Business

By Ted A. Baker, CEO, Muncie Innovation Connector, Inc.— MUNCIE, IN—The Innovation Connector is deepening its commitment to entrepreneurial and business excellence with the launch of its new Business Impact Masterclasses, a four-part professional education series that helps entrepreneurs, startups, nonprofit leaders, and established businesses grow through practical, action-oriented learning. Beginning in September 2026, the Business Impact Masterclasses will replace the annual Innovation Connector Business Showcase Week, marking the next evolution of the organization’s business education programming. This initiative reflects the Innovation Connector’s commitment to delivering premium educational experiences that empower entrepreneurs, strengthen organizations, and accelerate business growth. Through expert-led…

By Lindsey Horan, President MUNCIE, IN — Minnetrista Museum & Gardens has been awarded a $5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to support transformational capacity-building projects that will strengthen the museum’s facilities, expand access to its collections, enhance visitor experiences, and preserve some of its most treasured historic spaces. The funding will be invested over the next three years and will support a wide range of initiatives designed to ensure Minnetrista continues serving East Central Indiana as a vibrant cultural destination for generations to come. “We are grateful to Lilly Endowment for this extraordinary grant, which will boost the…

By Laurie Lunsford.— MUNCIE, IN—Muncie is changing.  Muncie artists have had their art displayed here and there throughout the city for years.  Now, it is everywhere.  Recently Tom Heatherly, Muncie artist, “uncovered” eight large paintings of old Muncie.  The story of these paintings began 10 years ago. At that time, artist Laurie Lunsford had an idea when she discovered a large, empty wall in a historic building that was being refurbished for a brewery. “What if we painted the wall black like a scrapbook page had artists paint old historical scenes from Muncie?” she wondered. She prepared some large boards…

By Katy Maggart— MUNCIE, IN— The Greater Muncie Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to announce that Vicki Veach has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Legacy Award, recognizing her extraordinary contributions to the Muncie and Delaware County community through more than four decades of visionary leadership, collaboration, and service. The Legacy Award is presented annually to individuals who have made extraordinary, sustained, and positive contributions to the Muncie-Delaware County community at large, and who has provided leadership in the development of programs, events, and/or new traditions that promote goodwill and community pride. Throughout her career, Veach has exemplified…

By Joel Reuter— GREENWOOD— While much of Indiana has experienced above-normal rainfall to start the season, Indiana American Water reminds customers that rising summer temperatures and the potential for shifting weather patterns make this an important time to use water wisely. As hotter, drier conditions typically emerge in the weeks ahead, taking simple steps to conserve water now can help support reliable service and protect local water supplies throughout the summer months. “At Indiana American Water, wise water use is more than a seasonal concern, it’s an everyday commitment,” said Barry Suits, President of Indiana American Water. “As temperatures rise and water demand increase during the summer months,…

By Steven Rogers, Vice President of External Affairs, AT&T Indiana— INDIANA—On March 10, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell made the first successful phone call in his Boston, Massachusetts laboratory. Bell’s assistant Thomas Watson heard the first sentence ever transmitted: “Mr. Watson, come here; I want you!” Those words forever changed the way people connect, marking a new age of communication that continues to evolve 150 years later. AT&T recently announced a $250 billion commitment over the next five years to support the future of connectivity in America. Expanding fiber, 5G, upgrading security and more will lead Indiana’s communications into the modern…

By Elizabeth Rowray, President/CEO, Greater Muncie Chamber of Commerce— MUNCIE, IN—When Senator Todd Young recently sat down with our members at the Ivy Tech Fisher Building, he laid out two possible futures for the country. In one, the rise of artificial intelligence leaves us disoriented and struggling to keep up, culturally, socially, economically, and militarily. In the other, we meet the moment and open the door to a second American century. What stuck with me wasn’t the caution, but rather that he treated the outcome as a decision for the country and for communities like ours in Delaware County to…

By Ted A. Baker, CEO, Muncie Innovation Connector, Inc.— MUNCIE, IN—As America prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday in 2026, it is worth remembering that our nation began as one of history’s most ambitious startup ventures. The founders of the United States were innovators, risk-takers, and entrepreneurs. They challenged the status quo, invested in an uncertain future, and believed ordinary people should have the freedom to pursue extraordinary opportunities. Their vision created a nation where ideas, hard work, and ingenuity could transform lives and communities. Two hundred and fifty years later, that entrepreneurial spirit remains among America’s greatest strengths. Today,…

By Samantha Mitchell — MUNCIE, IN —What began as a simple idea born from personal experience in Lafayette has grown into a thriving resource for foster families across Indiana. The Foster Closet, founded by Billy and Mandy Holden through Innovation Church in Lafayette, celebrated the grand opening of its second location in Muncie on June 7, marking a significant milestone in the organization’s five-year journey of serving children and families involved in foster care. The new Muncie location is housed at Illuminate Muncie Foursquare, 3101 S. Walnut St., Muncie, IN 47302. The original Lafayette location operates at River City Church,…