Grant County Economic Growth Council

06/08/2026

The work is there. The wages are competitive. And the company would hire more people tomorrow, if it could find them.

Sound familiar? It should. That conversation happens on the floor of nearly every manufacturing plant in Grant County. And it is not a recruitment problem. It is a pipeline problem.

The good news: Grant County already has the pieces of a real talent system: Grant Regional Career Center, The Excel Center, Ivy Tech Marion, Project Leadership, and WorkOne Northeast are all doing meaningful work right here. What we need is to connect those pieces into something every employer can actually see and use.

Our latest Growing Grant County post explains how the system works, what WIOA means in plain English for local businesses, and what you can do right now, including up to 50% wage reimbursement for new hires through on-the-job training.

Read it at the link below. And if you have a hard-to-fill role or a workforce question, connect with us at [email protected] or (765) 662-0650.

🔗 grantcounty.com/news/real-estate-development-amp-reuse-turning-challenging-properties-into-productive-assets-zg2nn

Photo taken on Wiley Metal Fabricating, Inc. Day at GRCC

06/02/2026

Last chance, Grant County business owners!

Tomorrow evening is the Customer Experience Excellence Workshop in Town of Fairmount, and a few seats are still available. If you've been thinking about it, now is the time.

Greg Zirkle from Ball State University leads this free, discussion-based session on what customer experience really means for your business, and every attendee leaves with a hands-on mapping guide to put to work immediately.

📍 The Branch Coffee + Kitchen | 108 S Main St, Fairmount
🗓 Wednesday, June 3 | 5:00–6:30 pm
✅ Free. Open to all Grant County business owners.

06/01/2026

STAR Financial Bank has been part of Indiana communities since 1943, and they're looking for people who want to be part of what they're building next.

Star Financial is currently seeking Personal Bankers to join its team in Grant County. If you're someone who genuinely enjoys helping people navigate financial decisions, building relationships in your community, and growing in a career with real support behind you, this is worth a closer look.

As a Personal Banker at Star Financial, you'd be joining a team with:
🏦 A culture built around integrity, respect, and belonging
🏦 Competitive health, vision, and dental coverage with HSA support
🏦 12 paid holidays and managed time off
🏦 401(k) with company match
🏦 Ongoing professional development and leadership opportunities
🏦 An Employee Assistance Program and wellness initiatives

Star Financial manages over $3 billion in assets across 37 Indiana locations, but the culture is anything but corporate. It's a place where your work genuinely makes a difference, and where your career can grow.

Explore more and apply at starfinancial.com/careers.

Your Career. Your Community. Your STAR. ⭐

At STAR, we believe work should be meaningful. Success is shared; that’s why we invest in our people and our communities.

Ready to make an impact? Explore our updated Careers page and find your next opportunity:
👉 https://hubs.la/Q04gcNXw0

05/28/2026

If you're a professional CDL driver who takes pride in your work and wants to work with a team that feels like family, First Option Trucking in Marion is hiring.

First Option has been earning the trust of drivers and customers since 2004. It's a family-owned company with a simple philosophy: when their drivers succeed, the company succeeds — and the pay structure is built to reflect that.

They're currently looking for experienced Class A CDL Drivers — Local, Regional, and OTR Dry Van Company Drivers, as well as Owner Operators for Flatbed and Dry Van routes.

Here's what comes with the job:
🚛 Competitive pay that grows as the company grows
🚛 Modern, well-maintained equipment
🚛 Weekends home with your family
🚛 Medical, dental, and vision coverage
🚛 401(k) with employer contribution
🚛 Paid holidays and vacation time

One year of experience preferred or experience with CDL training. Ready to drive for a company that puts family first?

Apply at firstoptiontrucking.com or call (765) 660-2210.

05/27/2026

One week from tonight, a room full of Grant County business owners will walk out of The Branch Coffee + Kitchen with a clearer picture of what their customers actually experience, and a concrete plan to make it better.

There are still a handful of seats available for the free Customer Experience Excellence Workshop on June 3, but they won't last.

If you've been on the fence, here's the case for going:
🎯 It's free
🎯 It's discussion-led, not a lecture
🎯 You'll leave with a customer experience mapping guide
🎯 It's 90 minutes that could change how you think about your business

Greg Zirkle from Ball State University is leading the session, and Main Street Fairmount, Indiana is hosting. All Grant County business owners are welcome.

