Articles by Mike Rhodes

Ivy Tech to Offer Express Enrollment Registration Event January 14th and 28th

Education January 13, 2016

Ivy Tech to Offer Express Enrollment Registration Event January 14th and 28th

By: Shawn Carmichael— Ivy Tech Community College East Central region will be offering Express Enrollment events on January 14, 21, and January 28 at their Muncie Cowan Road location, in the Express Enrollment Center. Express Enrollment offers prospective students a “one-stop” experience in the enrollment process and does not require an appointment.   Muncie Campus Express Enrollment Center January 14, 21, and 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. 4301 South Cowan Road   During the events, students will work alongside staff who will assist them with the enrollment process including: applying for admission, new student orientation, learning about ACCUPLACER,…

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Cinnaire and The Arc of Indiana Celebrate Grand Opening of Erskine Green Training Institute & Teaching Hotel

Business January 11, 2016

Cinnaire and The Arc of Indiana Celebrate Grand Opening of Erskine Green Training Institute & Teaching Hotel

By: Jennifer Calery— In partnership with The Arc of Indiana Foundation, Cinnaire celebrated the Grand Opening of the Erskine Green Training Institute & Teaching Hotel last week in Muncie. Cinnaire has invested $11M in New Market Tax Credits to finance the Institute, the first hospitality and healthcare training institute for individuals with disabilities in the United States. In addition to Cinnaire, Chase, as New Markets Tax Credit investor, facilitated the financing of this project. Housed within a Courtyard by Marriot, the Teaching Hotel will train all people with disabilities in a postsecondary education opportunity in hospitality, food service or healthcare….

BSU Students Create Commercials to Market Ball State

Education January 10, 2016

BSU Students Create Commercials to Market Ball State

 By: Lisa Renze-Rhodes— Days and nights peppered with call sheets, shot sheets and scripts, generous helpings of caffeine, loads of patience, a dollop of good humor and a touch of sleep. Blend all of it together with four groups of students and their faculty advisors, who spent much of the fall semester shooting commercials for Ball State. The results are real-world experiences that benefit everyone involved. In January, Ball State will begin airing commercials that students produced. The project gave students real-world experience as well as a cost-effective way for the university to market itself. The idea to create student-produced…

John Fallon’s GearBox Muncie Presentation to City Council

Business January 7, 2016

John Fallon’s GearBox Muncie Presentation to City Council

By: Mike Rhodes— Dr. John Fallon gave a presentation about GearBox Muncie to the Muncie City Council on Monday, January 4th. You can view Dr. Fallon’s Powerpoint Presentation (in pdf format) below. The presentation covers:  board members, staff, funding, a brief history of the project timeline and some “visionary” hypothetical pictures of what the inside of the facility could look like going forward. The interior photos are meant to be sample representations. Click on the photo below to view. 

Former Muncie GM Transmissions Plant Land Sale Closes

Business, Non-Profit January 5, 2016

Former Muncie GM Transmissions Plant Land Sale Closes

By: Bill Callen— RACER Trust and Ross Community Center, Inc., today announced the completion of a sale that will result in new recreational opportunities for families on the Southside of Muncie. Ross Community Center has purchased approximately six acres of the former GM Manual Transmissions of Muncie property off West 8th Street, with plans to build baseball fields and other recreational facilities. The land formerly was used for employee parking, and is across West 8th Street from the former manufacturing facilities. RACER Trust took ownership of the former GM property in 2011. The remainder of the property, approximately 60 acres…

Joan White to Retire After 72 Years With Muncie Music Center

Business January 5, 2016

Joan White to Retire After 72 Years With Muncie Music Center

By: Dave Helms— Muncie Music Center is honored to announce the retirement of long-time employee, Ms. Joan (pronounced Joanne) White from Muncie Music Center. Joan joined Muncie Music Center in 1943 at the age of 14. This was her only job in her 72-year tenure in the employment field, besides, of course, her wonderful time as a mother and caretaker of children and grand children. While at Muncie Music Center, Joan was responsible for a multitude of behind-the-scenes duties to help music teachers and individuals in Indiana and Ohio obtain and receive services to make their jobs as educators and…

East Central ISBDC Hosts Free and Low-Cost Workshops

Non-Profit January 4, 2016

East Central ISBDC Hosts Free and Low-Cost Workshops

By: Christy Ragle— The East Central Indiana Small Business Development Center (ISBDC) has several workshops designed to help area businesses start, grow, and flourish in 2016. To learn more about these workshops or to register, visit www.isbdc.org and click on the “Workshops and Events” link or call Judy at (765) 282-9950. The year begins with a “Launch Your Own Business” workshop from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday, January 8, at the Innovation Connector in Muncie (1208 W. White River Blvd.). This session is designed to help those interested in starting a business evaluate a business idea and take…

Muncie Community Schools Students and Staff Give Back

Education January 2, 2016

Muncie Community Schools Students and Staff Give Back

By: Anna Pichardo— Each year many of the students and staff of Muncie Community Schools embark on projects to give back to the community that go unnoticed. We would like to highlight a few of these deeds in which our MCS family ensured a happy holiday for our children this holiday season.   Anthony Administration Building The employees of the Anthony Administration building donated 6 turkeys and other food items to the Muncie Mission for their Thanksgiving meal. For Christmas, the Anthony Administration staff  provided Christmas gifts for the children of three families living at the YWCA shelter. A $150.00 gift…

Courtyard by Mariott Hotel Opens in Muncie

Business December 30, 2015

Courtyard by Mariott Hotel Opens in Muncie

By: Nina Herrera-Davila— Hotel to host first-of-its-kind training program for people with disabilities Courtyard by Marriott Muncie at Horizon Convention Center opened its doors in Muncie, Indiana this month. Featuring an innovative lobby space as well as Courtyard’s latest contemporary room design, the new hotel provides flexibility and choices that allow guests to optimize and elevate their travel experience. Through The Arc of Indiana and its entities, the hotel will house the Erskine Green Training Institute and serve as a teaching hotel for people with disabilities. Students will live onsite and train for a variety of jobs in the hospitality and…

New Year, Next Level for Small Businesses

Business, Non-Profit December 30, 2015

New Year, Next Level for Small Businesses

By: Christina Ragle— As small business owners look ahead to 2016, many are ready to take their company to the next level. But what does that involve? Peggy Cenova, Regional Director of the East Central Indiana Small Business Development Center (ISBDC), works with small business owners to help them achieve goals. “One effective way of looking forward is to look backwards and assess your results from 2015,” Cenova noted. She offers seven considerations for business owners as they reflect on the past year and prepare for 2016: Goals – Did you reach your goals for 2015? Dive deep into your company’s performance….