Winning Communities Receives Endorsement from Association of Indiana Counties; Association Backs the Company’s Results-Driven Community Action Planning Process

Indianapolis, Indiana –— Winning Communities, Inc., an Indiana-based community consulting company, announced today that the Association of Indiana Counties (AIC) has formally endorsed its vision- and action-planning program, the Certified Winning Communities™ program.

The AIC will encourage its members, made up of more than 2500 Indiana county officials, employees and service organizations, to utilize the Winning Communities program for developing vision and action plans for improving the future of their communities.

"Indiana Counties need a program like Winning Communities because it gives county leadership incentive to work toward progress, rather than remain satisfied with the status quo," said AIC president David Bottorff. "The Winning Communities program is a great way for leaders and citizens alike to discuss the challenges and opportunities present in our communities and to help make improvements by working together."

The Winning Communities process has helped cities, towns and counties across the Midwest initiate improvements in leadership, social services, tourism, recreation, communication, beautification and life long learning. In addition, the community consulting firm has also helped many of these communities raise thousands of dollars in grant money for economic and community development projects. The Community Bankers Associations of Illinois and Indiana also endorse the Winning Communities program.

One unique component of the Winning Communities program is its Certified Winning Community™ designation, which is a point system to help communities move forward with and take action on the items outlined in the community plan. Communities that successfully complete the vision plan and move forward with action items on the plan become 'Certified Winning Communities,' a designation that enhances community pride of accomplishment.

"We are thrilled to have the support of the Association of Indiana Counties because it will enable us to create more positive change for Indiana communities," said Jim Dittoe, president and founder of Winning Communities. "The AIC recognizes the important leadership role that its members play in community and economic development, and that the Winning Communities program can help inspire action."

Some of the Indiana communities that have participated in the Winning Communities vision and action planning process include Blackford County, Clay County, Greene County, Huntington County, Pulaski County, Rush County, Shelby County and the City of Charlestown.

For more information about the Winning Communities program, call (317) 402-0524 email
jim @ winningcommunities.com, or visit www.winningcommunities.com.

About Winning Communities:
Winning Communities is a community planning consulting company that has facilitated numerous community vision and action plans for cities, towns and counties throughout the United States. Jim Dittoe, president of Winning Communities, Inc. has been building community progress for more than 30 years, and has developed a unique certification program called the Certified Winning Communities program, which is open to any county, city or town that seeks to create a vision and action plan for its future success. For more information about Winning Communities or the Certified Winning Communities program, contact Jim Dittoe at (317) 402-0524, email jim @ winningcommunities.com or visit www.winningcommunities.com.

About Association of Indiana Counties:
The Association of Indiana Counties, Inc. is a nonprofit organization established in 1957 for the betterment of county government. The various functions of the AIC include lobbying the Indiana General Assembly on behalf of counties, serving as liaison among counties, state and federal agencies as well as providing technical assistance and training to county officials and employees. For more information about the Association of Indiana Counties, visit www.indianacounties.org.


Media Contacts:

For Winning Communities:
Susan Young, President
AimFire Marketing
(317) 858-7669
syoung @ aimfiremarketing.com

For Association of Indiana Counties:
Karen Avery
Director of Communications
(317) 684-3710
kavery @ indianacounties.org

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