Centerville, IN – October 18, 2024 – Cope Environmental Center is thrilled to announce the first event in its highly anticipated 'Enjoy the Great Outdoors' series, Spiders and Ciders, scheduled for Friday, October 18th at 6:30 PM. This unique fall event will bring together nature, fun, and community in an engaging, adults-only evening under the stars.

Get ready for the ultimate fall night out with Spiders and Ciders, a cozy evening full of seasonal fun and relaxation! Imagine strolling along a hard cider-tasting trail, grabbing a bite from local food trucks, and enjoying live music, all set against the stunning backdrop of autumn’s golden hues. Whether you're planning a date night or just looking to unwind with friends, this event offers the perfect blend of fall vibes, community, and good times.

We’ll have storytelling around the fire with s’mores to spark your imagination, and for those feeling adventurous, there’s a night hike and a lighthearted round of spider jeopardy. Don’t worry though, this evening is all about kicking back, soaking up that fall magic, and having a blast.

So, throw on your favorite flannel, grab your bestie or significant other, and join us for a Friday night that's sure to become your new fall tradition. This 21+ event is the perfect way for adults to relax and experience nature in a laid-back, fun atmosphere. Sponsored by Advanced Duct Cleaning, Spiders and Ciders is one fall night you won’t want to miss!

Get your tickets now at VisitCope.org. See you there for an unforgettable evening

​Richmond, Ind. - Thanks to the tremendous support from the local business communities, economic development corporations, and chambers of commerce, we continued to have great success last year for our East-Central Indiana Business Survey.

Based on the valuable responses we collected, we successfully calculated the 2023 value of our IU East Regional Business Confidence Index. Our report has been released on the IU East Business and Economic Research Center (BERC) website under the section Region Business Research.

The BERC of the School of Business and Economics at Indiana University East is again working with the local economic development corporations/groups and chambers of commerce to conduct the 2024 annual business survey for the East-Central Indiana region.

The survey will be open to businesses/companies in the Fayette, Franklin, Henry, Randolph, Rush, Union, and Wayne counties from September 9, 2024, to September 20, 2024.

The results of the survey will not only help the BERC maintain the IU East Regional Business Confidence Index to monitor the business sentiment and economic trends in our region, but further assist the local and regional economic studies conducted by the BERC.

In addition, the survey results might aid the aforementioned economic development corporations/groups or the like 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 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, the research survey results will be made public by the end of 2024.

For more information, contact Dr. Oi Lin (Irene) Cheung, Director of the IU East Business and Economic Research Center at (765) 973-8497 or [email protected].

​Richmond, Ind. – HYPE Wayne County (Helping Young Professionals Engage) as an action committee of the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the fourth cohort for WC Leads.
 
WC Leads is a leadership academy, created in 2021 for young professionals ages 21-40. This 12-week program includes leadership development on key topics such as program development, project management, emotional intelligence, communication, and team building. Each cohort member is matched with a community leader mentor who meets with the mentee throughout the program. The program will launch at the Chamber’s upcoming Business Leader Series entitled “Unlocking the Power of Body Language” which is open to all Chamber members. WC Leads graduates will be celebrated at the Annual Dinner held in January 2025. 
 
This year’s participants consist of employees at various levels in their careers and serving in a wide variety of fields, from nonprofit and healthcare to finance and manufacturing. Over 20 young professionals applied, and of those applicants 12 individuals were chosen. Meet the members of the fourth cohort below:

1. Sam Hutton                           Boys and Girls Club of Wayne County
2. Taylor Rogers                       First Bank Richmond
3. Eric Meija                              Hills Pet Nutrition
4. Matthew Schroeder              Merchants Bank of Indiana
5. Amanda Upchurch                3 River’s Credit Union
6. Brittany Santos                     3 River’s Credit Union
7. Allison Steele                        Ivy Tech Community College
8. John Przybysz                      Reid Health
9. Hannah Elder                        Reid Health
10. Lindsay Darnell                     City of Richmond
11. Savannah Lester                   Natco Credit Union
12. Chloe Brown                         Turner and Shepard Insurance

 
HYPE Wayne County is the only young professional network in the Wayne County area, serving the 21-40 aged population. Members of the organization are representatives of their employers and can participate in HYPE programs and events. The Chamber committee offers professional development, social networking, and volunteer opportunities in hopes of creating a community where young people love to live. To learn more about HYPE visit HYPEWayneCounty.org. For any questions regarding WC Leads or HYPE, please contact [email protected]. 

