November 13, 2021 at 3:55 a.m.
Chamber of Commerce launches app
Business roundup
Chamber of Commerce launches app
The chamber has new tech.
Jay County Chamber of Commerce recently introduced an app to help local residents get information and updates about its community activities.
The app, developed by Portland’s Dynamic Business Solutions, will allow users to access a directory of all chamber members in addition to their contact information. It will also be used to provide updates on events, including the Winterfest celebration that kicks off next week.
The chamber is also accepting nominations for the 2021 Jay County Community Awards. They are open for nine awards — Lifetime Achievement, Citizen of the Year, Business of the Year, Industry of the Year, Not for Profit of the Year, Young Professional of the Year, Dunkirk Community Commitment, Small Community Commitment and Innovator of the Year.
Nomination forms are available at the chamber office, 118 S. Meridian St., Portland, and online at bit.ly/2021JCCommAwards. The deadline is Nov. 30.
McDonald’s grants
McDonald’s announced last week that local owner/operator Nicole DiMichele presented a $500 MAC Grant to Jay County Junior-Senior High School teacher Kathy Ayers.
Ayers plans to use the grant funding to teach students about the business of art.
DiMichele and her family own and operate more than a dozen McDonald’s restaurants in northern Indiana, including the Portland location.
MAC Grants are offered to give educators resources to create new learning experiences for their students.
Training scheduled
John Jay Center for Learning has announced additional ServSafe training dates.
ServSafe courses are scheduled for Nov. 29, Dec. 27, Jan. 24, Feb. 28 and March 28. For more information, call John Jay at (260) 729-5525.
Project planned
Indiana Michigan Power has announced plans for a $2.2 million upgrade to its transmission network in Marion.
The Wiremill Substation and Extension Project is slated to begin in early 2023. It will include a new substation and a quarter-mile of new transmission line to connect to an existing substation.
“We are committed to improving reliability for the communities we serve,” said Brian Recker, project outreach specialist for I&M’s parent company, American Electric Power, in a press release. “The aging substation has experienced frequent outages in recent years and building the new Wiremill Substation will improve electric service for customers now and in the future.”
Ball State University Foundation also recently recognized Indiana Michigan Power as its 2021 Corporate Partner of the Year.
Bowen granted
The Bowen Center recently received a $3.9 million grant to increase mental healthcare, case management and addiction recovery treatment.
The organization plans to use the grant to improve its telehealth capabilities, recruit mental health professionals and provide training. It will also help fund expanded outreach to rural areas and vulnerable groups.
“There is an urgent need now more than any other time to ensure emotional healthcare is accessible to all and this grant will allow us to focus on some of the most vulnerable among us,” said Shannon Hannon, Bowen Center vice president of healthcare integration, in a press release.
The Bowen Center provides mental health and addiction recovery services in northeast Indiana, including Jay County.
Our Home hires
Our Home Family Resource Center of Celina, Ohio, has announced the hiring of Heidi Hood as coordinator of its RAFT Supervised Visitation Center.
Hood served for 10 years as a human resource specialist for the Army National Guard. She takes over for Claire Neal, who left the role in September.
The RAFT Supervised Visitation Center serves as a site for non-custodial parents to meet with their children.
Banker honored
A First Merchants Bank employee was honored as 2021 Indiana Bankers Association Woman of the Year.
Jadira Hoptry, who works for First Merchants in Muncie, earned the award that recognizes a woman in the Indiana banking community who excels at her profession, is active in the community and who supports other women to reach their potential. Hoptry joined First Merchants in 2020.
Nicole Vogt of KeyBank was named 2021 Indiana Bankers Association Woman on the Rise.
“Jadira and Nicole uphold the high standards of these prestigious awards, demonstrating outstanding commitment to their banks and communities, as well as lifting up other women in banking,” said Indiana Bankers Association president and CEO Amber Van Til in a press release.
New members
The Ivy Tech Foundation has nominated four new members for its board leadership.
They are:
•Constance D. Brown (chair), an accountant who spent 25 years in the healthcare industry
•Roland Shelton (vice chair), executive vice president for Old National Bank
•Patrick Ralston (treasurer), who was vice president of First Financial Bank for 17 years
•Lauren Salerno (secretary), an attorney who has worked in the technology industry.
Also, Brian Stater of Bowen Engineering, Brian Statz of LewisKappes and Seema Verma of SAMNI Advisors were appointed to the Ivy Tech Foundation Board.
Flight added
Indianapolis International Airport has announced another new non-stop flight.
The airport will begin offering non-stop flights to Orlando, Florida, beginning Dec. 18 through United Airlines.
“This is our 22nd nonstop flight announced this year out of Indy, so we’re on a roll in working with our airline partners to get Hoosier travelers to their favorite destinations, quickly, easily and at the best price,” said Indianapolis Airport Authority executive director Mario Rodriguez in a press release. “This flight in particular is exciting because United is increasing nonstop flights to meet traveler demand for warm, leisure destinations this winter.”
The airline will also resume daily non-stop flights to Fort Myers, Florida, on Dec. 16.
Firm acquired
Wynnchurch Capital company Midland Industries announced Thursday that it has acquired Century Brass Products.
Century Brass is a distributor of brass fittings and valves for the plumbing industry. Wynnchurch also owns Teledyne Portland Forge.
