New community campaign reveals the surprising ways Muncie and Delaware County businesses impact everyday life and the world beyond
By Allison Robbins—
MUNCIE, IN—The stairs leading to Air Force One. The ladder that helps firefighters reach a family trapped in a burning building. The small component that helps keep you safe in your car. Even the equipment that roasts your morning coffee.
What do they have in common?
They all have connections to businesses right here in Muncie and Delaware County.
And that’s just the beginning of the story.
Every day, we pass businesses and organizations without realizing the remarkable things happening inside. Products made here reach around the world. Local innovations touch our everyday lives. And the people behind them are our friends, families and neighbors.
Our Story is a community campaign designed to bring those stories to light. Through surprising facts, compelling stories and eye-catching billboards, the campaign invites residents to discover the people, businesses and organizations making an impact far beyond our community.
More importantly, it offers a new perspective on a place we thought we already knew.
The first phase of Our Story, sponsored by Ivy Tech Community College, focuses on the remarkable products, innovations and contributions connected to Muncie and Delaware County. The campaign also aims to build awareness of the career opportunities available locally and inspire a greater sense of pride in the community.
“This campaign is about connecting the dots,” said Jeffrey D. Scott, Chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College’s Muncie Campus. “People may not realize the scale of what is made here or that they can be part of it. We want our community to understand what we have here, take pride in it and see that opportunity already exists right here at home.”
Muncie and Delaware County have a rich history of making things. But our story isn’t just about what we’ve made in the past. It’s about what we’re making possible today and the opportunities we’re creating for tomorrow.
From advanced manufacturing and technology to transportation, innovation and community organizations, the impact of local businesses reaches further than many people realize.
The campaign will unfold in phases, beginning with articles like this one on MuncieJournal.com, and billboards featuring unexpected connections between familiar products and local companies. Future stories will go beyond the products to introduce the people behind the work, explore innovations happening locally and highlight the education, training and career pathways available right here at home.
“Manufacturing and creativity have long been part of this community’s history, but they are not simply chapters from the past. They remain strong and evolving parts of the local economy, producing essential goods, creating careers and reaching markets throughout the world,” said Traci Lutton, Vice President of the Economic Development Alliance of Muncie-Delaware County.
At its heart, Our Story is about community pride. It’s about recognizing the extraordinary things happening in a place we call home and discovering that the work being done here matters in ways we may never have imagined.
Because sometimes the most remarkable stories are happening right in our own backyard.
You may never see your community the same way again.Visit OurStoryMuncie.com to discover the stories behind the billboards and follow the campaign as new stories are revealed.
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system, serving more than 200,000 students annually throughout the state. Ivy Tech serves as the state’s workforce engine, offering more than 70 programs that provide pathways to high-quality education and training aligned to in-demand careers needed by Hoosier communities. The College awards credentials that are stackable toward industry certifications, short-term certificate programs, and associate degrees that seamlessly transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana for a more affordable route to bachelor’s degrees and beyond.