​Indianapolis, Indiana – On Friday, August 23, the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce sent three students—Ellie Fost, Sadie Penrod, and Marisol Colaj—to participate in the 2024 state championship of the National Civics Bee at the Indiana Statehouse. The National Civics Bee, organized in partnership with The Civic Trust® of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, aims to foster civic engagement among young Americans and encourage their active contribution to our communities and nation.
 
The state competition was hosted by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and the Indiana Department of education. It featured 20 students representing their respective counties and Chambers and comprised two segments: a live quiz event followed by a presentation of their essays and a Q&A session with the judges. The judging panel for the state Civics Bee included Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education; Charles Dunlap, President and CEO of the Indiana Bar Foundation; and Charles Hyde, President and CEO of the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site.
 
“In an era of high-tension politics, it is valuable to show students how to engage in their community in a positive way,” said Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Melissa Vance. “These middle-schoolers identified challenges and shared their ideas for potential solutions. Hopefully, they will put the skills they learn through this process into use right here in our community both now and in their adult years.”
 
Only the top five students were selected to present their essay pitches. Among these finalists was Ellie Fost, representing the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce and Richmond High School. Entering the speech segment in second place after a strong performance in the quiz portion, Ellie captivated the judges with her insightful and articulate pitch on Mental Health Awareness in Teens and Schools.
 
Ellie’s impressive pitch earned her first place in the state championship, along with a $1,000 cash prize. The state champion, Ellie Fost, had a few words about her win on Friday, “It means a lot for me to win, and it’s a big achievement. I think it’s a step in the right direction for getting the resources to kids and schools that they need. I’m proud of myself for winning, but I’m more proud about being able to spread awareness for mental health.”
 
As the Indiana State Champion, Ellie will advance to the inaugural National Civics Bee national championship in Washington, D.C. in November 2024, where she will have the opportunity to compete for prizes totaling over $50,000.

​The public is invited to showcase their artistic talents!  All skill levels are welcome to contribute to a community mural at the Dublin Skating Rink. The community mural is a part of the 2024 Wayne County Murals Program and is designed by Indianapolis-based artist, Joy Hernandez.
 
Other activities will include opportunities for sidewalk drawings, coloring pages for kids, and a firetruck sprinkler party by the Dublin Fire Department. Snow-cones will be available. All events are free.
 
The community mural painting event is part of the 2024 Wayne County Murals Program Competition being held this summer. Eleven artists were selected from as far away as Germany and Canada to design and install murals throughout Wayne County to win cash prizes. Wayne County is currently home to over 90 towering pieces of art and with the addition of the new eleven murals, will help contribute to Wayne County’s already awe-inspiring cultural attractions.
 
The event takes place Saturday & Sunday, July 20 and 21, 2024 at the Dublin Skating Rink, 1764 S. Foundry Rd., Dublin, Indiana, from 11:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. each day. To join in the activities, please RSVP with your name, phone number and ages of persons in your party to [email protected].  Participants will be required to sign a release of liability form. For more information, call Pamela Bliss, Wayne County Murals Program Manager, at (317) 696-7349. The Wayne County Mural Festival is funded thru the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program (HELP), Wayne County Foundation, and Wayne County Convention and Tourism Bureau.  

Richmond Neighborhood Restoration is thrilled to announce the sale of 720 and 724 East Main Street to the City of Richmond’s PLACE Program on July 11, 2024. 
 
RNR purchased the property from Jeanne Rush in 2021 for renovation efforts to take place on the second and third floors. In partnership with the City of Richmond, the Redevelopment Commission, the Economic Growth Group and RNR, the renovation costs included a complete demolition of the upper floors, new HVAC, plumbing, and designs that match a modern look for a historic building. The renovation created three 1 bedroom apartments, one 2 bedroom apartment, and a large office space. 
 
The PLACE (Placemaking Loans Accelerating Community Entrepreneurs) program is operated by the City of Richmond's Community and Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund Board. The purpose of the program is to provide entrepreneurs with opportunities to accelerate their businesses. The program allows entrepreneurs to apply for a downtown building with subsidized lease payments during the first 5 years.
 
