RICHMOND, Ind. (September 15, 2026)- The Economic Development Corporation (EDC) of Wayne County has announced the first recipients of its READI Downtown Revitalization Grant Program. Nineteen applicants received a combined $2,990,803.50 in grant awards supporting redevelopment projects that, together with private investment, represent $17,292,608.04 in total project investment across Wayne County.

The program is supported by Indiana’s Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) 2.0 through Lilly Endowment Inc. funding, along with Wayne County and Consolidated EDIT funds. The grants will help advance commercial redevelopment, façade and accessibility improvements, create 44 new upper-story housing units and other revitalization designed to strengthen downtowns, eliminate blight, and spur private investment.

Building on the first round, the EDC has also opened a second round of funding beginning September 14, creating additional opportunities for businesses, commercial property owners and eligible nonprofit organizations across eleven Wayne County communities and identified unincorporated areas.

Eligible areas include Cambridge City, Centerville, Dublin, East Germantown, Fountain City, Greens Fork, Hagerstown, Milton, Mount Auburn, Spring Grove and identified unincorporated areas.

Program guidelines, eligibility information, and second-round application materials are available through the Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County’s website.
Learn more and apply for the Downtown Revitalization Grant Program
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About the Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County
The Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County (EDC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to leading business and community development efforts in Wayne County, Indiana, by attracting new investment, retaining and expanding existing businesses, and improving the county’s quality of place.

Learn more at whywaynecounty.co

​Thanks to the tremendous support from the local business communities, economic development corporations/organizations, and chambers of commerce, we continued to have great success last year with our East-Central Indiana Business Survey. Based on the valuable responses we collected, we successfully calculated the 2025 value of our IU East Regional Business Confidence Index. Our report was released on the IU East Business and Economic Research Center (BERC) website at http://www.iue.edu/business/berc/ under the Regional Business Research Section.

The BERC of the School of Business and Economics at Indiana University East is again working together with the local economic development corporations/organizations and chambers of commerce in conducting the 2026 annual business survey for the Eastern Indiana Corridor region. The survey will be open to businesses/companies in the Dearborn, Decatur, Fayette, Franklin, Henry, Randolph, Rush, and Wayne counties from September 8, 2026 to September 18, 2026.

Results of the survey will not only help the BERC maintain the IU East Eastern Indiana Corridor Business Confidence Index (formerly IU East Regional Business Confidence Index) to monitor the business sentiment and economic trend in our region, but also assist further the local and regional economic studies conducted by the BERC. In addition, the survey results might aid the aforementioned economic development corporations/organizations and chambers of commerce for consideration as part of any future strategic planning and economic development efforts to facilitate a healthy business climate in the region.

Responses to the 10-minute survey will be confidential. Business owners/managers will be asked to provide some general information on their business/company’s demography, their opinion of various aspects related to business performance for this year, and their business and economic expectations for next year in their county. While the individual responses to the survey will not be shared, results of the research survey will be made public by the end of 2026.

For more information, contact the Director of the Business and Economic Research Center and Professor of Finance Dr. Oi Lin (Irene) Cheung at (765) 973-8497 or [email protected].
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About the IU East Business and Economic Research Center The BERC is sponsored by the School of Business and Economics at IU East. The center is designed to assist in capturing and creating economic data that will be useful in supporting the economic vitality of the Eastern Indiana and Western Ohio regions.

WAYNE COUNTY, IN. – The Stamm Koechlein Family Foundation has awarded $25,000 to the Chamber Center for Excellence, a charitable organization under the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce. This funding will help nonprofit organizations across Wayne County provide paid internship opportunities for local high school students.

The funding marks an important step forward for the Chamber’s Student Future Success program, which connects high school students with employers throughout Wayne County for meaningful work-based learning experiences.

As Indiana’s high school diploma requirements evolve to place a greater emphasis on work-based learning and other hands-on experiences, the Chamber anticipates continued growth in the number of students seeking internship opportunities. This funding will help ensure that nonprofit organizations can remain an important part of that effort while providing students with paid, real-world experience.

"We are incredibly proud of the impact SKFF has made through our partners over the past 25 years. What better way to celebrate that impact than by creating opportunities for young people as they take their next steps into adulthood. These internships can help students discover their path, gain valuable experience, and build confidence as they prepare for the future. It’s a meaningful way to conclude our work with them as they enter this next chapter of life. We’re grateful to the Chamber’s Center of Excellence for helping make these opportunities possible." Said Monica Koechlein, President of Stamm Koechlein Family Foundation.

Nonprofit organizations participating in the Chamber’s Student Future Success program will be eligible to receive funding to help offset the cost of employing high school interns.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Stamm Koechlein Family Foundation for their investment in our students and our community,” said Shawntel Baker, Director of Employer Engagement at the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce. “This grant will help remove a financial barrier for nonprofit organizations that want to provide meaningful work experiences for students but may not otherwise have the resources to offer paid internships. It allows us to create more opportunities for students while connecting them with organizations doing important work right here in Wayne County.”

Through Student Future Success, the Chamber works alongside local schools and employers to create connections between students and businesses and organizations throughout the community. Students have the opportunity to explore career paths, gain workplace skills and build professional connections while employers can introduce the next generation to career opportunities available locally.

The $25,000 investment will allow nonprofit organizations to play an even greater role in those efforts while expanding the variety of experiences available to Wayne County students.

For more information about Student Future Success or opportunities to participate in the program, visit the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce website.

​Richmond, Ind. – HYPE Wayne County (Helping Young Professionals Engage), an action committee of the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce, is excited to announce the sixth cohort of WC Leads.
WC Leads is a leadership academy created in 2021 for young professionals ages 21–40. The four-month program focuses on key leadership topics including program development, project management, emotional intelligence, communication and team building. Each cohort member is also matched with a community leader who serves as a mentor throughout the program.
The 2026 cohort will kick off with its first in-person event on September 25, featuring a special experience designed to bring participants together, build connections and set the stage for the months ahead. WC Leads graduates will be recognized at the Chamber’s Annual Dinner in January 2027.
This year’s participants represent a variety of career levels and industries across the community, from nonprofit and healthcare to finance, construction and higher education. Meet the members of the sixth WC Leads cohort:

• Maya Ballard – Bethany Theological Seminary
• Garrett Blevins – Dot Foods
• Cade Brubaker – Brady Ware
• Cassidy Frame – Whitewater Eye Center
• Nicolas Quijano Franco – Earlham College
• Elizabeth Gwinn – Reid Health
• Alexis Harmon – Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce
• Sarah McCashland – Wayne County Family Resource Center
• Bailey Owens – Ivy Tech
• Kyle Slaven – Whisenhunt Construction
• Jeff Walter – Indiana Farm Bureau
• Casey Whipple – Wayne Bank

“WC Leads gives young professionals the opportunity to strengthen their leadership skills and build meaningful connections throughout Wayne County,” said Shawntel Baker, Director of Employer Engagement at the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce. “We’re excited to welcome this year’s cohort and watch them grow as leaders in our community.”

HYPE Wayne County