Hey Locals,

About one year ago, we broke news on concerns (and lawsuits) connected to Fort Wayne's largest (ever?) public-private project, Electric Works. Since then, we haven’t seen much in-depth reporting about the campus, in general, so we decided to check in and get an update for you in this week's Above the Fold.

We also fill you in on the Google data center’s new website and challenges facing local childcare providers. In our To Do List, we share ways to get crafty in this cold weather by recycling old milk jugs into seed sowers for your spring garden and learning how to blow glass – no experience required!

Plus, a few extra special announcements this week:

• Merch! That's right. We finally have T-shirts for sale that you can snag, printed by Fort Wayne clothing company, First & Wilkerson Designs. They feature our logo designed by artist, Matt Plett, printed on premium Comfort Colors plus heavyweight tees!
• Catch us at the YLNI Farmers Market this Saturday, Feb. 28, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.! We recently became official media partners with the market – one of our longtime favorite weekend activities. Stop by our booth to say hello, and take part in our free donut-tasting challenge. Details coming your way later this week!
• Save the Date: for a free, public Local Live event at the History Center on Tuesday, March 10, at 6 p.m. Our reporter, Rachel Horton, will moderate a conversation amongst local historians, including the History Center’s Executive Director Todd Pelfrey and regional experts Randy Harter and John Beatty.

Don’t pho-get: In February, we’re partnering with Banh Mi Pho Shop on Fairfield to bring all paid subscribers to The Local a FREE Boba tea drink with the purchase of any food item ($5 or more).

Now, let’s get started.

NOTE: Links to Journal Gazette articles are marked(*) and may be behind a paywall.

Losing Power?

We revisit Electric Works after a year in the dark.

What's happening?

In February 2025, we broke news on some concerning lawsuits related to leadership at Electric Works, as well as the status of its Public Market Trust, which oversees the Union Street Market food hall.

• You might remember: The Trust is a key part of the City’s 2020 contract with Electric Works, which allowed it to secure about $65 million in public funding, contingent on providing “mission-driven” benefits to the city and county. This includes access to healthy and affordable foods, primarily grown and produced in Northeast Indiana. 
• It’s worth noting: Electric Works is the largest public-private project in Fort Wayne’s recent history, yet a surprisingly small amount of independent, public information has been reported/shared about it thus far – despite red flags, ranging from leadership and contractor turnover on campus to the (aforementioned) legal cases.
• In fact: when we sought to aggregate local media coverage from Fort Wayne news outlets about the project, we couldn’t find much substantial reporting on it since, well… our report last year….

So what’s happening with Electric Works? Now that we're almost four years into the project, is it working and delivering on its promises to city and county residents? And what can we expect in 2026?

We break it down in this week's Above the Fold newsletter on Thursday – available to paid subscribers only.