Roxie Deer, Executive Director of RNR says, “Secret Ingredient is an incredible accomplishment for our downtown district. It is the first of many projects that will bring life and movement back to the heart of our community. We are thrilled to show this renovation off to our community and cannot wait to announce our next property downtown.” 
 
Dave Stidham from the Economic Growth Group says, “It’s a great improvement to Main Street and will hopefully encourage others to make investments in the district.” 
 
Richmond Neighborhood Restoration is a local 501(c)3 that revitalizes Richmond’s historic neighborhoods through community building, citizen participation, and preserving our local legacy. To date, RNR has completed five residential properties and Secret Ingredient is the first commercial building they have completed. RNR is currently working on a residential property on North 12th Street with plans to continue working in downtown Richmond, utilizing funds from the Revitalize Richmond grant from Earlham College. 
 
To learn more about the PLACE program please contact Beth Fields at the City of Richmond. To learn more about Richmond Neighborhood Restoration visit RNRinc.org. 

When the time comes to expand, consider these questions to make sure your strategy is solid.
By: Emily Heaslip , Contributor

Expanding your business is an exciting prospect, but it requires careful consideration and planning to achieve the next level. Factors like timing, location, cash flow, and staffing all determine whether your expansion plan is successful. As you think through your strategy, consider these key elements that will impact your small business growth.
Is there enough demand?One of the most significant risks in planning a small business expansion is the level of demand for your product or service. You may be ready to open a new location or launch an e-commerce site, but are your customers also prepared?
"When you have regular customers that keep returning and a steady stream of new customers, you have proof that your product or service is driving ongoing demand," wrote Pay.com. "Once you know your demand is consistent, you can feel comfortable knowing that your customers will support your expansion."
You may find that you can't keep up with demand — an even more positive sign that your business is ready for expansion. If you're struggling to keep products in stock, find your establishment gets too crowded, or often feel short-staffed, those are good signs your business is stretched and ready to grow.

What does expansion look like for your business?Expansion doesn't necessarily mean opening a new storefront. Expansion can take many forms, so consider the various options available to your business to find the best fit. For instance, you could:

• Start selling online through an e-commerce page or social media.
• Add a new product line.
• Move to a bigger location.
• Try a pop-up store.
• Open a kiosk, food truck, or outpost.

These options come with different costs and marketing requirements. For instance, if you decide to open a second location, you'll need to consider its proximity to your first storefront, competition in the new neighborhood, and whether you're cannibalizing your customer base. Do some market research to determine which options are best for your company.

Do your finances support expansion?Expanding can be expensive. Prepare a detailed budget covering all expansion costs, including marketing, staffing, and new equipment.
Cash flow is also important: Your existing cash flow may not give you enough to cover all your costs, but it should help provide a financial safety net for investment and growth. Consider your funding options, such as loans, savings, or investors to cover expansion costs.
How will you stay true to your brand?As your business grows, it can become harder to maintain a consistent brand for your customers and your staff. Think about how you will keep the look and feel of your new location or website aligned with your existing branding. How will the customer experience feel familiar while simultaneously adapting to local preferences?
The same consideration should be paid to your employees, too. How will you translate the work culture you've created in a new setting?
"Working in expanded geographic locations can be daunting, as the management of teams becomes more challenging due to differences in time zones, cultural norms, and language barriers," wrote Upwork.
Marketing experts can help you figure out how to translate your brand to a new sales channel. Consider creating training and formal orientation programs to help enforce your company culture to new staff members.

Do you have the right team in place?Speaking of staff members, when it comes time to expand, you can't do it alone. Small business owners wear many hats, but it's impossible to do everything, especially with a new sales channel in the mix.
Surround yourself with a team that you feel confident delegating to. This team may include business mentors, managers, temporary staff or fractional hires, or existing team members who have years of experience working with your business. Consider who will helm the ship at your existing business to keep everything running smoothly while your attention is elsewhere.
CO— aims to bring you inspiration from leading respected experts. However, before making any business decision, you should consult a professional who can advise you based on your individual situation.

