​FOUNTAIN CITY, IN:  Fountain City Forward is excited to invite community members to an information meeting on Thursday, February 6, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.  The meeting will be held at the Fountain City Lion’s Club Building, 600 W Main St, Fountain City.
The group will share highlights from 2024 and discuss plans and the event calendar for 2025.  We will also present opportunities for community members to help shape the future of our town. 
2024 Highlights include:

• Supporting the creation of Little Free Library at the Northeastern Early Learning Center
• Hosting Business Pop-ups to salute local businesses.
• Creating and selling “Fountain City: My Hometown” t-shirts for folks to show their pride.
• Gathering historical and new community recipes to create the “Old Newport Recipes” cookbook, documenting our town’s history and community members.
• Coordinating with County Commissioners to have flashing speed limit signs placed at both ends of town at no cost to the town.
• Securing a grant from the Wayne County Foundation, earmarked for town beautification projects and community movie nights.
• Meeting the requirement to apply for official status with the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs-Downtown Affiliate Network, which will open even more opportunities.
• Planting a community Christmas tree in the town’s park and holding the first annual “Hometown Holiday,” a festive Christmas event.

Upcoming events and volunteer opportunities include:

• Stewardship of new concrete planters placed throughout town and the Little Free Library.
• Monthly local business Pop-ins.
• 2nd Annual 5k/Pet Walk
• Four free movie events at the South ball diamond.
• 2nd Annual End of Summer Block Party
• Levi Coffin Days booth… and more!

Fountain City Forward will have the “Old Newport Recipes” Cookbook and “Fountain City: My Hometown” t-shirts for sale at the meeting. Join us for a chance to connect in a meaningful way. Volunteering is a wonderful way to give back, connect with others, and positively impact our hometown!

​Just this February, Renne Ullinskey was able to open her beautiful salon, Palais Royal, at 822 East Main Street in Richmond. She became a Chamber member in March and hosted the Awards, Celebrations, and Events Committee along with community leaders and friends for a special ribbon cutting in April, which turned out to be a great success!

Renee is a Northeastern High School alum and a lifelong Wayne County local who has been a hairdresser in the community for over 40 years! With her long history of working and owning various salons, at the Palais Royal Salon, Renee specializes in men’s and women’s haircuts, color, perms, and eyebrow waxing. When not doing hair for those at Friends Fellowship Community, she is available by appointment.

According to Renee, the connection with the community through her membership is what has made her business thrive. After the ribbon cutting in April, she said that with the promotions provided and the sharing of the celebration on social media she “received enough new business to pay for the yearly membership.” With that, she has found much more than monetary value. She has also built connections with new, local clientele. The Chamber was more than just throwing money in a pot and forgetting the benefits, she explained. Whether it be from promotion, building community through social media, events, and committees, or providing resources, she said, “They just always have your back.”

The thing that most excites Renee for our community’s future is seeing the transformation of what was once called the promenade as the construction on Main Street makes her eager to see how the downtown is restored and brought back to life. Renee envisions new retail shops, other service providers, and opportunities to experience nightlife. She is grateful for the revamp of Main Street and is looking forward to seeing what it brings to the community. Although the streets are blocked off, for now, she said “it is a process; things have to get worse before they get better, and I think this is going to be the best ever!”
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The roads may be blocked off, but business is still booming, and people can book appointments with Renee by calling her shop at (765) 977-5329. Get refreshed and see all the remarkable changes happening in Downtown Richmond!

Hill’s Pet Nutrition Expands Partnership with Northeastern High School through P.E.T. Academy Internship Program
Two-year internship program in partnership with Purdue’s IN-MaC program is offered to Northeastern and Union City High School students

RICHMOND, Ind. (January 21, 2025) – Hill’s Pet Nutrition is excited to provide an update on P.E.T. Academy (Personal Excellence Training), an innovative internship program launched in partnership with Northeastern High School in Wayne County, Indiana. The program is designed to educate and train high school students, equipping them with the skills needed for productive and rewarding careers in the manufacturing industry.

P.E.T. Academy is a two-year program combining coursework and hands-on experience at Hill’s Pet Nutrition’s Richmond, Ind., manufacturing facility. Since its launch in August 2024, the program has provided students with unparalleled opportunities to explore and learn about the manufacturing industry through firsthand experience.

The second year of the program will kick off in August 2025, with the hope of expanding to 24 students. As part of the curriculum, participants will gain real- world manufacturing experience and have the option to earn college credits through Ivy Tech Community College, providing a strong foundation for future career success.

