Geneva chamber seeks nominations

Nominations are being sought for the annual Geneva Chamber of Commerce awards.
Business of the Year, Industry of the Year, Citizen of the Year and Lifetime Achievement awards will be presented at the chamber’s banquet on April 14.
Nominations may be made online at the town of Geneva’s website, www.twnofgeneva.org.

Workshop reminder
“Launching Your Own Business” is the focus of a workshop being offered next week by Jay County Development Corporation and the Jay County Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the East Central Indiana Small Business Development Center.
The workshop runs from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday at the Community Resource Center, 118. S. Meridian St., Portland. The cost is $25. 
For more information, call (260) 726-9311 or (765) 282-9950.
Tom Steiner, a business adviser with the East Central Indiana Small Business Development Center, will begin holding monthly business hours at the Community Resource Center this month.
Joins staff
Beth Lightle, Portland, has joined the staff of State of the Heart Hospice as a hospice aide, working out of the non-profit agency’s Portland office. She has been a certified nursing aide for the past two years.

Sales down
McDonald’s posted a drop in sales in February. A four percent drop was reported at McDonald’s stores that had been open at least 13 months. Sales were down 1.7 percent globally.

Expansion planned
Celina Tent is seeking $406,000 in federal funds to purchase equipment and build a new, 28,000-square-foot plant next to its current facility in Celina, Ohio. The expansion is expected to add 10 to 15 jobs.
Founded in 1996, Celina Tent manufactures and markets tents, canopies and a variety of other products.
New Muncie office
Clear Choice Chiropractic is expanding again.
A new Muncie office has opened at 3621 Everbrook Lane. The office will be run by Dr. Michael Jobe, a 2008 graduate of Jay County High School.
In addition to chiropractic treatment, the new office also offers massage therapy and decompression therapy. Clear Choice also has offices in Portland and Dunkirk.
Not so good
Designer handbag manufacturer Vera Bradley Inc. of Fort Wayne has reported that its profits are down and it is laying off about 250 people at its New Haven facility.
On Wednesday, the company reported earnings of $38.5 million, down 35 percent from fiscal 2014. 
The company closed its second shift at the New Haven plant last fall and now is closing the plant.