After COVID-induced delay, optimism returns to

he 2020 edition of NewsNow’s Lincoln Progress Magazine was one filled with hope and optimism. There was concern, but no real understanding of what was to come.

Last year’s offering was purely about survival - at least for much of the local business community - as all understood the seriousness of COVID-19 and its impacts.

Now, this year, we return to optimism, hope and a realization of what could be. While health concerns are still at the forefront for many, there is also an understanding that society must move because standing still - socially and economically - are options.

The Town of Lincoln rolled out its new Niagara Benchlands marketing initiative – a great way to harness the promotional power of “Niagara” combined with a geographic feature which connects many tourism dots from end to end in the municipality.

While that program will serve as an umbrella for promoting all under its canopy, many major initiatives are in motion the ensure a solid foundation underneath that.

Downtown Beamsville is a work in progress, as is much of Ontario Street. Greenlane, in 2-3 years will appear like nothing of its current form and Main Street Jordan in the east end will prove to a wonderful, well-thought-out destination for locals and tourists for decades to come.

A key thing for Lincoln residents to remember is, all these wheels in motion were not just started yesterday and they were not manufactured in a silo. Going back to former Mayor Bill Hodgson’s days and magnified with the tenure of Mayor Sandra Easton, Lincoln has planned the work and worked the plan with unison across all communities and Town departments.

All these things were done with ample public input, adherence to concerns and logical melding of ideas to chart a course for a very bright future. Lincoln’s model is one of which other municipalities should be jealous.