Business

By Ted A. Baker, CEO/Executive Director— MUNCIE, IN—2023 was a remarkable year for the Innovation Connector, marked by unprecedented activity and events. Our team was privileged to assist over 450 Muncie area entrepreneurs and business owners on their business journeys. Notably, we housed the East Central Indiana Regional Office of the Indiana Small Business Development Center, collaborating to serve the eleven Indiana counties they cater to.  Last year, we extended our reach beyond national borders, partnering with the Delaware County Commissioners and Delaware County Economic Development to support foreign-based companies in establishing their North American Headquarters in Delaware County. These…

By Megan Orbin— MUNCIE, IN—Woof Boom Radio takes our role seriously as partners to those in the cities and towns we serve. 104.1 WLBC continues to assist some remarkable organizations in making a difference in our community with the WLBC Hometown Heroes Grant Program. New this year, we are providing support from 104.9 WERK-FM and 93-5 MAX with the Unity in the Community Grant Program. The following organizations were chosen to receive the 104.1 WLBC Hometown Heroes Grant: First Choice for Women, April TeenWorks, May Children’s Clothing Center of Delaware County, June Isaiah 117 House, Delaware County, July Muncie Murpah…

By Tracy Warner— MUNCIE, IN– Indiana Michigan Power’s work to enhance reliability in the Muncie area will temporarily affect traffic patterns near Ball State University beginning Monday, April 1. Motorists should be aware of a road closing affecting Riverside Avenue and lane closures on Tillotson Avenue. Specifically: Riverside will be closed between Tillotson and Briar Road. The detour will use Petty, Warwick and Briar roads. Tillotson will be reduced to one lane in each direction between Riverside and West Petty Road. These road restrictions are expected to continue through the month of April. I&M understands this project, which began in…

By Trenton Bush— MUNCIE, IN—The Muncie Visitors Bureau is excited to announce its rebranding as Destination: Muncie.  This new name and identity reflect the city’s vibrant and diverse offerings as a tourism destination. The rebranding initiative was spearheaded via collaborative partnerships with hometown agency, Intersection, and The Goss Agency of North Carolina, a renowned tourism creative agency. The rebranding initiative marks a new chapter and fresh messaging for the county and city. With the new branding and marketing efforts, Destination: Muncie’s goal is to attract a new surge of outside visitors and boost the local economy. Destination: Muncie is more…

By Melissa Narlock— MUNCIE, IN — Intersessions, a series of interactive marketing workshops powered by Intersection, are continuing in Muncie to empower local professionals and business owners in growing their marketing expertise. The next session, featuring guest speaker Matt Ruddick, is scheduled for Tuesday, March 26 from 8-10 am at the Innovation Connector, generously sponsored by Destination: Muncie. These sessions are free, open to the public, and are designed to provide attendees with valuable industry insights and strategies they can apply to their own marketing. In the upcoming session, Matt Ruddick, a seasoned photographer and videographer with over two decades…

By Tracy Warner—  FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Indiana Michigan Power (I&M), an American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP) company, will trim trees around transmission power lines in East-Central and Southeast Indiana using an aerial saw beginning Monday, March 11, and continuing for about two weeks. The work is routine maintenance to remove branches that can interfere with service reliability and pose potential safety hazards. Trimming will take place, weather permitting, on Mondays through Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. near transmission power lines. The helicopter will fly from south to north in parts of the following counties: Jefferson, Jennings, Decatur,…

By Mike Rhodes, Editor-in-Chief— MUNCIE, IN—The Hoosier Women Artists program was created in 2008 to celebrate and expand the role art plays in our communities. Each year female Indiana artists are encouraged to submit artwork for consideration. The pieces chosen are then displayed for the year in the Statehouse offices of female elected officials, including in 2024: Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch, Secretary of Education Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana State Health Commissioner Dr. Lindsay Weaver, and Chief Justice Loretta Rush. First Lady Janet Holcomb also selects pieces to be displayed in the Governor’s Residence. This year 161 pieces of art in…

By Tracy Warner— MUNCIE, IN– Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) representatives plan to start construction next week to rebuild an aging underground power line along Tillotson Avenue in Muncie. I&M will rebuild the 1-mile underground power line. Contract crews plan to work along Tillotson Avenue between University Avenue and York Prairie Creek, just south of Euclid Avenue. I&M right-of-way representatives will work with affected landowners and residents where the line rebuilding requires private property easements. Typical work hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays. Those travelling by the work zone can expect: • Overnight and daytime lane closures, reduced…

By Mike Rhodes, Editor-in-Chief— MUNCIE, IN—Now more than ever, it is important for your company to be aware of and be proactive in keeping your company computers locked-down and secure from threats from bad actors in the internet world. Just about every week we hear about a new threat or a security breach at a company we may do business with.  According to IBM, “The global average cost of a data breach in 2023 was $4.45 million, a 15% increase over the previous 3 years. 51% of organizations are planning to increase security investments as a result of a breach,…