Business

Main Street America and The Hartford Award $15,000 Grant to Mike Martin’s ‘Common Market’ in Muncie

By Main Street America— Muncie, IN— Main Street America and The Hartford are pleased to announce the second-round recipients of the HartBeat of Main Street Grant Program. Grants of $5,000 – $15,000 have been awarded to 31 brick-and-mortar small businesses across the country. Funds will help these businesses respond and adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic and help to revitalize historic downtown commercial districts. Muncie Community Market LLC/ Common Market in Muncie was awarded $15,000. The Common Market is located at…

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Muncie Aviation Company Acquires Des Moines Flying Service

By Muncie Aviation— Muncie, IN– Muncie Aviation Company (MAC) announced today the acquisition of Des Moines Flying Service (DMFS), a step that merges two of the longest-standing Business and General Aviation sales and service centers in the world. The transaction was completed on January 1st, 2021. BCC Advisers of Des Moines assisted with this transaction. Established in 1939 by Howard Gregory, DMFS has evolved into one of the largest general aviation sales and service outlets worldwide. DMFS is an Authorized HondaJet…


Muncie Journal’s Most Viewed Stories of 2020

By Mike Rhodes, Editor-in-chief, MuncieJournal.com— Muncie, IN—Every year around this time we share Muncie Journal’s Top 10 most viewed stories of the year.  Last year, an article about the polar vortex took the top spot. Amazingly, our most viewed story in 2020 was NOT about COVID-19. It was about fireworks! You’ll find the rest of our most viewed stories for 2020 below. You can click on any story headline to review the initial story and the date it was published. (When you…


East Central Indiana Regional Partnership to Host Economic Development Course for Elected Officials

By Mindy Kenworthy, President, ECIRP— Muncie, IN – The East Central Indiana Regional Partnership, along with the Indiana Municipal Power Agency, will host a regional Economic Development Webinar Series for elected officials, both newly-elected and incumbents. The four-week series is a free, region-wide economic development course and is intended to strengthen leadership and collaboration in area counties, cities, and towns. The series is made possible by the Indiana Municipal Power Agency. Session dates and speakers include: January 7 – Katie…


MITS Wants You to Be On the Lookout For MITSY the Reindeer

By Amanda Price— On the eve of every year A festive creature rides in to bring holiday cheer. With velvety ears, and antlers tall Mitsy the Reindeer brings a smile to all. You won’t find him grazing fields Or pulling a jingling sleigh. No, Mitsy prefers to ride and play! Hide-and-seek’s his game of choice And if you happen to see him, you should rejoice! For you could win a sizable prize, Something you don’t have to buy! So search…


Munsee Meats Launches New Brand at Grand Re-Opening

By Richard Crist— Muncie, IN – Munsee Meats recently held a grand re-opening celebration and brand re-launch to announce the new chapter for the sixty-three-year-old business. Munsee Meats’ storied history began in 1957 as Tom’s Meats. In 1973 they became Munsee Meats, Inc. and have expanded and upgraded many times over the years and now house nearly 12,000 square feet of cooler and freezer space and are one of the few USDA Federally Inspected meat plants in Indiana. Munsee Meats…


The BIG Idea Pitch: Becoming an Entrepreneur at Six Years Old

By Alexis Dishman— Muncie, IN—Six-year-old Muncie resident Kai Markelz is launching his first business this holiday season after pitching his idea at the Innovation Connector’s annual BIG Idea Pitch Competition and earning 1st place. When Lindsey and Andy Markelz pitched their business in the 2018 BIG Idea Pitch Competition, they were very passionate about making this a family event and included their children, Kai (then 4) and Tiana (2), in the ideation and planning process. Kai observed his parents’ excitement…


Innovation Connector Announces Winners of 7th Annual BIG Idea Pitch Competition

By Alexis Dishman— Muncie, IN—On Monday, November 2nd The Innovation Connector of Muncie, Indiana, awarded five local entrepreneurs prizes for winning the 7th annual BIG Idea Pitch competition. Over 35 entrepreneurs and innovators signed up to “pitch” their business, business concepts, product or invention to a panel of judges for a chance to win an abundance of businsess services and cash prizes. This year our participants followed all COVID-19 guidelines and not only pitched in front of a panel of…


Minnetrista Honored as Ball State Community Partner of the Year  

By Ball State Marketing and Communications— Muncie, IN – Ball State University has named Minnetrista Cultural Center the 2020 Community Partner of the Year for collaborating with college students on an award-winning educational video game project. The annual award recognizes a Delaware County business, organization, or agency that demonstrates excellence as part of a Ball State community-based learning experience during the previous year. Partners are nominated by Ball State faculty and staff. Past winners include the Youth Opportunity Center (2018)…


First Merchants to Acquire Hoosier Trust Company

Indianapolis-based trust and investment management firm holds $300 million in assets— Muncie, IN – First Merchants has announced that it will acquire Indianapolis-based Hoosier Trust Company. Established in 2001, Hoosier Trust Company provides trust and investment management services to clients in Central Indiana. The company’s employees have a combined service of more than 75 years in the industry and work exclusively to serve the financial and fiduciary needs of their clients in tight alignment with their legal and tax advisors….