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FOUNTAIN CITY, Ind. — Planning is well underway for the 59th Annual Levi Coffin Days
Festival, which will take place September 19–20, 2026, in Fountain City. This year's theme, "Celebrating Freedom," honors America's 250th birthday while celebrating the history and spirit of Fountain City. Founded in 1968, Levi Coffin Days was established to honor the legacy of Levi Coffin and help fund the restoration of the historic Fountain City home that served as one of the most significant stations on the Underground Railroad. What began as a community celebration has grown into one of Wayne County's longest-running traditions, welcoming neighbors and visitors alike each September for a weekend of entertainment, local food, shopping, family activities, and hometown hospitality. The Fountain City Lions Club, which has organized and presented the festival since 1977, is preparing for this year's celebration. For 2026, Fountain City Forward is spearheading the newly formed Levi Coffin Days Entertainment Committee. The committee is responsible for planning and organizing the festival's parade and entertainment in partnership with the Fountain City Lions Club. Planning is underway, and organizers are inviting the community to get involved. Vendor information and applications, parade registration, sponsorship opportunities, and volunteer information are all available at LeviCoffinDays.org. Businesses, organizations, entertainers, owners of antique and historic vehicles, sponsors, and volunteers are encouraged to participate. Businesses, organizations, and individuals interested in supporting Levi Coffin Days are invited to explore sponsorship opportunities. Sponsorships are available through the Fountain City Lions Club for the overall festival and through Fountain City Forward for the parade and entertainment. "Celebrating Freedom is a meaningful theme for Fountain City," said Beth Bond, Chair of the Levi Coffin Days Entertainment Committee. "As our nation marks its 250th birthday, we also have the opportunity to honor Levi Coffin's legacy and the role our community played in the Underground Railroad. Levi Coffin Days has always been a community celebration, and we hope this year's festival inspires more people to become part of that tradition—as participants, volunteers, sponsors, and visitors." Complete festival information, including festival hours, vendor information, parade registration, sponsorship opportunities, entertainment updates, volunteer opportunities, and contact information, is available at LeviCoffinDays.org.
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 RICHMOND, Ind. – Meridian Health Services is hosting the Back-to-School Fit Fair, with support from presenting sponsor G101.3, on Friday, July 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Richmond High School located at 380 Hub Etchison Pkwy., Richmond, IN 47374. This event is being held in conjunction with Richmond Community Schools’ registration day. The community and people of all ages are invited to the Back-to-School Fit Fair featuring:
FREE Health & Fitness Zone including:
The Back-to-School Fit Fair at Richmond High School is presented by G101.3. Additional sponsors include Reid Health, Jay Crew, Brooklawn Services, United Healthcare, Dot Foods, Strengthening Indiana Families Family Resource Center, Centerstone, Porter Advertising, Anthem, Pal-Item Local iQ, and Kicks96.  Global Networking: How the Chamber Travel Club Explores the World to Grow Wayne County
For the fourth consecutive year, the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce proved that business networking doesn't stop at the county line. The Chamber Travel Club officially leveled up, taking 56 local professionals and community leaders on a land-and-sea Greek odyssey of a lifetime. From ancient architecture to modern leadership insights, this annual excursion is redefining how our business community builds connections, culture, and county-wide growth. Why Chamber Members Love Group Travel The Chamber Travel Club offers a unique perk: the ability to venture out of East Central Indiana and explore the globe with absolute peace of mind. Traveling on a meticulously preplanned itinerary eliminates the typical hassle, planning fatigue, and anxiety of solo international travel. Instead, members focus on what matters most:
Beyond the stunning views, Chamber travel serves a deeper economic purpose: building community empathy and driving local tourism strategy. By stepping outside their comfort zones, members return with a sharper vision for Richmond and the surrounding Wayne County area. "Once we experience the feeling of being in a new place without the comforts of knowing the local culture, it somehow makes us more aware of what new residents may be needing from us in our hometown," explains Melissa Vance, President/CEO of the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce. "If we want to grow our population and tourism, we need to think about how we can make people feel at home in Wayne County." From the Acropolis to the Aegean: Quick Trip Highlights The group kickstarted their journey in Athens, standing in awe at the historic Acropolis and walking through the ancient city of Corinth. From there, they boarded a mid-size Celebrity Cruise ship, charting a course through the Greek Isles, Turkey, Malta, and Spain.
