Business

Indiana Economic Outlook 2025 Forecast Breakfast to be Held on Jan. 16 at Horizon Convention Center

By Ball State Communications— MUNCIE, IN—What drives the decisions of the Federal Reserve Bank, and what are the implications of its actions? Back by popular demand, Dr. David E. Altig, executive vice president and chief economic adviser at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, will address these questions at Ball State University’s Center for Business and Economic Research’s (CBER) annual Indiana Economic Outlook 2025 Forecast Breakfast. This event will also feature the 2025 economic forecast by Dr. Michael J. Hicks,…

Read More

Al Holdren Brings His Leadership and Proven Business Acumen to LEAP Managed IT as Senior Sales Executive

By Patryca Thomas— MUNCIE, IN—LEAP Managed IT, a leader in technology and managed IT services, has announced the addition of Al Holdren as Senior Sales Executive. With a distinguished career spanning entrepreneurship, business ownership, community leadership, and philanthropy, Holdren brings a unique blend of strategic vision, industry expertise, and a deep commitment to fostering meaningful relationships. A seasoned entrepreneur and business owner, Holdren has built and led successful ventures that have reshaped industries and created lasting impact. He is widely…


First Merchants Earns American Banker’s ‘Best Banks to Work For’ Award For 2024

By Jaime Faulkner— MUNCIE, IN—First Merchants Bank (NASDAQ: FRME) has been recognized as one of the nation’s top employers by the American Banker. This prestigious honor places them among only 90 banks nationwide to receive this distinction and only one of three banks headquartered in Indiana, Michigan, or Ohio. Earning a spot on this list signifies excellence in employee benefits, satisfaction and overall work environment. According to the American Banker, “Banks that made the list tend to prioritize engaged leaders,…


Greater Muncie Chamber of Commerce Presents Awards at Their 130th Annual Event

By Katy Maggart— MUNCIE, IN — The Greater Muncie Chamber of Commerce held their 130th Annual Meeting & Dinner on Tuesday, November 13. Six awards were presented, and a new chair of the board of directors was installed. The Spirit of Small Business Award was presented to an individual(s) who own and/or operate a small business in the greater Muncie area. The award finalists included Kaleidoscope Kids, TLC Equities, and Walls Furniture & Mattress. This year’s award recipient was Walls…


Boyce Systems Celebrates 125 Years of Service to Hoosiers, Marking a Legacy of Innovation

By Amy Gibbs— MUNCIE, IN—Boyce, a trusted financial ERP software solutions provider for public sector organizations across Indiana, proudly marks 125 years in business. Founded in 1899 by A.E. Boyce, Boyce has grown from a small, local enterprise into a leader in financial management software solutions for schools, municipalities, utilities, and libraries. This milestone honors the legacy of the Boyce and Galliher families, who stewarded the business for its first 122 years before passing the torch to the current Muncie-based…


Business Showcase Week 2024: A Special Week for Muncie Community Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs

By Ted A. Baker, CEO/Executive Director, Muncie Innovation Connector, Inc.— MUNCIE, IN—The Muncie Innovation Connector, East Central Indiana’s only full-service Entrepreneurial Support Organization, is thrilled to present Business Showcase Week 2024, November 18 – 23.  All events and workshops will take place at the Innovation Connector, 1208 West White River Blvd, Muncie, and are FREE to attend, but registration is required due to limited space and high demand. Business Showcase Week 2024 will include nineteen separate events, including workshops, presentations,…


Indiana American Water Provides Financial Assistance Programs for Customers

By Joel Reuter, External Affairs Manager— GREENWOOD— Indiana American Water offers customers several financial assistance options to help pay their bill. Sometimes finances are stretched thin, and it can be hard to get back on track once an account falls behind. Below is a listing of American Water’s customer assistance programs that can help: Affordability Rate for the First 1,500 Gallons:  Indiana American Water’s 2024 rate case provides an affordability component that was approved by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC)…


Soup Crawl Makes More Than 93,000 Meals Possible for Students in East Central Indiana

By Ben Polk— MUNCIE, IN—On Wednesday afternoon, Tim Pierce and Ben Polk of PrimeTrust Federal Credit Union announced the winners of Soup Crawl and presented a donation check to Bekah Clawson, President of Second Harvest Food Bank. The event raised $23,278.05 for Second Harvest’s The Big Idea initiative, which will help provide over 93,000 meals to students and their families in East Central Indiana. “Soup Crawl has been a tremendous success in supporting The Big Idea initiative over the years….


First Merchants Bank: A Bank Interested in You

By Stacey A. Shannon— MUNCIE, IN—As the world becomes more and more digitally focused, First Merchants Bank is keeping up with digital product offerings but not neglecting the most important aspect of banking: customers. While the bank has 116 locations throughout four states in the Midwest, its headquarters remains in Muncie. Attentive banking “We often use the word attentive,” said Jeff Parsons, Market President. “In the environment where everything is digital now, that can easily mean impersonal. However, we believe…


Tax Credit Projects in Indiana Benefit Low-to Moderate-Income Households

By Ball State University Communications— MUNCIE, IN – A new report from Ball State University researchers reveals that more than half of the housing units created or rehabilitated using historic rehabilitation tax credits (HRTC) for income-producing properties in Indiana have been designated for low- to moderate-income households. This key finding underscores the role these tax credits play in addressing housing affordability and revitalizing distressed communities across the state. The study, conducted by experts from the Center for Business and Economic…