Business

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 provides expert haircuts, color services, and premium treatments. Since opening, Parlour has received rave reviews for its welcoming atmosphere and…

By Gary Thomas and Michael Thomas, Owners, LEAP Managed I.T.— MUNCIE, IN—Easter morning several years ago, we got the call first from our network operations team at LEAP Managed IT, where we provide managed IT services and cybersecurity solutions to businesses across the Midwest, then from the business owner themselves. Their servers had gone silent. Moments later, the owner stood in the parking lot, watching smoke pour from their building, surrounded by first responders. We arrived shortly after, pulling damaged computer equipment from the smoke-filled facility. Thankfully, their critical data had been backed up to the cloud. But recovery wasn’t…

By Ted A. Baker, CEO/Executive Director, Muncie Innovation Connector, Inc.— MUNCIE, IN—Muncie is a city rooted in resilience, creativity, and community pride. As we look ahead to our future, it’s clear that innovation and entrepreneurship must play a leading role in shaping what’s next. That’s why having a full-service Entrepreneur Support Organization (ESO) like the Muncie Innovation Connector is not just a benefit to our city — it’s a catalyst for long-term growth and opportunity. The Innovation Connector is Muncie and East Central Indiana’s central hub for innovation-driven startups, growing businesses, and nonprofits alike. It offers a wide range of…

By Shayna Nevermann— MUNCIE, IN—Lasso Communities invites the public to an open house on Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its  Delaware Acres community located at 9901 State Road 3 North, Muncie, IN 47303. The event, part of Lasso’s “Sizzling Summer Savings Event,” will showcase newly available homes for sale and lease, and includes limited-time offers, giveaways, and a chance to connect with the local Lasso team. Visitors who attend the event and sign a lease by June 30 will receive two months of free rent on select homes. The promotion applies to qualifying 14-month leases…

Reports show drinking water in all service areas meets quality standards By Joel Reuter, External Affairs Manager, IAW— MUNCIE, IN—Indiana American Water’s most recent 2024 Water Quality Reports are now available for all service areas on its website at www.indianaamwater.com > Water Quality tab. The company’s Muncie Operations Water Quality Report and separate Winchester Operations Water Quality Report have recently been posted for customers to view. The company is proud to report that once again, the drinking water provided to the 1.5 million customers across Indiana meets or surpasses both state and federal water quality standards for all regulated substances,…

By Caitlin Hancock, Interim President/CEO— MUNCIE, IN — The East Central Indiana Regional Partnership is proud to announce its official rebrand as Forge ECI, marking a bold new chapter in the organization’s mission to drive economic development and regional collaboration. Created in partnership with IronGate Creative, this transformation includes a new name, logo, and website—ForgeECI.com. This announcement comes as the organization celebrates its 20th anniversary—two decades of championing regional unity, investment, and growth across East Central Indiana. From its early roots in building collaboration among counties to leading multimillion-dollar regional initiatives, the organization has played a vital role in shaping…

By Gary Thomas and Michael Thomas, Owners of LEAP Managed I.T.— MUNCIE, IN—One of the first questions new clients ask us is, “How long have you been in business?” And every time, we pause because the answer tends to surprise people. It’s been 95 years since our grandparents, C.F. and Wilma, founded what has grown into LEAP Managed IT. What began as a humble family venture is now one of the Midwest’s largest Managed IT providers, with three of our technical support facilities here in Central Indiana. Over the past decade alone, we’ve grown nearly 700%. The story of our…

By I&M— MUNCIE, IN— Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) crews will resume construction activities on Tillotson Avenue beginning early June with work concluding in late October. Construction will include weeks of underground wire work, which may not be immediatey visible, but will require lane restrictions for the safety of crews and the public. Drivers should expect the following traffic control changes and delays on Tillotson Avenue between University Avenue and York Prairie Creek: Shifting northbound lane closures between West University Avenue and West Euclid Occasional southbound lane restrictions between West Riverside Avenue and West University Avenue. Shifting single and double-lane restrictions…

By Ted Baker, CEO/Executive Director, Muncie Innovation Connector, Inc.— MUNCIE, IN—At the Innovation Connector, innovation isn’t just part of our name—it’s at the heart of everything we do. For more than two decades, we’ve remained committed to one guiding question: “What creative solutions can we discover to make real and meaningful differences in our local and regional entrepreneurial ecosystem?” By engaging with hundreds of local businesses and entrepreneurs each year, we stay attuned to current needs and identify critical gaps within the small business landscape. In response to these insights, we are excited to announce the launch of two new…