Business

By Ryan Hunter— MUNCIE, IN—Local middle school students spent one of the last weekends of summer vacation at the Innovation Connector in Muncie, working together to design and launch their own business ideas. The three day experience, held on July 25-27th, taught these young students the basics of tech entrepreneurship and foundational knowledge of robotics programming, app development, and artificial intelligence. Working in teams, they spent the weekend designing tech-driven businesses aimed at solving challenges both in their community and…

By Gary Thomas and Michael Thomas, Owners of Leap Managed IT— MUNCIE, IN—At Leap Managed IT, we’ve spent the last two years integrating intelligent tools into our daily operations and the results have been transformative. With the guidance of our in-house A.I. and automation consultants, we’ve identified practical ways to streamline workflows, reduce manual effort, and boost team performance. One of our standout wins? Using AI to summarize complex technician ticket notes into brief, actionable abstracts, resulting in a 27%-time…

By Ted A. Baker, CEO, Muncie Innovation Connector, Inc.— MUNCIE, IN—Walk down Walnut Street on a sunny afternoon, and you’ll hear the buzz of Muncie’s entrepreneurial heartbeat: neighbors grabbing coffee at The Caffeinery, community members enjoying the food and games at the Clubhouse, and creatives discussing ideas over lunch at Twin Archer or Casa Del Sol. This isn’t just the charm of a Midwestern city—it’s the economic engine of Muncie and Delaware County. Small businesses don’t just add character to…

By ECI Planning District— EAST CENTRAL IN—The ECI Regional Planning District, in partnership with Ball State University and the Purdue Center for Regional Development, has completed a draft of the 2025 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Plan, which focuses on the region served by the district: Delaware, Grant, Jay, and Blackford counties. As required every five years, this plan outlines the region’s economic priorities and identifies key projects eligible for funding through the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA).  The draft…

By Dawn Brand Fluhler— MUNCIE, IN— Vera Mae’s Bistro has once again been honored by Wine Spectator with its prestigious Award of Excellence, marking the second consecutive year the upscale downtown Muncie restaurant has earned national recognition for its exceptional wine program. The 2025 Wine Spectator Awards celebrate restaurants around the globe whose wine lists offer a thoughtful, high-quality selection that complements their menu in both style and price. Vera Mae’s stands out among this year’s 2,150 recipients with a…

By Katy Maggart—  MUNCIE, IN—The Economic Development Alliance of Muncie-Delaware County announced that Gina Caravaglia has joined the organization as Coordinator of the Delaware County Redevelopment Commission. Caravaglia will oversee the operations of the Redevelopment Commission including project management, planning and execution of redevelopment activities, and administration of the county’s Tax Increment Finance districts. In addition to her work with the Redevelopment Commission, Caravaglia will also support the broader efforts of the Economic Development Alliance and its Vision 2027 plan….

By Jaime Faulkner— MUNCIE, IN—First Merchants (Nasdaq: FRME) has once again earned national recognition for its outstanding workplace culture, standing out as the only bank headquartered in the Midwest to be honored by Comparably for excellence in leadership and career growth –based entirely on employee survey and ratings. Among companies headquartered in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, only four were recognized for best Leadership and Best Career Growth: Sweetwater – Fort Wayne, Indiana Service Express – Grand Rapids, Michigan Micro Center…

By Ben Polk— MUNCIE, IN—PrimeTrust Financial Federal Credit Union today announced plans for the grand opening of a new full-service branch located in the heart of Downtown Yorktown, Indiana, slated for later in 2026. This strategic expansion underscores PrimeTrust’s commitment to enhancing accessibility and serving the growing financial needs of the Yorktown community. We cannot wait to be able to be part of the Yorktown Community. The new branch will be situated in a prime location within Downtown Yorktown, designed…

By Vicki Veach, Executive Director. Muncie Downtown Development Partnership— MUNCIE, IN—DWNTWN business is buzzing, with new neighbors opening their doors. Book a hair appointment before your next special occasion, find a handcrafted gift, or stop in for a Friday night cocktail at one of the community’s newest spots. Meet the new DWNTWN destinations: Parlour Salon 109 E Main St This salon offers luxury haircare and skincare services to help clients look and feel their best. Housed in a beautifully restored building, Parlour…