“The acquisition of Century Brass strengthens our team and product offering while expanding our customer base and footprint in the plumbing wholesale space,” said Midland CEO John Gerber.
Jay County Chamber of Commerce recently introduced an app to help local residents get information and updates about its community activities.
The app, developed by Portland’s Dynamic Business Solutions, will allow users to access a directory of all chamber members in addition to their contact information. It will also be used to provide updates on events, including the Winterfest celebration that kicks off next week.
The chamber is also accepting nominations for the 2021 Jay County Community Awards. They are open for nine awards — Lifetime Achievement, Citizen of the Year, Business of the Year, Industry of the Year, Not for Profit of the Year, Young Professional of the Year, Dunkirk Community Commitment, Small Community Commitment and Innovator of the Year.
Nomination forms are available at the chamber office, 118 S. Meridian St., Portland, and online at bit.ly/2021JCCommAwards. The deadline is Nov. 30.
McDonald’s grants
McDonald’s announced last week that local owner/operator Nicole DiMichele presented a $500 MAC Grant to Jay County Junior-Senior High School teacher Kathy Ayers.
Ayers plans to use the grant funding to teach students about the business of art.
DiMichele and her family own and operate more than a dozen McDonald’s restaurants in northern Indiana, including the Portland location.
MAC Grants are offered to give educators resources to create new learning experiences for their students.
Training scheduled
John Jay Center for Learning has announced additional ServSafe training dates.
ServSafe courses are scheduled for Nov. 29, Dec. 27, Jan. 24, Feb. 28 and March 28. For more information, call John Jay at (260) 729-5525.
Project planned
Indiana Michigan Power has announced plans for a $2.2 million upgrade to its transmission network in Marion.
The Wiremill Substation and Extension Project is slated to begin in early 2023. It will include a new substation and a quarter-mile of new transmission line to connect to an existing substation.
“We are committed to improving reliability for the communities we serve,” said Brian Recker, project outreach specialist for I&M’s parent company, American Electric Power, in a press release. “The aging substation has experienced frequent outages in recent years and building the new Wiremill Substation will improve electric service for customers now and in the future.”
Ball State University Foundation also recently recognized Indiana Michigan Power as its 2021 Corporate Partner of the Year.
Bowen granted
The Bowen Center recently received a $3.9 million grant to increase mental healthcare, case management and addiction recovery treatment.
The organization plans to use the grant to improve its telehealth capabilities, recruit mental health professionals and provide training. It will also help fund expanded outreach to rural areas and vulnerable groups.
“There is an urgent need now more than any other time to ensure emotional healthcare is accessible to all and this grant will allow us to focus on some of the most vulnerable among us,” said Shannon Hannon, Bowen Center vice president of healthcare integration, in a press release.
The Bowen Center provides mental health and addiction recovery services in northeast Indiana, including Jay County.
Our Home hires
Our Home Family Resource Center of Celina, Ohio, has announced the hiring of Heidi Hood as coordinator of its RAFT Supervised Visitation Center.
Hood served for 10 years as a human resource specialist for the Army National Guard. She takes over for Claire Neal, who left the role in September.
The RAFT Supervised Visitation Center serves as a site for non-custodial parents to meet with their children.
Banker honored
A First Merchants Bank employee was honored as 2021 Indiana Bankers Association Woman of the Year.
Jadira Hoptry, who works for First Merchants in Muncie, earned the award that recognizes a woman in the Indiana banking community who excels at her profession, is active in the community and who supports other women to reach their potential. Hoptry joined First Merchants in 2020.
Nicole Vogt of KeyBank was named 2021 Indiana Bankers Association Woman on the Rise.
“Jadira and Nicole uphold the high standards of these prestigious awards, demonstrating outstanding commitment to their banks and communities, as well as lifting up other women in banking,” said Indiana Bankers Association president and CEO Amber Van Til in a press release.
New members
The Ivy Tech Foundation has nominated four new members for its board leadership.
They are:
•Constance D. Brown (chair), an accountant who spent 25 years in the healthcare industry
•Roland Shelton (vice chair), executive vice president for Old National Bank
•Patrick Ralston (treasurer), who was vice president of First Financial Bank for 17 years
•Lauren Salerno (secretary), an attorney who has worked in the technology industry.
Also, Brian Stater of Bowen Engineering, Brian Statz of LewisKappes and Seema Verma of SAMNI Advisors were appointed to the Ivy Tech Foundation Board.
Flight added
Indianapolis International Airport has announced another new non-stop flight.
The airport will begin offering non-stop flights to Orlando, Florida, beginning Dec. 18 through United Airlines.
“This is our 22nd nonstop flight announced this year out of Indy, so we’re on a roll in working with our airline partners to get Hoosier travelers to their favorite destinations, quickly, easily and at the best price,” said Indianapolis Airport Authority executive director Mario Rodriguez in a press release. “This flight in particular is exciting because United is increasing nonstop flights to meet traveler demand for warm, leisure destinations this winter.”
The airline will also resume daily non-stop flights to Fort Myers, Florida, on Dec. 16.
Firm acquired
Wynnchurch Capital company Midland Industries announced Thursday that it has acquired Century Brass Products.
Century Brass is a distributor of brass fittings and valves for the plumbing industry. Wynnchurch also owns Teledyne Portland Forge.
“The acquisition of Century Brass strengthens our team and product offering while expanding our customer base and footprint in the plumbing wholesale space,” said Midland CEO John Gerber.
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