Ardagh honored again

A company that operates two facilities in the area was honored again for its energy use.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded Ardagh Glass Packaging’s facilities in Bridgeton, New Jersey, and Madera, California, with ENERGY STAR plant certifications.

The certifications go to facilities that “have demonstrated best-in-class energy performance,” perform within the top 25% of similar facilities nationwide for energy efficiency and meet energy efficiency performance levels set by the EPA.

Since 2010, 10 Ardagh facilities have earned 47 ENERGY STAR certifications. This marks the eighth consecutive year the Madera facility has been honored and the seventh consecutive year for the Bridgeton facility.

“Ardagh Glass Packaging is honored to have two glass production facilities that are ENERGY STAR certified,” said John Sadlier, chief sustainability officer at Ardagh, in a press release. “As part of Ardagh’s sustainability journey, we strive to reduce environmental impact by optimizing our manufacturing operations, maximizing the use of recycled materials and lowering energy consumption.”

The company operates glass manufacturing facilities in Dunkirk and Winchester.



Hemmelgarn named

EverHeart Hospice has named Deb Hemmelgarn to its board of directors.

Hemmelgarn, a St. Henry, Ohio, resident, is the director of medical, educational and development foundation for Mercer Health. She has served in that role since 2017 and has been with Mercer Health for seven years total.

“I have a strong passion for helping others and serving our community,” Hemmelgarn said in a press release. “My family has relied on EverHeart multiple times over the years and have always been pleased by their care and support.”



NextEra to meet

NextEra Energy and NextEra Energy Partners announced Wednesday that members of its senior management team will participate in investor meetings from now through the end of October.

The meetings will involve discussions about long-term growth rate expectations for the companies. Copies of presentation materials will be available at nexteraenergy.com/investors.

NextEra owns and operates Bluff Point Wind Energy Center in Jay and Randolph counties.



Leader honored

Bowen Center president and CEO Kurt Carlson received the Distinguished Service Award from the Indiana Hospital Association at its 2021 annual meeting, which was held virtually Thursday.

The award “recognizes outstanding contributions of Indiana chief executive officers to their communities, their profession and to the health care field.” Carlson has worked in health care for nearly 40 years, with a focus on mental illness.

“IHA is extremely proud to honor Kurt Carlson,” said IHA president Brian Tabor in a press release. “Kurt’s contributions are vital to Bowen Center and to advancing health care in the Hoosier state.”

The Bowen center provides mental health and addiction recovery services in northeast Indiana, including Jay County.



Grants awarded

Indiana Economic Development Corporation and Conexus Indiana announced awards totaling more than $2.8 million through the state’s Manufacturing Readiness Grants program.

A total of 34 businesses received grant funding in the program’s fourth round.

Among the businesses receiving grants were Randolph County’s Omega Enterprises, which received $187,500 for an automated laser cladding welder system, and Ossian Smoke Meats, which received $50,000 for an automated saw and weight packaging machine.

“Through the Manufacturing Readiness Grants program, these forward-thinking companies are modernizing their operations to set themselves up for a successful future, creating high-skill, high-wage jobs for Hoosiers in all parts of the state and propelling the long-term growth of Indiana’s strong manufacturing sector,” said Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb in a press release.



Lilly reaches deal

Eli Lilly and ProQR Therapeutics have reached a deal as they collaborate on Lilly’s Axiomer RNA editing platform and to create new medicines to treat genetic disorders.

As part of the deal, ProQR will receive $50 million from Lilly in payments and equity investments. ProQR will also get $1.5 billion for development, regulatory and commercialization milestones, in addition to royalties.

“RNA editing is an exciting emerging technology, which allows transient, reversible editing, which in some indications may be an extremely attractive therapeutic approach,” said Lilly vice president for new therapeutic modalities Andrew C. Adams in a press release. “Through this collaboration with ProQR, we hope to utilize this technology to unlock novel treatments to improve the lives of patients across a spectrum of diseases.”



Everbowl arrives

Everbowl will open its first Indiana location by the end of the year, Indianapolis Business Journal reported Thursday.

The quick-service restaurant chain that sells “superfood bowls” with items such as acai, granola, oatmeal, fresh fruit and honey, is scheduled to open a location in Noblesville on New Year’s Eve. The franchise will be located at 14165 Cabela Parkway.

“We are in kind of this rapid growth segment of the company right now,” Everbowl marketing director Kate Morgan told the Indianapolis Business Journal. “It has been fantastic; we’ve been so excited.”