Issue link: http://frankenmuthcvb.uberflip.com/i/1172334
10 If you don't get the Frankenmuth News, you're likely not familiar with the "Looking Back" section of the local paper. But it is one of my favorites because even when I was new to the community and didn't know as many people referenced in the short recaps, I often thought the stories were interesting. Sometimes it's even funny to reflect on things that happened 50 years ago that would never be done the same way today or five years ago when something happened in a way that has evolved already too. Recently, I looked back on the strategic plan for our Chamber of Commerce and CVB from 5 years ago and it was really enlightening to see the progress in our community in such a short time. During that time, we did surveys of our members about a number of items related to our organization and the community at large. Our members are mostly businesses but also individual & honorary members as well as service clubs and community organizations. One of the questions asked was about what people wanted in town in 5 years in an open-ended format. There were some clear trends in the custom responses such as new, fresh things along with ways to attract a younger demographic to live and work here. Then we asked what they thought it would be like in 5 years and the overwhelming response was "the same." That left us perplexed as if the respondents had low confidence in any change or if it meant they wanted it to stay the same despite their ideas. Based on other questions asked, my personal conclusion was that most may have wanted some cool new amenities, things to do or dining options, however they didn't want to lose the foundational values that are part of our community. Things such as a clean, safe, faith- based, friendly, German community with great educational opportunities. Now, I reflect back on what has changed in 5 years and we have been blessed with many new investments including many new outdoor dining and health-focused restaurant options such as Prost!, Michigan on Main, Dig Café, Honey B's, food trucks and more. We've also seen things to do increase with businesses like the Frankenmuth Aerial Park, the PedAle Trolley, and Kayak Adventures. The Fish Ladder project wasn't quite finished at that time and now is a wonderful place to enjoy our beautiful Cass River while walking, fishing or paddling. The non-profits have been busy adding amenities to our community as well, like the Farmers Market and the Jaycee's Spray Park. While this isn't a complete list, it's clear that many wonderful amenities, dining options and things to do have been added and I believe the core values of the community not only remain intact, but are a strong guiding force as we prepare for the next 5 years. Personally, I can't wait to see what the next 5 years bring for our incredible little city! Reflections B Y J A M I E F U R B U S H