on the gaming issue.  Photo taken February 27, 2009.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='3a5033a2536a5604c06d2015e4602a3d' data-image-id=\"202\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/71714.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/thumbs\/thumbs_71714.jpg\" data-title=\"2009\/02\/27: Fort Wayne City Councilman Tim Pape\" data-description=\"City Councilman Tim Pape makes a brief comment during the Mayor&#039;s press conference calling for referendum vote on the gaming issue.  Photo taken February 27, 2009.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"2009\/02\/27: Fort Wayne City Councilman Tim Pape\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"2009\/02\/27: Fort Wayne City Councilman Tim Pape\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"202\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/thumbs\/thumbs_71714.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/71715.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Allen County Councilman Paul Moss makes a brief comment during the Mayor&#039;s press conference calling for referendum vote on the gaming issue.  Photo taken February 27, 2009.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='3a5033a2536a5604c06d2015e4602a3d' data-image-id=\"203\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/71715.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/thumbs\/thumbs_71715.jpg\" data-title=\"2009\/02\/27: Allen County Councilman Paul Moss\" data-description=\"Allen County Councilman Paul Moss makes a brief comment during the Mayor&#039;s press conference calling for referendum vote on the gaming issue.  Photo taken February 27, 2009.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"2009\/02\/27: Allen County Councilman Paul Moss\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"2009\/02\/27: Allen County Councilman Paul Moss\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"203\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/thumbs\/thumbs_71715.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/71717.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Former City Councilman Dr. John Crawford and son Grant attended the press conference in which Mayor Henry called for a referendum vote on the gaming issue. Photo taken February 27, 2009.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='3a5033a2536a5604c06d2015e4602a3d' data-image-id=\"204\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/71717.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/thumbs\/thumbs_71717.jpg\" data-title=\"2009\/02\/27: Dr. John Crawford and son Grant\" data-description=\"Former City Councilman Dr. John Crawford and son Grant attended the press conference in which Mayor Henry called for a referendum vote on the gaming issue. Photo taken February 27, 2009.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"2009\/02\/27: Dr. John Crawford and son Grant\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"2009\/02\/27: Dr. John Crawford and son Grant\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"204\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/thumbs\/thumbs_71717.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/09400.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"The Belmont Beverage store at the corner of West Jefferson Boulevard and South Harrison Street shortly before demolition to make way for the Harrison Square project.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='3a5033a2536a5604c06d2015e4602a3d' data-image-id=\"1294\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/09400.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/thumbs\/thumbs_09400.jpg\" data-title=\"Belmont Beverage\" data-description=\"The Belmont Beverage store at the corner of West Jefferson Boulevard and South Harrison Street shortly before demolition to make way for the Harrison Square project.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Belmont Beverage\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Belmont Beverage\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"1294\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/thumbs\/thumbs_09400.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/17732.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"The Belmont Beverage store at the corner of West Jefferson Boulevard and South Harrison Street shortly before demolition to make way for the Harrison Square project.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='3a5033a2536a5604c06d2015e4602a3d' data-image-id=\"1298\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/17732.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/thumbs\/thumbs_17732.jpg\" data-title=\"Belmont Beverage\" data-description=\"The Belmont Beverage store at the corner of West Jefferson Boulevard and South Harrison Street shortly before demolition to make way for the Harrison Square project.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Belmont Beverage\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Belmont Beverage\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"1298\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/thumbs\/thumbs_17732.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/17992.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"The Belmont Beverage store at the corner of West Jefferson Boulevard and South Harrison Street shortly before demolition to make way for the Harrison Square project.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='3a5033a2536a5604c06d2015e4602a3d' data-image-id=\"1299\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/17992.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/thumbs\/thumbs_17992.jpg\" data-title=\"Belmont Beverage\" data-description=\"The Belmont Beverage store at the corner of West Jefferson Boulevard and South Harrison Street shortly before demolition to make way for the Harrison Square project.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Belmont Beverage\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Belmont Beverage\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"1299\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/thumbs\/thumbs_17992.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/19360.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"The Belmont Beverage store at the corner of West Jefferson Boulevard and South Harrison Street shortly before demolition to make way for the Harrison Square project.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='3a5033a2536a5604c06d2015e4602a3d' data-image-id=\"1321\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/19360.