Chamber hosting several events

Jay County Chamber of Commerce has two ribbon-cutting ceremonies in the coming weeks.

The ribbon cuttings are set for:

•4:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30 — Optimist Club 50-year celebration in the Farmer’s Building at Jay County Fairgrounds (Celebration will run from 4 to 7 p.m.)

•1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18 — Youth Service Bureau, 603 W. Arch St. (Open house will run from noon to 5 p.m.)

The chamber will also host its annual golf outing at 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 19, at Portland Golf Club.

For more information, email [email protected] or call (260) 726-4481.

Training offered

ServSafe training will be available at John Jay Center for Learning in Portland.

The next session is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23.

The certification course is open to all food service employees and emphasizes safe food- and beverage-handling practices to minimize the risk of food-borne illnesses.

Additional sessions will be held on Tuesdays, Oct. 28 and Nov. 25.

For more information, or to register, call (260) 729-5525.

Job fair is Friday

The United States Postal Service will host a job fair on Friday, Aug. 29.

Sessions are also scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the following locations:

•Decatur — 213 Court St.

•Montpelier — 215 S. Jefferson St.

•Muncie — 501 W. Memorial Drive

Reserve champ

The American Cured Meat Championships honored Winner’s Meats of Osgood, Ohio, as reserve champion for Specialty Flavor Small Diameter.

Winner’s earned the award for its chili cheese hot dog. Entries are judged on aroma, flavor, eye appeal, color and texture.

“The 2025 ACMC was our largest competition in more than a dozen years, so finishing in the Top Four was even more difficult than usual,” said Chris Young, executive director of the American Association of Meat Processors, in a press release. “Our judges were very impressed with the quality of the products that were entered this year. On behalf of AAMP and our members, we congratulate Winner’s Meats for their outstanding accomplishment.

Collaborative created

Ball State University has established a new community collaboration facility in downtown Muncie.

The space in the first floor of the Columbia Theater Building, 306 S. Walnut St., will be used for immersive learning, design coursework and community collaboration. It will also house exhibitions, project showcases and other events focused on community engagement via planning, historic preservation and design.

“We are grateful for this opportunity to deepen our connection with the Muncie community,” said Ball State president Geoffrey S. Mearns in a press release. “This project advances key goals of our strategic plan — including immersive learning, place-based collaboration, and regional revitalization — and reinforces our University’s long-standing commitment to Muncie and our region.”

Restructuring debt

Ardagh Group recently confirmed a transaction through which several of the company's creditors will assume control from Irish billionaire Paul Coulson.

GlobalData reports that the agreement will reduce Ardagh’s $4.3 billion debt through a debt-for-equity swap and includes $1.5 billion in new capital to refinance existing debt and purchase Yeoman Capital. As part of the deal, Yeoman will receive $300 million to facilitate Coulson’s exit.

Ardagh owns and operates glass manufacturing facilities in Dunkirk and Winchester.

Nominate 

Nominations are open for the Indiana Manufacturers Association 2025 Manufacturing Excellence Awards.

The awards honor Indiana companies and individuals for their contributions to the manufacturing industry. They are open to all manufacturers in Indiana.

Anyone can make a nomination by visiting indianamfg.com/2025-manufacturing-excellence-awards. The deadline is Sunday, Aug. 31.

EVP named

Dollar General recently appointed Donny Lau to become its next executive vice president and chief financial officer.

Lau, who previously worked for Dollar General for more than five years, most recently served as chief financial officer for Zaxby’s Franchising. He will take over his new role on Oct. 20.

“I am excited to welcome Donny back to Dollar General as our next CFO,” said Dollar General CEO Todd Vasos in a press release. “Donny’s deep understanding of our business, culture and values and his impressive financial leadership and experience uniquely position him to drive excellence and create long-term shareholder value.  I have full confidence in his ability to guide our financial organization forward.”

Awards set

Indiana Chamber of Commerce will host its annual awards dinner at 5 p.m. Nov. 5 at the JW Marriott Indianapolis.

Daymond John, founder of FUBU and a longtime star of “Shark Tank,” will be the featured speaker.

Individual tickets are $195. For more information, visit indianachamber.com.