“We are proud of the strides we’ve made with P.E.T. Academy and the opportunity it offers to local students,” said Mark Hodge, Richmond Plant Manager and Director of Manufacturing for Hill’s Pet Nutrition. “This program is not just about education but also about creating a pathway to a fulfilling career in manufacturing while addressing the workforce needs of the future.”

Leaders at Northeastern High School share Hill’s enthusiasm for the program and its potential impact on the community. “At Northeastern, we believe that our students need to ‘belong, grow, and contribute.’ We are hopeful that many of our Knights will remain in Wayne County to do those things beyond graduation and our partnership with Hills helps make that a very high likelihood by tapping them into a high-wage career here in the county.”

The P.E.T. Academy has already garnered interest among students and parents in the community, with applications for the next cohort opening during the January class enrollment period.

​ For more information about P.E.T. Academy, contact Dr. Matthew Hicks at Northeastern High at 765-847-2821

Richmond, Ind., – Ivy Tech Community College is excited to announce Nick O. Rowe, founder and CEO of N.O.R. Solutions, as the keynote speaker for the 2025 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Living the Dream Community Breakfast.

The "Living the Dream" breakfast will begin at 8:00 AM, with doors opening at 7:30 AM. This event will take place on January 20, 2025, at Ivy Tech Community College, Richmond campus, Johnson Hall. The event is free, and attendees must register by January 15, 2025.

At the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Living the Dream Community Breakfast, Rowe will share his experiences, focusing on leadership, service, and community building – themes central to Dr. King’s legacy. His message will inspire attendees to pursue leadership in their own lives while embodying the spirit of service and equity championed by Dr. King.

Nick O. Rowe brings a wealth of experience and insight to this year’s event. With a distinguished career in leadership, Rowe served as president of Kentucky American Water, the largest investor-owned water utility in the state. He was responsible for leading the company’s performance, establishing best practices, and enhancing external relationships with customers, government officials, and regulatory agencies. Rowe’s leadership extended to several states during his tenure at American Water, including Tennessee, Virginia, and Maryland.

In addition to his professional achievements, Rowe is deeply involved in civic and business organizations. He serves on the boards of the Lexington Industrial Foundation, Central Bank Advisory Board, and Commerce Lexington, among others. Rowe has been recognized for his leadership and communications, receiving the Public Relations Society of America’s Communicator of the Year Award in 2007.

Registration Details: Deadline: January 15, 2025
Register Here: https://engage.ivytech.edu/s/events
For any registration questions, contact: [email protected]
For additional event information, contact: [email protected]

Cope Environmental Center (CEC) invites you and your family to join us for Sap & Syrup, a family-friendly and educational event on March 8, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience the tradition of maple syrup making and enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast featuring syrup tapped from the trees on the Cope property.

Sap & Syrup will take you on a journey through history, exploring how maple syrup has been made for centuries. This hands-on experience offers a glimpse into the past and provides both children and adults with an engaging and educational morning. You will learn about the process of tapping trees, collecting sap, and boiling it down to create sweet maple syrup.

Throughout the morning, there will be three different guided hike times to accommodate all participants. The hikes will take place outdoors, so please dress appropriately for the weather. After your hike, warm up and enjoy an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast with maple syrup made right here at CEC.

The cost for adults is $10, which includes the hike and breakfast, or $8 for breakfast only. For children 12 and under, the cost is $8 for the hike and breakfast or $5 for breakfast only.

Registration and payment are required prior to the event. To learn more and secure your spot, please visit our website at www.VisitCope.org.

​We hope you can join us to embrace the beauty of nature, discover the magic of maple syrup production, and enjoy a cozy breakfast with your family. We look forward to seeing you at Sap & Syrup.

Renew Richmond, Indiana Department of Transportation

Opening expected on or after Wednesday, Jan. 8 

The new year is starting with the new U.S. 27 bridge opening to traffic in downtown Richmond. The new U.S. 27 bridge over Norfolk Southern Railroad and local streets in Richmond is expected to open on or after Wednesday, Jan. 8. It’s expected to open to traffic after the morning commute.  

“The new U.S. 27 bridge is a key connector for Richmond and specifically for the Depot District,” said Mayor Oler. “I’m proud of the growth and vitality of this important neighborhood. And I want to express our deepest appreciation for INDOT’s commitment to Renew Richmond and the development of the new bridge. Together, we are enhancing connections that are helping us create a better, more vibrant, and stronger Richmond.” 