• Google launched a website for its Fort Wayne Data Center, following national trends and pushback. Last week, project representatives shared the site, which includes an FAQ section, a (questionably accurate) “Myth or Fact?” slider, and information about how the project will contribute to the community, economically and otherwise. Across the U.S., Google and other tech giants have seen mounting pushback from citizens regarding massive, resource-intensive data centers moving into their communities. This has resulted in some counties (like St. Joseph, Ind.) gaining national attention for rejecting new data center builds and/or getting tech giants to take more responsibility for their projects. As a result, tech companies, like Google, are making more efforts to communicate with host communities, the New York Times reports. Despite gaining its early approvals in 2023, Fort Wayne's $2B Google data center didn't host a community forum about its project until December 11, 2025 – the same day it announced the data center was already operational.
• A new monthly dinner series is helping strangers meet over shared meals in Fort Wayne. The JG dishes on Grab Grub*, a fast-growing dinner series hosted by Fort Wayne Foodies Joanie & Jenni B, whose restaurant reviews on social media inspired their grassroots community of diners meeting up for meals. They're planning to host two dinners per month now through August, including one at the Cactus Grill on Feb. 25 at 6 p.m. Follow them on Facebook for details.
• The JG published two in-depth reports on child care challenges facing local providers and schools due to funding cuts and decisions by state legislators. Providers say* the latest challenges in Indiana’s “childcare crisis” stem from state legislators reinstituting a voucher waitlist (freezing new vouchers for payment assistance until at least 2027), as well as reducing reimbursement rates for already underpaid childcare providers, announced in September. Legislators who supported these changes say they’re needed to address a $225 million funding gap left by the pandemic’s influx of ARPA relief dollars. Locally, the cuts have contributed to Lutheran Social Services of Indiana closing its Children’s Village Early Learning Center on the Southeast side last year. Southwest Allen County’s new On My Way Pre-K program is also coping with state funding losses,* including an enrollment cap of 2,500 students statewide (down from about 8,000 two years ago), along with tightened income eligibility thresholds.
• Quarry project leaders have tabled plans for two controversial projects in Southwest Fort Wayne due to “an internal business decision.” Last week, Heidelberg Materials pulled its project applications for two quarries: revitalizing an old one off Yohne Road (near Fox Island) and creating a new one off Lower Huntington Road. Fox Island Park and Education Manager Natalie Collins tells WANE the old Yohne Road quarry (last operated about 10 years ago) caused vibrations in the park, which disturbed and displaced wildlife. It also damaged the park’s water supply, she says, but notes that the park may have trouble resisting the quarry in the future due to a lack of documented evidence. Heidelberg is still considering reopening the quarry in about 30 years.  
• Blue Jacket reports “record enrollments” for its two-week academy serving people with employment barriers, and it's seeking clothing donations this spring. Last week, the organization told WANE 15 its job-training programs have had “meteoric” participation and success the past three years. However, part of this program involves offering participants free business clothing, which is currently in short supply. “Blue Jacket is asking the community to reach into their closets this spring and turn old clothes into second chances,” WANE reports. “You can bring business clothes to one of three Blue Jackets locations: just north of Glenbrook Square (4633 Lima Road,) just south of Ivan Lebamoff Reservoir Park (2826 S Calhoun St.,) and Renew by Blue Jacket in Georgetown (6406 E State Blvd.).”

• The Lutheran Foundation of Fort Wayne is downsizing its office space by relocating to a new multimillion-dollar building at Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne (CTSFW) campus. A news release says the foundation plans to move in early summer 2027 and donate its current century-old building on Fairfield Avenue to Redeemer Lutheran Church for its Classical School. Last year, it also gifted the 13-acre park next to its Fairfield location to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne.

• Make: molten glass art in private or group classes at the Glass Park at 4235 Fairfield Ave. off of Maxine Drive. “You do not need to have any skill or prior experience to blow glass; it is a fun, family-friendly experience,” WANE reports.
• Recycle: old plastic jugs with a seed sowing craft at the Little Turtle Branch Library tonight at 7 p.m. where you can learn how to repurpose your containers to start seeds in soil, including free seed packets from the Seed Library.
• Shop: at the first annual Indiana Plant Show at the Grand Wayne Convention Center on Feb. 28 and March 1, featuring more than 100 tables of plants. (Tickets start at $10).
• Make reservations: for the return of Rune's popular Taco Fights on March 10, featuring Bravas Chef Ulises Gamez and Chance Bar Chef and Owner Corey Bowers. 
• Experience: the art of Hip Hop at Holding Down the Fort on Feb. 28, noon-8 p.m., hosted by Fort Wayne Hip Hop at Wunderkammer. The free, all-ages event includes performances by musicians ChrisRebellion, Leemr, Hometown Hooligans, J. Tubbs, and Zion Omari, plus dance battles and live graffiti art. 
• Meet: Local shop cats, courtesy of reports by WANE 15, including a new feature on Piper at Fuller Plants and a 2025 story on Scout and Sherlock at Hyde Brothers Booksellers. 
• Brunch: with Discover Yoga at the Dash-In on March 1, starting with a movement class at 8 a.m. followed by breakfast. "Your class includes a complimentary mimosa or specialty coffee with the purchase of a meal," its website says. ($21/ticket)
• Stroll: the YLNI indoor farmers market this Saturday at 3811 Illinois Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46804 from 9am-1pm.*

*Sponsored post

Rep The Local! Get some Merch.

Share the Local!

Help us grow by forwarding our emails to a friend or family member who you think would enjoy our reporting!

Got a story tip or feedback?

Let us know at thelocalfortwayne@gmail.com.

Have a great week, Locals!

-Your Editor, Kara Hackett