Missed out on Greece? Don't let travel FOMO get the best of you. The Chamber Travel Club is already locking in details for our next massive expedition. Get ready to swap the Mediterranean sun for glaciers and wildlife—we are heading to Alaska in 2027! Secure your spot, expand your network, and join a community of global-minded local leaders. Indianapolis, Indiana – On Tuesday, June 23, the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce sent three students, Calin Ledgerwood, Arianna Stevenson, and Emily Meeker, to participate in the 2026 state championship of the National Civics Bee at the Indiana War Memorial. 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 15 students representing their respective regions 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. “It is incredibly important for our students to engage in civic discussions,” said Melissa Vance, President and CEO of the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce. “They are the future of our community, and we are proud to give them a platform to share their ideas, explore important issues, and make their voices heard.” Only the top five students were selected to present their essay pitches. Among these finalists was Calin Ledgerwood, representing the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce and Nettle Creek School Corporation. Entering the speech segment after winning the tiebreaker, Calin spoke passionately about children and families receiving adequate care and education on resources to improve quality of life. EDC Launches Downtown Revitalization Grant Program to Accelerate Commercial District Investments6/9/2026 RICHMOND, Ind. (June 8, 2026) — The Economic Development Corporation (EDC) of Wayne County
has launched the READI Downtown Revitalization Grant Program, a competitive funding initiative aimed at driving commercial redevelopment, housing creation, and private investment across Wayne County's downtown districts. Backed by funding from 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 program is expected to leverage nearly $17 million in total public and private investment. The first application round opens June 8 and closes July 27. Eligible applicants include commercial property owners, for-profit businesses, and property tax-paying nonprofit organizations located within designated downtown districts in Boston, Cambridge City, Centerville, Dublin, East Germantown, Fountain City, Greens Fork, Hagerstown, Milton, Mount Auburn, Richmond, and Spring Grove. Grant awards are available for projects with a minimum investment of $20,000. Applicants may request up to $200,000 for projects and require a 75/25 match. Eligible projects include façade improvements, upper-story residential development, commercial rehabilitation, accessibility upgrades, and other investments that strengthen commercial districts. A look-back period to Aug. 1, 2024, allows eligible completed and ongoing projects to be considered for funding. The program builds on the momentum of Wayne County's previous downtown revitalization efforts through the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program (HELP), which generated strong demand for redevelopment funding across the county. "The continued revitalization of our downtowns is essential to building thriving, connected communities," said Valerie Shaffer, president of the EDC of Wayne County. "This program will help preserve the character of our city and towns while encouraging private investment, supporting local businesses, creating new housing opportunities, and strengthening the economic vitality of communities across Wayne County." The initiative is designed to stimulate private investment, support housing development, reduce commercial vacancies, preserve historic assets, and enhance quality of place throughout Wayne County. Program guidelines, eligibility maps, FAQs, and application materials are available at whywaynecounty.com/downtown-grant The Indiana University East Business and Economics Research Center Generates comprehensive economic data to support the vitality of the Eastern Indiana and Western Ohio regions.
Goal 1.1: Establish a centralized digital dashboard to house regional economic indicators, ensuring that 100% of data sets for the majority of IU East service counties in Eastern Indiana by mid-2031 and, phased in thereafter, those remaining counties in Eastern Indiana and Western Ohio, are updated on a rolling basis as new federal and state data becomes available. [Vision] Goal 1.2: Disseminate the collected economic data and business survey findings through the annual “Futurecast” event, local talks, and/or contributions to newspaper articles. [Impact] Conducts targeted research and studies to capture the "pulse" of the local and regional economies. Goal: Publish the annual Richmond Forecast and Business Survey Report by mid-December of the year and mid-May of the following year, respectively, maintaining a high standard of internal and external peer review. [Discipline] Collaborates with community organizations to enhance public understanding of the local business environment. Goal: Partner with local economic development organizations in at least three new counties in the IU East service region in Indiana to expand the geographic impact of BERC’s research. [Growth] Engages alumni networks to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world regional business applications. Goal: Develop an "Alumni Research Liaison" program to integrate at least two distinguished alumni into the external review process for major economic reports. [Legacy] Leverages student effort in promoting economic development in the community. Goal: Organize activities/events in which students can contribute meaningfully to the economic development of the region and their residing counties. [Contribution] The BERC delivers on its mission through six strategic pillars: Vision through our new digital dashboard; Impact by disseminating research through community engagement and media; Discipline in our peer-reviewed reporting; Growth through expanded regional partnerships; Legacy by integrating our alumni back into the research process; Contribution by promoting regional economic development. Western Wayne News - Millie Martin Emery A Richmond employer has received initial support for its $8 million expansion plans. At its May 11 meeting, Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County’s board voted unanimously to give an Economic Development Income Tax grant of $85,000 to Primex Plastics Corp. Primex is one of the largest sheet extrusion operations in the nation, and its plastic sheets are used in multiple industries. Read the full article on Western Wayne News
Richmond, IN – May 15, 2026 – Every Child Can Read (ECCR) is proud to announce the return of Wayne County Reads, a one-book, one-community initiative that brings families together through the shared experience of reading and conversation.
