Business

By First Merchants— Muncie, IN—First Merchants Corporation (NASDAQ – FRME) has reported fourth quarter 2020 net income of $45.1 million compared to $47.8 million during the same period in 2019. Earnings per share for the period totaled $.83 per share compared to fourth quarter 2019 result of $.87 per share. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2020 totaled $148.6 million, compared to $164.5 million during the same period in 2019. Year-to-date earnings per share totaled $2.74 compared to…

By Kate Elliott— Editor’s note: Shafer Leadership Academy and the Muncie Downtown Development Partnership are partnering on this six part series to highlight innovative leaders who are redefining typical during these extraordinary times.   Muncie, IN — Scroll through the Facebook page for Gordy Fine Art & Framing Company. You’ll see 93-year-old Bob Shears, grinning at a custom map of his WWII tour of duty that Gordy framed and shipped to his Las Vegas home. You’ll watch a black frame transform into a silver one. You’ll see…

By Kate Elliott— Editor’s note: Shafer Leadership Academy and the Muncie Downtown Development Partnership are partnering on this six part series to highlight innovative leaders who are redefining typical during these extraordinary times.   Muncie, IN — George Insurance Group’s promise is to “overwhelm families and businesses with customer service, responsiveness and a personal touch that you have never seen.” “Our new tagline is ‘where relationships are built …,’ and we live out that model every day by working hard with our clients to be more…

By Amanda Price— Muncie, IN—Muncie Indiana Transit System (MITS) will begin a new route to the Delaware County Justice & Rehabilitation Center on Monday February 1st, 2021. The new route will run Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  The new route closely resembles the current Route 12: Ivy Tech.  Route 17 will pull in on the West side of the transfer station and take High to Adams to Liberty to Hoyt to 26th to Tillotson.  It will…

By First Merchants— Muncie, IN– First Merchants Corporation (NASDAQ – FRME) has announced Jeff Parsons as its new president for the company’s Muncie market. Parsons will oversee all market operations and build upon the company’s recent growth and success in the city it has called home for more than 125 years. Parsons joined First Merchants Bank in 1989 and has served in various operational and customer relationship roles. He currently leads a team of commercial banking professionals focused on providing financial…

By Kate Elliott— Editor’s note: Shafer Leadership Academy and the Muncie Downtown Development Partnership are partnering on this six part series to highlight innovative leaders who are redefining typical during these extraordinary times.   Muncie, IN — Hundreds of comic junkies join Christina Blanch on Facebook Live a few times each week as the store owner walks through Muncie’s Aw Yeah Comics — juggling her phone as she calls out titles and various toys for sale. She pauses to write down names when followers “claim” the…

By Kate Elliott— Editor’s note: Shafer Leadership Academy and the Muncie Downtown Development Partnership are partnering on a six-part series to highlight innovative leaders who are redefining typical during these extraordinary times.   Muncie, IN — Suzanne Clem is in the business of listening. As director of Community Awareness at Open Door Health Services, Clem connects with neighbors about their needs related to healthcare and access. She hears what makes them feel valued and safe, then she works with leaders at Open Door to build those…

By Kate Elliott— Editor’s note: Shafer Leadership Academy and the Muncie Downtown Development Partnership are partnering on a six-part series to highlight innovative leaders who are redefining typical during these extraordinary times.   Muncie, IN — Thomas Business Center has called downtown Muncie home since 1930. CF Thomas established the business in the Wysor Building before transitioning to the Johnson Building. From there, he moved the store above the HL Green Dollar Store before setting up shop in the Rose Court Building. In 1954, CF built…

By: Mike Rhodes, Editor-in-Chief, MuncieJournal.com— MuncieJournal.com publishes content from a variety of sources. We are primarily looking for stories that fit these three categories: Education, Economic Development, and Quality of Life in Delaware County. We do not cover other counties.  Some stories come from the Woof Boom News Department—some are written by MuncieJournal.com staff and our founding partners—as well as user generated content submitted to us for consideration. Some stories are sold by our sales staff prior to publishing. Submitting a story for…