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) bridge replacement project addressed safety issues with pier columns in busy downtown streets and included improvements to pedestrian facilities to be compliant with the American with Disabilities Act.  

“INDOT is proud to be a part of helping to Renew Richmond,” said INDOT District Deputy Commissioner Valerie Cockrum. “We have built a better and stronger U.S. 27 bridge – a bridge that serves as the main north-south route for the area. And the added aesthetics with the city signage and the Richmond star create a signature backdrop for a growing downtown.” 

Work on the new, seven-span bridge started in spring 2023. The work included the long-term closure of U.S. 27 from North D Street to North G Street and the closure of Fort Wayne Avenue from North 8th Street to North F Street (north of the railroad tracks). Access has been maintained to local businesses, and all long-term closures will end when the bridge opens to traffic.  
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All roadway and sidewalk work on the project is complete. Final punch list and aesthetic items will continue into the spring including painting the outside of the steel beams and staining the stars on the bridge railing.   

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A Purdue Extension workshop series that seeks to help Indiana small businesses build or enhance their online presence will be available statewide this spring.

“Digital Ready Businesses” was launched in 2017. The program has been updated and new workshops added to reflect current trends. Participants can attend all 11 (1 hour) sessions or only those that meet their needs. The hands-on training, led by county Extension educators, covers a variety of topics, from website basics to podcasting, blogging, the ins and outs of social media, and email analytics and marketing.

The series is being offered virtually starting in February from 2-3:00pm ET:

1. Claim Your Online Turf - Tuesday, Feb. 4

2. Website Basics - Thursday, Feb. 6

3. Grow Your Virtual Customers - Tuesday, Feb. 11

4. Search Engine Optimization - Thursday, Feb. 13

5. Email Analytics & Marketing - Tuesday, Feb. 18

6. Podcasting 101 - Thursday, Feb. 20

7. How to Blog Successfully - Tuesday, Feb. 25

8. Introduction to Social Media Platforms - Thursday, Feb. 27

9. Social Media Plan & Content - Thursday, Mar. 4

10. Social Media Analytics & Marketing - Tuesday, Mar. 6

11. Digital Storefront - Tuesday, Mar. 11


Sessions are $25 each or you can register for the complete series for $250.

“These workshops are designed for entrepreneurs and small business owners or employees who might not have an online presence, or have one that is outdated,” says Roberto Gallardo, director of the Purdue Center for Regional Development and Community and a regional economic specialist for Purdue Extension.

In follow-up surveys, participants have reported significant increases in sales, customer base and customer engagement, and nearly 9 in 10 recommended the series to others.

“We have a long way to go,” one participant responded, “but at least we now have a plan. Since our workshop I started concentrating on Facebook and Instagram with the help of my daughter. She started to post daily even though our content/backdrop was not exactly how we wanted it. We grew Facebook from 1,547 to 2,079 and Instagram from 676 to 2,013.”
​Register HERE by January 27th

For more information, visit extension.purdue.edu/cdext or contact Daniel Walker [email protected]

By ​Oi Lin Cheung, Ph.D. Director of the Business and Economic Research Center and Professor of Finance, Indiana University East

​This article examines the recent performance of some key economic indicators and the 2025 economic outlook for the Richmond region, a region comprised of seven east-central Indiana counties: Fayette, Franklin, Henry, Randolph, Rush, Union and Wayne.

Manufacturing continues to be the region’s lead industry sector by employment, providing 12,894 jobs in 2024 Q1. Manufacturing is followed by health care and social services (8,262 jobs), retail trade (7,895 jobs) and accommodation and food services (4,635 jobs) (see Table 1).
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According to 2022 U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data,1 Wayne County had the largest population and earned the highest total income in the region: approximately 31.6% of the region’s total population (209,627 people) earned about the same proportion (31.4%) of the region’s total income ($10.46 billion). Following Wayne County, Henry County housed close to one-quarter (23.3%) of the region’s total population and earned more than one-fifth (21.7%) of the region’s total income. Franklin County ($55,675) and Rush County ($55,087) had the highest per capita personal income (PCPI) values in the region, both reaching more than 94% of Indiana’s state PCPI ($58,323) and more than 84% of U.S. PCPI ($65,470). While Randolph County (+1.21%) experienced the most percentage growth in PCPI, Franklin County (-0.24%) and Union County (-0.11%) actually recorded slight declines in PCPI between 2021 and 2022.

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