Business

First Merchants Bank Purchases New Indianapolis Regional Headquarters Building

  By Jaime Faulkner, Director of Corporate Communications— MUNCIE, IN— First Merchants Bank of Muncie, recently hailed by Forbes Magazine as one of The World’s Best Banks, announced a building purchase August 29, 2023, for the strategic relocation of its Indianapolis area regional headquarters.  Mark Hardwick, CEO of First Merchants Bank, had this to say about the purchase of the Indianapolis regional office building:  “The purchase of our new, state-of-the-art Indianapolis regional headquarters building is tangible proof of our commitment to businesses, clients and the Indianapolis community. We are proud to serve the great state of Indiana, and our two…

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Greater Muncie Chamber of Commerce Announces Their 2023 Annual Dinner Awards

By Katy Maggart— Muncie, IN— The Greater Muncie Chamber of Commerce will honor its members for their impact on our community at their Annual Meeting on Thursday, October 26 at 5:30 p.m. at the Horizon Convention Center. Each year, the Chamber presents five prestigious awards at the Annual Dinner. The Chamber is asking for help from the community and its members in the nomination process for four of the awards. The awards have been updated this year to keep on track with the direction and growth of the community. The awards include: Spirit of Small Business Award The Spirit of…


Beat the Heat With These Tips From Indiana and Michigan Power

By Kara Stevenson— FORT WAYNE  – For anyone waiting for a “true hot summer” to get here, this is your week. Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) wants everyone to keep cool – and safe – as temperatures soar into the 90s with heat indexes reaching triple digits later in the week. Incorporate simple practices, such as those below, to help save energy and potentially save on your monthly bill, especially during the week’s extreme heat. Use ceiling fans to circulate air throughout the house. Ensure that your ceiling fan is set to run counterclockwise during the summer to help push cooler…


East Central Indiana Regional Partnership Unveils Comprehensive Strategic Plan to Drive Economic Growth

By East Central Indiana Regional Partnership— MUNCIE, IN — The East Central Indiana Regional Partnership has announced the launch of its robust strategic plan, created with consultant Smart Solutions Group, which sets forth a steadfast vision for propelling the region’s economic growth. With a commitment to the region’s prosperity, ECIRP presents a detailed blueprint that outlines actionable strategies for the next 2-3 years. Trevor Friedeberg, CEO and President of East Central Indiana Regional Partnership, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “This new strategic plan will provide more focus, clarity, and transparency around the exciting and impactful work the Partnership is conducting. It serves…


East Central Indiana Regional Partnership Engages New Consultant for READI 2.0

By Caitlin Hancock, East Central Indiana Regional Partnership— MUNCIE, IN — East Central Indiana Regional Partnership is pleased to announce the engagement of its new consultant, HWC Engineering, to help the region prepare for READI 2.0. With an unwavering commitment to supporting the READI 2.0 process and building upon the success of the first round of READI initiatives, ECIRP looks forward to the economic growth that will continue from the new partnership. Following the evaluation of proposals, ECIRP selected HWC as the new consultant to support the READI 2.0 bid. HWC brings with them a track record of excellence, having successfully…


Northwest Foundation Assists Urban Light Community Development Corporation With Financial Donation

By Northwest Bank— MUNCIE, IN—The Northwest Foundation recently supported Muncie’s Urban Light Community Development Corporation with a donation of $7,500. In addition to this contribution, Northwest Bank provided its Charles Street office lobby as the location for Urban Light to host their annual fundraising event. This is the second year the bank hosted this event, which raised over $20,000 to support Urban Light. With the help of the in-kind donation of space from Northwest, 100% of the funds raised directly benefit the organization. Urban Light has three focus areas — The Lighthouse opioid addiction recovery program for women, housing revitalization and…


Muncie Rotary Club Marks 10 Years of Fundraising for High School Athletic Teams at the Delaware County Fair

By Robert G. La France— MUNCIE, IN – The Muncie Rotary Club marks 10 years of fundraising to support high school athletic teams by volunteering to direct traffic and collect entrance fees at the gates of the Delaware County Fair. For at least 5 hours a day from Monday, July 17, to Saturday, July 22, 2023, Rotarians braved the relentless sun and threatening storms alongside student athletes to greet visitors to the fair and raise money for four teams. The Central High School wrestlers were led by A. J. Bradley on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday and Thursday, Kenzie Andrew…


The BIG Idea Pitch – Why this Contest is Important

By Ted A. Baker, CEO/Executive Director, Muncie Innovation Connector, Inc.— MUNCIE, IN—During my thirteen years as Executive Director of the Muncie Innovation Connector, I have met with, coached, advised, counseled, and encouraged many individuals who have thought about starting or owning a business.  This continues to happen several times each week.  In addition, the Small Business Development Center, located in the Innovation Connector, meets with clients in Muncie and East-Central Indiana, hoping for the same. With the availability of resources found on the internet, getting information about how to start a business is easier today than ever before. And with this…


CANPACK is Good for Our Community and is Bringing Back a Strong Well-paid Workforce

By James King, Delaware County Commissioner— DELAWARE COUNTY, IN—As a lifelong resident and longtime elected official in Delaware County, I have watched the evolution of manufacturing throughout our region.  When I was young, our community was proudly connected to the auto part manufacturing industry and had a rich history of hard-working men and women who dedicated their lives to advancing that industry.  With the North American Free Trade Agreement, we watched as jobs slowly consolidated and moved to China and Mexico. Our community is all too aware of the effects this has had on each and every one of us.   …


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