Warren County, Ohio Peeks into Future

Warren County is one of the nation's fastest-growing counties, but it isn't resting on that laurel.

During a whirlwind two hours Wednesday morning, about 140 local education, business and government officials listened as Ed Barlow, a Michigan-based futurist, described the global forces shaping the 21st century and what communities ought to be thinking about to prepare.

Barlow described forces including globalization, accelerating knowledge, fewer qualified workers, converging technologies and the growth of diversity.

It left some in the audience at Procter & Gamble Pharmaceutical's Health Research Center feeling a little overwhelmed.

"It's a little like trying to drink out of a fire hydrant. It's awfully tough to digest it all," said Greg Smith, controller with Warren County Community Services.

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