📍 The Branch Coffee + Kitchen | 108 S Main St, Fairmount
🗓 Wednesday, June 3 | 5:00–6:30 pm

East Central Indiana Small Business Development Center

05/21/2026

A vacant building isn't an opportunity just because it's empty. A former factory isn't ready just because it sits near a road.

Challenging properties move when uncertainty is reduced — one piece at a time. That takes patient early-stage work: environmental assessments, clear ownership, realistic market analysis, and the right public tools applied at the right moment.

In Grant County, that work is already happening. City of Marion, IN - Local Government's $500,000 EPA Brownfields grant. River Rock Lofts under construction on the downtown riverfront. The Jones Heritage school conversion. These aren't isolated projects; they're proof of what becomes possible when the right groundwork gets done first.

Our latest Growing Grant County post walks through the full redevelopment lifecycle, where public partners have a legitimate role, and what local property owners can do right now to make their sites more competitive.

Read it at grantcounty.com/news — and if you own a challenging property in Grant County and want to talk through options, we want to hear from you.

Photo Credit: Glen E. Devitt

05/20/2026

Your brand isn't just your logo or your tagline. It's every interaction a customer has with your business: the phone call, the checkout experience, the follow-up. That's what customer experience is really about.

On Wednesday, June 3, Main Street Fairmount, Indiana is hosting a free, discussion-led workshop on Customer Experience Excellence, and all Grant County business owners are invited.

Greg Zirkle, Director of Business & Executive Programs at Ball State University, will lead participants through practical ways to build on what's working, address what isn't, and use customer experience to drive sales, loyalty, and growth.

Every attendee will also leave with an actionable customer experience mapping guide to assess their own business and prioritize meaningful changes.

✅ Free to attend
✅ Open to all Grant County business owners
⚠️ Only 10 seats remain
📍 The Branch Coffee + Kitchen | 108 S Main St, Fairmount, IN
🗓 Wednesday, June 3 | 5:00–6:30 pm
Reserve your seat →
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/customer-experience-excellence-for-small-business-owners-tickets-1988624270726

05/19/2026

Tomorrow afternoon, bring your business questions to the Fairmount Public Library.

Zina Bartle, Ecosystem Navigator with the East Central Indiana Small Business Development Center, will be available for free, one-on-one drop-in conversations from 3:00–5:30 pm. Whether you're trying to figure out your next marketing move, work through a business challenge, or just don't know where to start, Zina can help.
No appointment. No cost. Just stop by.

📍 Fairmount Public Library | Wednesday, May 20 | 3:00–5:30 pm

Can't make it? Go to the Upland Public Library on Thursday, May 21, between 4:00–6:00 pm instead. Or, schedule a Zoom visit at calendly.com/ZiBartle

Upland Public Library | The Branch | Main Street Fairmount, Indiana | Main Street Mile Initiative | Our Town Upland

05/18/2026

Grant County, we have exciting news to share!

Today, C. Ted Ward, II officially joined the Grant County Economic Growth Council as our new Executive Director.

Ted grew up right here, in Marion and Upland. He built his career across East Central Indiana, including a decade-plus leading strategic initiatives at Ball State University and most recently as Membership Director at Shafer Leadership Academy in Muncie. Before any of that, he served Grant County directly, spending nearly a decade with Grant County Correctional Services early in his career.

His family's roots are in manufacturing. He knows what this county is made of, because he's made of it too.

Chuck Binkerd, who has led the Growth Council with tremendous dedication, will continue working alongside Ted through his retirement on July 1. It's a transition built on continuity, and we couldn't be more grateful for everything Chuck has given this organization.

Join us in welcoming Ted to the team.

05/12/2026

ConnectGrantCounty.com is a one-stop, self-maintained directory connecting Grant County residents to dozens of local nonprofit and community services, from food pantries and mental health counseling to job training and veteran services, all in one place.

Need help finding local resources?
There’s a website for that. And it’s built specifically for Grant County.
www.ConnectGrantCounty.com

From food assistance and childcare to counseling services, housing support, healthcare, transportation, community events, and more — Connect Grant County helps connect people with the caring power of our community… all in one easy-to-use directory.

✔️ Free to use
✔️ Local resources
✔️ Updated by organizations themselves
✔️ Available anytime, anywhere

Because sometimes the hardest part is simply knowing where to start. 💙