8 •
PROGRESS
PUBLISHER
Robyn McCloskey
EDITOR
Jeff Kovaleski
PHOTOGRAPHY
Tim Bath, Kelly Lafferty Gerber
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Carson Gerber, George Myers, Cody
Neuenschwander and Caele Pemberton
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Beverly Sams
If you have questions or a comment
please write to us at:
300 N. Union St.
Kokomo, IN 46901
or call 765-456-3821
or 1-800-382-0696
PROGRESS
is a supplement magazine
published once a year by the
Kokomo Tribune.
With 12 giant scissors, community leaders and
YMCA representatives cut the ribbon
on downtown
Kokomo’s largest attraction this past February: the
Delmar E. Demaree Family YMCA.
The 83,000-square-foot facility is the culmination of
more than 30 years of on again, off again discussions
and planning to replace the 105-year-old building next
door. A few years ago, the site of the new YMCA was an
unused city block. Today, it’s a cornerstone to drawing residents and visitors
to the downtown area.
And that’s why it is the cover story to our 2016 Progress edition.
YMCA Director Dave Dubois told us his membership has doubled to more
than 12,000 since Jan. 1. Members made 29,000 visits to the new facility and
downtown in July alone.
“The reality is we, as a staff, have to remember that every one of those
numbers is a person,” Dubois said. “And we have an opportunity to impact
every one of those people positively.”
Businesses, schools, governments and service organizations throughout the
city and Howard County endeavor to the do the same. Catch up with their
recent successes and future plans inside.
Jeff Kovaleski, Editor
SNAPSHOT OF HOWARD COUNTY
& SURROUNDING AREAS
featured
ON THE COVER
STRENGTH IS IN
COMMUNITY
New YMCA sees explosive
growth since grand opening.
Pg. 12
BUSINESS
COME IN, WE’RE
OPEN
New businesses open
throughout Kokomo.
Pg. 22
EDUCATION
UNDER
CONSTRUCTION
Construction work greets
students of Kokomo colleges.
Pg. 42
