Business

By First Merchants— Companies execute legal close following regulatory approvals Indianapolis, IN – First Merchants Corporation (NASDAQ: FRME) and Hoosier Trust Company have finalized a merger of the two companies, following regulatory approvals. The merger provides enhanced solutions available to current Hoosier Trust clients and solidifies First Merchants as a preeminent provider of fiduciary and wealth management services in central Indiana. Established in 2001, Hoosier Trust Company built a highly respected trust and investment management practice serving clients in central Indiana. The company’s employees have a combined service of more than 75 years in the industry and work exclusively to…

 By Richard Crist— Muncie, IN– The Innovation Connector is pleased to announce the promotion of Carter Anderson to Associate Director. Anderson will serve as the first Associate Director at the Innovation Connector. In this new role, he will manage facilities, operations, and specific programming for the center.  “The Innovation Connector is thrilled to have Carter on our team to serve in this new capacity. Creating this position is a major step forward as we continue to grow our service offerings for entrepreneurs and businesses in East Central Indiana,” stated CEO/Executive Director of the Innovation Connector, Ted Baker.  Anderson has already…

By First Merchants— Citing growth and lending ability, Muncie-based financial institution ranks 15th in U.S. Muncie, IN— Forbes has released its 2021 list of “America’s Best Banks,” and once again, one of the Midwest’s legacy financial institutions sits at the top of banks based in Indiana and one of the best in the nation. First Merchants Bank – Indiana’s second largest financial services holding company – is rated by Forbes as the country’s 15th best bank for 2021. “My colleagues and I are honored and humbled for First Merchants to once again be recognized as the top bank in Indiana…

By Mike Rhodes, Editor-in-chief— Muncie, IN—A recent study published by Insurify.com using data gathered from Realtor.com lists Muncie, Indiana as the #1 city in the USA for affordable housing. Here are some of Muncie’s stand-out findings according to the report: Median home listing price: $85,217, which is 75.4% below the national average Median price per foot: $62.37, which is 55.9% below the national average Median days on the market: 63, which is 17.11% below the national average The study also indicated that Muncie homes are likely undervalued at present and that Muncie’s housing market could also have long-term growth potential…

 By Tracy Warner— 2020 Grants Include $750,000+ for Pandemic Relief   Fort Wayne, IN – Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) demonstrated its commitment to the people and communities it serves by donating $1.4 million in support of charitable non-profits and economic development initiatives in 2020. In addition, the American Electric Power Foundation awarded more than $2.7 million to area non-profits on behalf of I&M.  “Indiana Michigan Power, along with the AEP Foundation, is proud to have donated more than $4 million in 2020 to improve the lives of our customers and communities we serve in Indiana and Michigan,” said Toby Thomas, I&M…

By Kelsey Batten— Indianapolis, IN – Ivy Tech Community College has announced that it will offer its fall semester courses starting in August in-person across its statewide campuses, based on the current trends with the coronavirus throughout Indiana. It will also continue to provide students with multiple course options such as online and flexible delivery modes, including Learn Anywhere, a course delivery method the College further expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic. The state’s community college is slowly starting to increase the number of in-person courses, as classes begin later this month and then again in June. Ivy Tech offers a wide…

By Richard Crist—  Muncie, IN—Whitinger & Company LLC is proud to announce that staff accountants, Alison Wallpe and Lauren Dickson, recently completed all required Indiana exams and certifications to achieve their CPA license. Wallpe, a native of Greensburg, Indiana, attended Ball State University where she received both a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in Accounting. She earned distinction on the Dean’s List each semester. While at Ball State, she was a member of both the Beta Alpha Psi and Beta Gamma Sigma honor societies. Alison joined the Muncie team as a full-time staff accountant in January 2019. In this…

By Alexis Dishman— Muncie, IN—The Innovation Connector and the Muncie – Delaware County Black Chamber of Commerce have partnered together to bring you a free three-part workshop titled, Business Foundations Toolkit. For most, starting a business is a dream or a mere thought, but taking the necessary steps to start the business goes beyond just a dream. The first question for many entrepreneurs is, “where do I start?” and while most resources are out there, finding, securing, and trusting those resources can be a hassle. In this three-part workshop, you’ll learn the business startup steps you need to take, get…

By Arrick Garringer— Yorktown, IN— eKeeper Systems Incorporated, a local computer, network, and system support services company, welcomes Ryan Vaughn to the position of Business Development Director. Ryan brings crucial skills to the firm and will primarily serve as the first point of contact between eKeeper and potential new clients across Central Indiana. He will be responsible for the growth of the eKeeper client base in Central Indiana with a focus on Delaware County and the directly surrounding counties. In addition, he will be extensively involved in the communities the company serves in support of the eKeeper ‘Community: First’ philanthropic…