Workshop set for Nov. 21

A workshop to help define purpose is scheduled for next week.

Jay County Chamber of Commerce is partnering with East Central Indiana Small Business Development Center to bring Living Well’s The Power of Purpose to John Jay Center for Learning from 9 a.m. to noon on Nov. 21.

The Power of Purpose, led by Jennifer Stanley and Wil Davis, is designed to help attendees “get clear on your purpose, craft your statement and live with fulfillment and joy.”

The event is free but pre-registration is required. Those interested can reserve a seat at isbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/16540.

The chamber will also host ribbon-cutting ceremonies for the Salamonia Schoolhouse restoration project at 1 p.m. Wednesday and for the new location of Beauty Bar at noon Friday. The schoolhouse, which had a new ramp installed and exterior brick work completed, is located at 5844 E. North St. in Salamonia. Beauty Bar has moved to 216 N. Meridian St., Portland.

Grants awarded

IU Health recently awarded $9.6 million in grants to 14 organizations through its Community Impact Investment Fund.

The funding will address factors that contribute to “poor health, shortened lives and higher health care costs,” IU Health said in a press release.

The grants included $500,000 over three years to Marian University to expand its City Connects program into Muncie Community Schools, $1 million over three years to St. Joseph Community Health Foundation to develop the Refugee Health Collaborative in southeast Fort Wayne and $750,000 over three years to Intend Indiana Inc. to expand its HomePower program.

Agreement renewed

Ardagh Glass Packaging last week announced that it has renewed its supply agreement with Oliver Winery.

Ardagh, which operates glass manufacturing facilities in Dunkirk and Winchester, will continue to manufacture a majority of the bottler for Oliver, which is located in Bloomington. The companies have partnered on sustainability, including bottles that are infinitely recyclable.

“Through Ardagh Glass Packaging’s collaborative partnership with Oliver Winery, we are focused on providing exceptional service and high-quality glass bottles to the winery, so they can deliver quality wines to consumers across the U.S.,” said Liz Curtin of Ardagh in a press release. “With a passion for sustainable practices and protecting the environment, Ardagh Glass Packaging values partnering with customers like Oliver Winery to achieve its sustainability goals.”

Hosting drive

First Financial Bank is collecting food for those in need through Nov. 17.

The bank will accept donations at all of its locations, including 112 N. Meridian St., Portland, and 220 N. Wayne St., Fort Recovery. Following the drive, bank employees will distribute the food to organizations in the community.

“Helping the communities we serve comes naturally to our team, and this is a fun, impactful volunteer effort that will benefit the neighbors who keep our communities vibrant,” said Roddell McCullough, chief corporate responsibility officer for First Financial Bank, in a press release.

During its first drive last year, First Financial Bank gathered more than 7,600 food items at its locations in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Kentucky. 

Opening on campus

Ball State University announced recently that it will open a full-service Chick-fil-A at North Dining on Jan. 8.

The new location, which will offer the restaurant chain’s full menu, will replace the current Chick-fil-A Express in the Atrium at the Art and Journalism Building. That site will close Nov. 17.

“We look forward to opening our new Chick-fil-A location in our state-of-the-art North Dining facility in January,” said BSU associate vice president for business and auxiliary services Julie Hopwood in a press release. “At Ball State, through collaboration and assessment, we pride ourselves on continually improving our campus dining experience, from the dining locations, staff training, products, foods, and practices. We anticipate our campus community will enjoy an expanded menu and even more convenience at our new Chick-fil-A location.”

Accepting toys

All Menards stores are serving as drop sites for a toy drive.

Stores will have drop boxes near its exit doors to collect new, unwrapped toys through the end of November. They will be distributed to those in need through non-profit organizations.

Menards has locations at 3401 N. Nebo Road, Muncie; 3800 National Road East, Richmond; and 1920 Havemann Road, Celina, Ohio.

Drug approved

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration last week approved the use of Elil Lilly’s Tirzepatide (trade name Mounjaro) for chronic weight management in adults.

The drug, which will be sold under the name Zepbound, can be used for weight reduction and maintenance for those who are considered obese or those who are overweight and also have a weight-related condition such as diabetes. It works by activating hormone receptors secreted from the intestine to reduce appetite and food intake.

“Obesity and overweight are serious conditions that can be associated with some of the leading causes of death such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes,” said John Sharretts, director of the FDA’s division of diabetes, lipid disorders and obesity, in a statement. “In light of increasing rates of both obesity and overweight in the United States, today’s approval addresses an unmet medical need.”

Hosting conference

Indiana Chamber of Commerce and Air, Waste Management Association Indiana Chapter and Greater Indiana are partnering to host the 2023 Indiana Environmental Conference and Winter Technical Meeting on Dec. 6 and 7 in Indianapolis.

The conference will review recent breakthroughs and advancement in alternative fuel technologies. Jeff Carpenter of the United States Department of Agriculture, Nadia Gkritza of Purdue University, Inez Evans of IndyGo and Daniel O’Connor of Cummins are among the speakers scheduled to present at the conference.

It will also include the Greater Indiana 2023 Awards and Reception.

Registration is available at indianachamber.com.

Grants awarded

CVS Health Foundation last week announced $3 million over five years for advancing mental health equity.

Grants of $1 million each will go to Healthy Start Coalition of Hillsborough County in Florida, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute of Texas and Rosecrance Foundation of Chicago.

“Our work to bolster these organizations’ efforts to improve the quality and availability of mental health services for adolescents is so important as we continue to see suicide as the second leading cause of death among youth and young adults,” said CVS Health senior vice president of corporate social responsibility and chief sustainability officer Sheryl Burke in a press release. “By supporting our youth to be peer navigators and arming health care providers with the tools they need to elevate and advocate for screening, prevention and early intervention, we will help improve health outcomes together.”