Search Results for Innovation connector

MadJax Announces Small Business Week Programming to Support Local Entrepreneurs and Creatives

By Carly Acree-King— MUNCIE, IN— MadJax Maker Force will host MadJax Small Business Week from May 4–9, 2026, a week of free, hands-on programming designed to help makers, creatives, and entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses. Held in alignment with National Small Business Week and sponsored by PrimeTrust Federal Credit Union, the initiative brings together local experts and partners to lead sessions focused on the real work behind running and growing a business. “This week is a direct response to what our members have been asking for – more access to real, practical business support,” said Carly Acree-King, Executive Director at MadJax Maker…

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Emergence Leadership Program Returns Spring 2026

Registration Now Open for Shafer Leadership Academy’s Core Leadership Experience By Arrick Garringer— MUNCIE, IN—Shafer Leadership Academy (SLA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to inclusive leadership development, is now accepting registrations for Emergence: Personal Foundations of Effective Leadership, its core leadership development program, returning Spring 2026. Emergence will run April 9 through May 7, 2026, in a five-week, highly interactive format designed to accommodate working professionals while delivering meaningful, practical leadership development. Sessions will be held at the Innovation Connector in Muncie, Indiana. Emergence is Shafer Leadership Academy’s signature leadership experience, designed for both emerging and experienced leaders seeking to strengthen…


ECI Planning District to Host ‘Building Blocks to Grant Writing’ Training Seminar

By Jacob Thomas, Grants Administrator, ECIRPD— MUNCIE, IN—The East Central Indiana Regional Planning District would like to invite you to attend their upcoming training session about the grant writing process. It will take place on January 13th, 2026, and February 3rd, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the Innovation Connector, 1208 W. White River Boulevard, Muncie, IN 47303. The workshop costs $225, which includes all materials and lunch on both days. The training will focus on drafting and polishing a proposal and navigating the grant process. The two-day Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing program is a great skill…


Delaware County Futbol Club’s Tony Pierce Recognized with 2025 Fisher Governance Award

By Jud Fisher— MUNCIE, IN — Ball Brothers Foundation has presented its 2025 John W. and Janice B. Fisher Governance Award to Anthony (Tony) Pierce, board president of the Delaware County Futbol Club (DCFC). Pierce was recognized with the award at the Greater Muncie Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner on November 18. The Fisher Governance Award honors a nonprofit board member in Delaware County whose strategic leadership, planning, and oversight have strengthened their organization’s mission, financial health, and general effectiveness. Pierce has served on the DCFC board for 16 years, including the last 10 as president. Under his leadership, the…


Business Showcase Week 2025 Set to Transform Muncie’s Entrepreneurial Landscape

By Ted A. Baker, CEO, Muncie Innovation Connector, Inc.— MUNCIE, IN—The entrepreneurial energy of East Central Indiana is ready to take center stage as the Muncie Innovation Connector, Inc. presents the 4th Annual Business Showcase Week, set to run through the first three weeks of November 2025, with the main events scheduled for November 17–22. In collaboration with Global Entrepreneurship Week, this year’s Showcase is more expansive and impactful than ever. With 80+ FREE events, it’s designed to inspire, educate, and connect the Greater Muncie business community. Celebrate. Educate. Collaborate. At the Innovation Connector, “innovation” isn’t just part of our…


Bridging the Gap: How Muncie’s New Mentorship Hub Will Transform Entrepreneurial Success

By Ted A. Baker, CEO, Muncie Innovation Connector, Inc.— MUNCIE, IN—In the world of entrepreneurship, the challenges are constant: managing cash flow, building customer relationships, hiring the right people, and adapting to market changes. For business owners in Muncie and the surrounding region, these pressures are compounded by a persistent challenge. Too many entrepreneurs are facing them alone. While Muncie has a rich base of talented and experienced business leaders, many new and growing entrepreneurs don’t have easy access to that knowledge. The result? Missed opportunities, preventable mistakes, and businesses that never reach their full potential. Ted Baker, CEO of…


Deadline Approaching For 2025 Fisher Governance Award Nominations

By Jud Fisher, President/CEO, Ball Brothers Foundation— MUNCIE, IN — Delaware County nonprofit organizations are invited to nominate a board member for the John W. and Janice B. Fisher Governance Award before the deadline on August 15. The award, given by Ball Brothers Foundation, recognizes the important role board members play in strategic planning and financial oversight to achieve their organization’s mission. The award recipient will receive a $10,000 grant for their organization. “Board members often work behind the scenes, but their leadership plays a big role in a nonprofit’s success,” said Jud Fisher, president and CEO of Ball Brothers…


Middle School Students Combine AI, Robotics, and App Design to Develop Business Ideas

By Ryan Hunter— MUNCIE, IN—Local middle school students spent one of the last weekends of summer vacation at the Innovation Connector in Muncie, working together to design and launch their own business ideas. The three day experience, held on July 25-27th, taught these young students the basics of tech entrepreneurship and foundational knowledge of robotics programming, app development, and artificial intelligence. Working in teams, they spent the weekend designing tech-driven businesses aimed at solving challenges both in their community and around the world. “Our goal was to bring students from across the community together to tackle problems using technology,” said…


Yes, Every Small Business Matters: 5 Reasons Why Supporting Local Means Building a Stronger Muncie

By Ted A. Baker, CEO, Muncie Innovation Connector, Inc.— MUNCIE, IN—Walk down Walnut Street on a sunny afternoon, and you’ll hear the buzz of Muncie’s entrepreneurial heartbeat: neighbors grabbing coffee at The Caffeinery, community members enjoying the food and games at the Clubhouse, and creatives discussing ideas over lunch at Twin Archer or Casa Del Sol. This isn’t just the charm of a Midwestern city—it’s the economic engine of Muncie and Delaware County. Small businesses don’t just add character to our city—they fuel their future. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, as of 2024, small businesses (those with fewer…


Public Art Investment Among $3M in Grants Awarded by Ball Brothers Foundation

By Jud Fisher, President/CEO, Ball Brothers Foundation— MUNCIE, IN— Ball Brothers Foundation, a family foundation committed to place-based grantmaking in Indiana for nearly a century, has awarded over $3 million in its spring round of grants for 2025. Among the funding awarded was a $75,000 grant that will significantly bolster public art efforts in Muncie—funding new installations, supporting long-term maintenance, and enhancing the city’s cultural landscape. The grant was awarded to The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County. This funding builds on another grant made by Ball Brothers Foundation to The Community Foundation in late 2024, underscoring a growing…