Business

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, a strong corporate culture, job training and advancement, and a feeling of belonging within the organization.” This recognition aligns perfectly…

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 Furniture & Mattress. The Economic Impact Award was presented to an individual, organization, or company that has made significant contributions…

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 ownership. Throughout its history, Boyce Systems has embodied the spirit of Hoosiers serving Hoosiers, building deep roots in Muncie and…

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, panel discussions, networking, and celebrations. This year’s events are directed toward existing business owners, leaders, employees, and entrepreneurs with ideas…

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. We’ve seen about $185,000 since the inception of the event. It has not only raised critical funds but also increased…

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 attentive banking is what separates us and is what people want.” Attentive banking means First Merchants employees go beyond a…

By Joel Reuter— GREENWOOD, IN – Indiana American Water is celebrating Source Water Protection Week (Sept. 29-Oct. 5, 2024) by creating awareness that safe, clean, and reliable water is supported by protecting water resources free from pollution, and by giving the public helpful resources and information, to encourage everyone to contribute. “Protecting water resources like lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and well fields are crucial for helping ensure clean, safe and reliable drinking water. These natural sources can be vulnerable to pollution and overuse, which can lead to water shortages and health hazards,” said Matt Prine, President of Indiana America Water. “All…

By Schnee’ Doyle, Communications Consultant Sr.— FORT WAYNE – A second wave of power restoration crews from Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) are in numerous states after Hurricane Helene left a trail of destruction and millions of people without power. In total, 466 I&M employees and business partners are helping our sister companies, Kentucky Power and Appalachian Power Company, restore service to their customers. Among the team are line workers, damage assessors, tree trimming experts, meter technicians, fleet technicians, safety personnel and various business support staff from across our service area. Crews are working 16-hour days in hilly, heavily forested and…