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/thumbs\/thumbs_19360.jpg\" data-title=\"Belmont Beverage\" data-description=\"The Belmont Beverage store at the corner of West Jefferson Boulevard and South Harrison Street shortly before demolition to make way for the Harrison Square project.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Belmont Beverage\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Belmont Beverage\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"1321\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/hs-belmont-beverage\/thumbs\/thumbs_19360.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/20090427\/84744.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Phil Keoghan of the Amazing Race during his Ride Across America stop in Fort Wayne. He&#039;s just been presented with a bag of stuff from the Fort Wayne Allen County Convention and Visitor&#039;s Bureau.  Photo taken April 27, 2009.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='3a5033a2536a5604c06d2015e4602a3d' data-image-id=\"1634\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/20090427\/84744.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/20090427\/thumbs\/thumbs_84744.jpg\" data-title=\"Phil Keoghan with CVB bag\" data-description=\"Phil Keoghan of the Amazing Race during his Ride Across America stop in Fort Wayne. He&#039;s just been presented with a bag of stuff from the Fort Wayne Allen County Convention and Visitor&#039;s Bureau.  Photo taken April 27, 2009.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Phil Keoghan with CVB bag\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Phil Keoghan with CVB bag\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"1634\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/20090427\/thumbs\/thumbs_84744.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/85078.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Mayor Tom Henry addresses the press about the City&#039;s hiring of lobbyists to promote a referendum vote on gaming. Deputy Mayor Greg Purcell is in the background. Photo taken May 1, 2009.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='3a5033a2536a5604c06d2015e4602a3d' data-image-id=\"1693\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/85078.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/thumbs\/thumbs_85078.jpg\" data-title=\"2009\/05\/01: Mayor Tom Henry\" data-description=\"Mayor Tom Henry addresses the press about the City&#039;s hiring of lobbyists to promote a referendum vote on gaming. Deputy Mayor Greg Purcell is in the background. Photo taken May 1, 2009.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"2009\/05\/01: Mayor Tom Henry\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"2009\/05\/01: Mayor Tom Henry\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"1693\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/thumbs\/thumbs_85078.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/85080.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Mayor Tom Henry addresses the press about the City&#039;s hiring of lobbyists to promote a referendum vote on gaming.  Deputy Mayor Greg Purcell is on the left and City Corporate Counsel Tim Haffner is on the right.  Photo taken May 1, 2009.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='3a5033a2536a5604c06d2015e4602a3d' data-image-id=\"1694\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/85080.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/thumbs\/thumbs_85080.jpg\" data-title=\"2009\/05\/01: Mayor Tom Henry\" data-description=\"Mayor Tom Henry addresses the press about the City&#039;s hiring of lobbyists to promote a referendum vote on gaming.  Deputy Mayor Greg Purcell is on the left and City Corporate Counsel Tim Haffner is on the right.  Photo taken May 1, 2009.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"2009\/05\/01: Mayor Tom Henry\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"2009\/05\/01: Mayor Tom Henry\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"1694\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/thumbs\/thumbs_85080.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/85088.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Mayor Tom Henry addresses the press about the City&#039;s hiring of lobbyists to promote a referendum vote on gaming.  Deputy Mayor Greg Purcell is in the background.  Photo taken May 1, 2009.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='3a5033a2536a5604c06d2015e4602a3d' data-image-id=\"1695\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/85088.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/thumbs\/thumbs_85088.jpg\" data-title=\"2009\/05\/01: Mayor Tom Henry\" data-description=\"Mayor Tom Henry addresses the press about the City&#039;s hiring of lobbyists to promote a referendum vote on gaming.  Deputy Mayor Greg Purcell is in the background.  Photo taken May 1, 2009.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"2009\/05\/01: Mayor Tom Henry\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"2009\/05\/01: Mayor Tom Henry\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"1695\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/thumbs\/thumbs_85088.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/85091.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Deputy Mayor Greg Purcell answers questions from the press. Photo taken May 1, 2009.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='3a5033a2536a5604c06d2015e4602a3d' data-image-id=\"1696\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/85091.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/thumbs\/thumbs_85091.jpg\" data-title=\"2009\/05\/01: Deputy Mayor Greg Purcell\" data-description=\"Deputy Mayor Greg Purcell answers questions from the press. Photo taken May 1, 2009.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"2009\/05\/01: Deputy Mayor Greg Purcell\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"2009\/05\/01: Deputy Mayor Greg Purcell\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"1696\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/cityoffw\/thumbs\/thumbs_85091.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry and Visit Fort Wayne are ready to welcome more than 1,000 officials from cities and towns across Indiana.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":34844,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[94],"tags":[21584,23,98,67,1927,10778,497],"class_list":["post-42906","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-city-of-fort-wayne-news","tag-city-of-fort-wayne-indiana","tag-fort-wayne-indiana","tag-fort-wayne-mayor-tom-henry","tag-grand-wayne-convention-center","tag-indiana-association-of-cities-and-towns","tag-matthew-greller","tag-visit-fort-wayne"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.3 - 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