The program will run until July 31, 2026, encouraging families to read and discuss the selected book together. This year’s featured book is Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate, a New York Times bestselling author and Newbery Medal winner. The story follows Jackson, a boy facing housing instability as his family struggles to make ends meet. Along the way, Jackson reconnects with Crenshaw—an unlikely imaginary cat—who helps him navigate uncertainty, resilience, and what it means to ask for help. Through this shared reading experience, families can explore themes such as resilience, empathy, and the importance of support during difficult times. The selection aligns with ECCR’s mission to promote literacy while helping families navigate real-life topics through shared reading. Free copies of Crenshaw – are available at multiple locations across Wayne County while supplies last, thanks to the generous support of community partners and sponsors, including: · Bader Mechanical · Ahaus · Brewer Broadcasting · Reid Health Community Engagement · Quigg Fund · Rob & Kelli Quigg Family · Robin Henry · Vonderhaar Farms Pick up a free copy at: · All Wayne County libraries (Richmond, Cambridge City, Hagerstown, Dublin, Centerville) · Two Sisters Books & More (Richmond) · Twice Read Books (Richmond) · Northeastern Schools Administration Building (Fountain City) Families are encouraged to pick up a copy early, read together throughout the summer, and follow ECCR on social media for weekly discussion prompts and updates. “Wayne County Reads is about more than reading a book—it’s about creating space for meaningful conversations within families,” said Patti Peterson, Executive Director of ECCR. “We know when families read together, children build stronger literacy skills and confidence. With Crenshaw, we also have an opportunity to spark conversations about empathy and perseverance.” Wayne County Reads is an annual event that continues to inspire and connect the community through literature. When the program was reintroduced in 2025, over 1,100 free books were distributed throughout Wayne County. For more information about Wayne County Reads and Every Child Can Read, visit everychildcanread.org. About Every Child Can Read (ECCR) Every Child Can Read is a Wayne County nonprofit dedicated to improving children’s literacy by increasing access to books and fostering a culture of reading across the community. Richmond, IN – On Wednesday evening, the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2026 Senior Celebration at the First Bank Richmond Expo Hall. The event recognized high school seniors from across the county who demonstrated exceptional school attendance as part of the Chamber’s Every Day Counts program.
To qualify for the celebration, students had to meet the following criteria:
Students had the chance to win a wide range of prizes, including gift cards, waterproof speakers, and other electronics. The evening culminated in one lucky senior winning a car, generously donated by Wetzel Auto. Every student in attendance left with a prize, with a value of $50 or more in addition to scholarships and book credits from IU East, Ivy Tech, and Earlham. With all prizes totaling over $400,000. Eva Soper of Centerville took home the grand prize: a brand-new car provided by Wetzel Auto. DOT Foods gifted our second-place student, Kaden Ervin of Hagerstown $2,500. “Good attendance is a foundational piece of preparing our next generation,” said Shawntel Baker, WCACC Director of Membership and Education. “We’re proud to celebrate these seniors and reward their continued commitment and effort.” This event was made possible thanks to the generous support of the following sponsors and donors:
Below are the names of all students who met the attendance requirements: Western Wayne Ben Bates Ian Bates Daniel Bogue Allison Clayton Braxton Dick Justin Driskill Braydon Hampton Shelby Houseworth Dustin Lunsford Olivia Myers James Ramsey Grace Smith Hagerstown Leyton Berger Evan Bowlin Ethan Bymaster Davin Chew Darien Combes Carlie Cushing Greydee Deguira Kaden Ervin Orion Houghton Matthew Laster Abby Lumpkin Zak McDonald Wyatt Mitchell Sydney Nicholson Taylor Patterson Halle Pruitt Jameson Ramey Isaac Schmitz Olivia Smith Desirae Study Richmond Dominique Dominguez Anthony Fioto Katie Mathena Reagan Phillips Angel Cruz-Hernandez Teegan Baker Celina Cheng David Lewis Jacob Lindahl Gabriel Reece Fernanda Ruiz-Fernandez Anabella Triana Vaness Vance Brayden Villafuerte Seton Elizabeth Daoud Carina Feliciano Makayla Minor Centerville Gavin Abbey Julian Armstead Boston Beatty Lilah Bellew Andrew Brock Emma Bullock Owen Burdette Tate Chasteen Troy Cole Elizabeth Cox Cohen Current Taylor Feaster Carson Hathaway Alivia Hicks Shea Hollendonner Dawson Huber Baylei Hughes Abram Jarvis Adanech Jarvis Landyn Keiser Nicholas Kenny Josie Kincaid Taylor Lickfelt Logan Mann Tabatha Moore Micahia Mullen Aiden Nelson Elizabeth Nevels Evan Noe John Norris Keith Plyley Eva Soper Ava Spears Kendall Spears Cameron Stiggleman Lily Thompson Matthew Warner Eli West Kyson Wright Northeastern Carson Abney Brooklynne Adams Ava Bales Julia Beatty Brandt Benjamin Aiden Brinker Jacob Buchs Lucas Chamness Brayden Champman Cooper Cline Dalton Clouse Aubrey Day Riley Day Cameron Gipson Haven Handley Landen Heaston Riley Isaacs Gavin Johnson Paige Keith Adysson Kircher Grayson Longnecker Aubrey Mainous Sarah May Dakota May Gavin Melton Kaleb Moore Rory Mull Grayson Pennington Chole Peters Charlotte Rayburn David Reneau Austin Robles Logan Seal Aiden Shaffer Nicole Sheets Cooper Smith Charlotte Stofferahn Caleb Ward Alaina Webster Cody Wright Addisyn Wright Summer is a great time to consider the advantage of temporary labor. You know that project you’ve been putting off? How about the organization structure you wanted to build? What about that technology trial? Or maybe there's something you’ve been doing that could easily be managed by someone else so you can free up your time for things that require your attention?
