The Wabash Valley Community Foundation has officially announced a new position coming to the Sullivan community.
The Community Development and Recreation Director will be responsible for managing and leading the operations of the City of Sullivan Parks and Recreation Department, and the City Redevelopment Commission. This new hire will be focused on new and current quality of life initiatives in both the city of Sullivan and other Sullivan County municipality projects, with a problem-solving approach to community development needs.
In 2019, residents from all over Sullivan County were invited to participate with an outside facilitator to express concerns and hopes for their communities. The numerous discussions were facilitated by the Wabash Valley Community Foundation. The feedback from over 70 residents was similar overall: community success occurs when population grows.
The Director of Community Development and Recreation will be an employee for the city of Sullivan but the candidate will assist all communities throughout the entire county.
"The city of Sullivan will proudly take the lead as we work together and streamline joint efforts between all Sullivan County municipalities to collaboratively reach the same common goal,” states Mayor Clint Lamb. “There has never been a more crucial time in our county’s history to make this move. COVID-19 and other economic challenges have shown us that a sense of place has never been more important. It is imperative that we form
this coalition for Sullivan County communities to come together and implement strategic plans that will provide future opportunities and growth.”
The goal of the Community Development and Recreation Director is to complement both the Sullivan Parks and Recreation Department and the City Redevelopment Commission while creating a culture of growth throughout Sullivan County.
“Thanks to a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.’s GIFT VII initiative, support was provided to the Wabash Valley Community Foundation through its affiliate, the Sullivan County Community Foundation, to help identify and build county leadership competencies, hold community conversations throughout the county, develop plans to address high priority community needs or opportunities and implement strategies identified in those plans,” states Kelli Miller, Program Director of the Wabash Valley Community Foundation.
As collaborative leadership efforts continue to take place throughout Sullivan County, both Mayor Lamb and Kelli Miller agree that cultivating an atmosphere can only be successful when everyone comes together to work towards the same goal.
“Through our community conversations, we discovered there is an urgent, unmet need to address community development and recreation throughout the county,” explained Miller. “This position will centralize Sullivan County’s leadership execution, providing a necessary service across the county that would not otherwise be financially feasible for each individual community.”
Anyone who is interested in applying for the Community Development and Recreation Director’s position can find the job description at www.cityofsullivan.org/opportunities. To apply, please email cover letter, resume and professional references to jobs@cityofsullivan.org. Applications are due on Feb. 1 by 4 p.m.
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