Manage customer relationships, keep organized, and stay on top of finances with these apps for small business owners.
By: Jamie Johnson , Contributor
​
Staying organized and productive can be challenging for remote entrepreneurs. Fortunately, the right apps make this much easier. Here are the seven best apps for on-the-go entrepreneurs.

WhatsApp Business WhatsApp Business is an excellent option for entrepreneurs who need to communicate with customers — anywhere they may be located. You can create a virtual storefront with information about your business, like your website and business hours, and schedule custom messages to welcome new customers to your business.

You can also schedule away messages when you know you'll be unavailable and quick responses to frequently asked questions and promote your WhatsApp Business channel on Facebook and Instagram.

Square Square makes it easy to accept customer payments from anywhere. It's one of the best point-of-sales options for business owners in the service, beauty, retail, and restaurant industries. There are no long-term contracts or chargeback fees, and Square’s free plan is one of the best on the market.
Square offers all the essential hardware small businesses need to accept customer payments. If you only need a way to accept payments on the go, you can purchase a contactless and chip reader. But you can also choose from a register, terminal, and stand.

Notion Notion began as a note-taking app, but it can help you do so much more than that. It's a tool you can use to manage ongoing business projects and stay organized. The software is highly customizable and a great way to consolidate multiple tools into one platform.

You can use Notion to collaborate with your team in real time and store everything related to your project in one central location. You can assign owners to different tasks and track any changes your employees make. Notion integrates with popular apps like Slack and Asana.

Pocket Pocket is a social bookmarking app for saving articles and videos you find throughout the day. If you find an interesting article you want to refer back to later, you can save it in Pocket and read it when you have more time. That way, you're not getting derailed during your workday, but you don't forget useful content you find.

Audible Making time for ongoing learning and personal development is essential, but it can be hard for most entrepreneurs to find the time. Audible gives you access to thousands of audiobooks and podcasts you can listen to when you're driving or between tasks.

You can try Audible for free for 30 days, and Amazon Prime members receive two free audiobooks with the trial membership. After that, it costs $14.95 a month, and you receive one free audiobook per month.

Todoist Todoist is a to-do list app and productivity tool for staying on top of ongoing business tasks. You can write down to-do list items as they come to you and schedule them to be completed at a later date. You can also schedule recurring due dates so you never forget an important task.

The Todoist app is available for desktop, Android, and iOS devices, or you can install it as a browser extension. The software is user-friendly, and beginners will have no problem getting started.

Expensify If you regularly travel for your business, you need a simple way to capture and organize your business expenses. Expensify helps you do just that.

Once you download the app, you can take a photo of your receipts on your smartphone. The app automatically pulls out relevant information to track and categorizes everything for you.

Your employees can also use Expensify, and you can set up an approval workflow so employees know what they'll be reimbursed for. Expensify integrates with the most popular accounting software so you can sync all your expenses with your accounting system.
​
CO— aims to bring you inspiration from leading respected experts. However, before making any business decision, you should consult a professional who can advise you based on your individual situation.

As the July 1 effective date approaches, HR should determine which employees will be affected, attorneys say.
By Kate Tornone, Lead Editor - HR Dive

With just a few weeks left until the U.S. Department of Labor’s updated overtime rule takes effect, employers may want to have a plan in place.
The rule recently saw its first lawsuit, but HR professionals shouldn’t bank on its success or the success of other possible challenges, experts say; noncompliance could result in significant liability, attorneys previously wrote for HR Dive.
Below are three articles detailing DOL’s changes and suggested steps employers can take to prepare for the July 1 effective date.

DOL will raise overtime salary threshold to $44K in July, $59K next year​
The final rule expands overtime pay eligibility to millions of U.S. workers, the department said. Read the full article ➔

DOL’s ‘unprecedented,’ two-pronged overtime rule adds new HR wrinkles
Employers must decide whether to incrementally comply with the rule’s salary threshold updates or move straight to compliance with the higher 2025 threshold, attorneys told HR Dive. Read the full article ➔

A new overtime threshold takes effect in mere weeks. HR should assess its impact now.
Expecting DOL’s rule to be blocked by July 1 and taking no action could result in millions in liability exposure for even a few misclassified employees, Farella Braun + Martel attorneys write. Read the full article ➔