As vacations loom and customer buying patterns shift, it’s an ideal time to explore temporary hires or interns. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, businesses expect to hire 3.9% more interns than in the previous year, and 81% say they plan to increase or maintain intern hiring. But if you think you can just bring in an intern, hand over a pile of small tasks, and call it a program, you’re missing a bigger strategic opportunity. The smartest businesses do something different. They don’t use interns just to fill a chair or display them to the community to look like a business that’s worried about the future workforce. They use them to tackle work that matters. Don’t think your business could use an intern? Think again. Here are a few ingenious ways to get things done with the “summer help”: Process Detective One of the best ways to use an intern is as a process detective. Every business has systems that have grown messy over time. Maybe your onboarding is inconsistent. Maybe client files are stored in three places, and no one knows which version is right. Maybe your front desk, inbox, or quoting process depends too much on tribal knowledge. An intern can document workflows, identify bottlenecks(they provide fresh ideas because they don’t know the history), and help organize procedures in a way that saves your team time long after summer ends. It’s not glamorous work, but it’s high-value work and the intern can learn a lot about process, efficiencies, and operations. Customer Experience Reviewer Interns can also be incredibly helpful as customer-experience reviewers. When you’re inside your own business every day, it becomes hard to see friction points. An intern has fresh eyes. Ask them to walk through the experience as if they were a customer. Could they find the right information on your website? Was the contact process clear? Did your social media tell them what you do? Was your location easy to navigate? In almost every industry, there are blind spots the employees stopped noticing years ago. Content Miner Another strong use for interns is content mining. This is especially useful for businesses that know they should be marketing more consistently but never seem to have the time. An intern can help turn existing knowledge into usable content. They can gather frequently asked questions, interview staff, organize customer success stories, pull together blog topic ideas, or help sort photos and video clips you already have. They may not be your final decision-maker, but they can absolutely help uncover the raw material your business has been sitting on. Put them to this task and you may uncover six months’ worth of content that no one can produce but you—an excellent way to standout on social media. Researcher Summer interns are also well suited for research projects that tend to get pushed aside. Maybe you want to understand what competitors are doing, what events are worth attending, what partnerships might make sense, or what new audience segments you should be reaching. Maybe you want a clearer picture of local market trends or customer reviews. Interns can gather and organize that information(or use AI to do it)so leadership can make smarter decisions without spending hours chasing data. Internal Knowledge Organizer Another overlooked role is internal knowledge organizer. In many small and midsize businesses, important information lives in emails, sticky notes, shared drives, and one very loyal employee’s head. That isn’t a system. It’s a problem waiting to happen. What becomes of your operations if something happens to that employee? At some point every employee leaves. What information would walk with them? An intern can help create shared resources, update templates, build simple reference guides, and make day-to-day information easier for everyone to find. That kind of clean up can be the difference between having information at your fingertips or having to leave countless messages for past employees. Event Planner or Worker If your business hosts events, supports the community, or depends on local visibility, interns can help there too. They can assist with planning checklists, event follow-up, sponsorship tracking, guest communication, and post-event recaps. They can help your business show up more professionally and more consistently. As we head into a season when networking, festivals, community programs, and business events often increase, that kind of support can make a noticeable difference. But none of this works if the internship is built around filler. Interns don’t need to run your business, but they do need real assignments, some context, and a sense that their work matters. It’s good for them and for you. NACE notes that organized internship programs are linked to better conversion outcomes, and interns who are satisfied with their experience are far more willing to accept an offer from that employer later on. If you’re bringing in summer help, think beyond the 2026 version of coffee runner. Think about what your business needs that your team never has time to tackle. Consider the projects that improve efficiency, strengthen visibility, and make future growth easier. That’s where interns can shine and that’s a much better use of a summer and a desk. |
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