By BRENT MARTIN
Andrew County leaders and residents gather Thursday for the third annual Economic Outlook Luncheon.
Wakefield Hare with the Andrew County Foundation says the luncheon provides an opportunity for members of a diverse county to come together to move it forward.
“We are in this together by our jurisdiction and we really want to be aware of the unique challenges of someone living in Country Club Village versus someone living near Fillmore or Cosby or Bolckow or Rea; in all these places that make up this community,” Hare tells KFEQmmunity.
The Andrew County Foundation hosts the 2025 Economic Outlook Luncheon which is being held at the Clasbey Community Center in Savannah. It begins at 11:30 Thursday morning and wraps up a one that afternoon.
Hare says the luncheon this year focuses on education with Savannah Superintendent, Brian Hansen, North Andrew Superintendent, Jake Barker, and Avenue City Superintendent, Becky Grimes, scheduled as featured speakers. Hare says they will address the question of educational opportunity.
“And we definitely want to hear from those three who’ve thought more about it than most in our community and then also understand the resource challenges of doing that effectively, efficiently, sustainably while also giving kids in the middle of America every opportunity that they need to compete with someone who has an education (from) any other part of the world,” Hare says.
Hare says Andrew County is diverse, but it has a synergy he hopes comes across during the luncheon.
“But the primary goal is you see and you look around you and like, hey, I’m not the only one kind of worried or thinking about these future issues or challenges or opportunities we may not take. Other people are thinking about it,” Hare says. “And we don’t have to live in our little islands and pockets. We get together, we have some social coherence, and we understand we really are on the same team. And when we do that you kind of get that inspirational movie feel of we can tackle anything, because we’re together.”
The luncheon focused on law enforcement last year.
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