Ball State wins leadership award

Ball State University was announced last week as the winner of the Engaged Scholarship Consortium Awards Committee’s 2022 Ryan, Moser, Reilly Award for Excellence in Community Engagement Institutional Leadership award.

The awards recognize universities for “exemplary contributions to scholarship and the practice of community engaged scholarship.” Ball State is the fourth winner, following Ohio State University, the University of Wisconsin and Purdue University.

“It’s an honor to be chosen by the Engagement Scholarship Consortium Awards Committee for this recognition,” said Kelli Huth, associate vice president for community engagement at Ball State, in a press release. “It wasn’t the result of a self-nomination, but an acknowledgement of Ball State’s commitment to engagement by national leaders in the field.”

Also recently, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb appointed Hope Churchill as the new student representative to the Ball State board of trustees. She is a native of Lake Village and is a third-year business administration major.



Under new name

The Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce has changed its name to The Greater Muncie Chamber of Commerce.

The organization’s new moniker was rolled out June 6. It had been known by its previous name for nearly 40 years.

“The Chamber adopted the original logo of the gear in 1986,” said chamber president and CEO Elizabeth Rowray. “It was time to bring our brand up to date. The updated logo for the Greater Muncie Chamber of Commerce combines elements of modern art deco and clean, minimalist design. The circular logo symbolizes unity, continuity and the interconnectedness of businesses and the community.”



USDA offering

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has launched a new tool to help with identifying potential opportunities for selling their products and services to USDA.

USDA's Procurement Forecast lists the types of anticipated solicitations that small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, women-owned businesses, HUBZone businesses, service-disabled veterans and other businesses may be able to participate in contracts with USDA, or through subcontracting opportunities. It is available at usda.gov/procurement-forecast.

“USDA values the contributions of small business entities and continues to champion initiatives to make contracting opportunities more accessible to eligible firms, as well as remove barriers faced by underserved individuals and communities,” said USDA Office of Contracting and Procurement director Donald Baker in a press release. “The release of this procurement tool will enhance competition in contracting for those interested in supplying goods and services to the Department.”



University partners

Indiana Wesleyan University is partnering with Indiana Manufacturers Association to provide training and development programs for Indiana manufacturers and their employees at discounted rates.

The partnership is designed to allow manufacturing companies to develop leaders, training new employees and expand their workforce. Education will include entry-level leadership and more than 500 courses in technical manufacturing skills.

“The Indiana Manufacturers Association is pleased to partner with IWU to offer our members a workforce development solution through upskilling their workforce in both technical and soft skills,” said president and CEO Brian Burton in a press release. “This program fills a critical need for Hoosier manufacturers and their employees to continue to advance our industry and remain a top destination for new business investment and talent.”



Flights resume

Indianapolis International Airport has resumed nonstop flights between Indianapolis and San Diego.

The route was suspended in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. The new once-weekly flights will depart each Saturday through at least November.

“As predicted, air travel is resuming in 2023 to nearly pre-pandemic levels, and these crucial nonstop flight resumptions are proof of that rebound,” said Mario Rodriguez, executive director of the Indianapolis Airport Authority, in a press release. “And while we’re still seeing leisure travel making up the biggest portion of air travel, we are also seeing business travel start to shake off the impact of the pandemic and return closer to 2019 levels.”