News

Profitable Doesn't Mean Protected: Recession-Proofing Your Grant County Business

Recession-proofing your small business means building cash reserves, tightening collections, retaining key employees, and keeping customers close — all before economic pressure forces those decisions. Profitability alone doesn't guarantee survival: a 2025 peer-reviewed umbrella review in the Review of Managerial Science found that small businesses face steeper recession risk than large firms due to restricted capital access, limited managerial capacity, and dependence on a narrow customer base. For

A Practical Path Forward: Free Workshop Series Continues for East Central Indiana Entrepreneurs

  In economic development circles, there is often a tendency to talk about entrepreneurship in broad, aspirational terms—innovation, disruption, growth. But on the ground, in communities like those across East Central Indiana, entrepreneurship is far more personal. It is measured in long hours, careful decisions, and the quiet determination to build something that lasts. That is precisely where the East Central Indiana Small Business Development Center (SBDC), in partnership with the Grant County

Campus Certifications Lead to Law School and Love

KOKOMO, Ind. — Connections made at Indiana University Kokomo prepared Sam Robinson for his future after graduation — both professionally and personally.   Robinson, from Camden, graduated with degrees in sociology and criminal justice, with a minor in psychology, in December 2025, and has been admitted to the IU Maurer School of Law in Bloomington with a full scholarship. Professors and campus police officers guided him to opportunities including working as a campus cadet police officer; an internship

Grant County WorkOne Workshops for April 2026

Idyl Wyld April Events & Updates

          Gift cards available for any occasion       SCHOOLS schedule your party before the end of the year. $150 and everyone pays $3 skate rental or $4 inline/speed. call today 765-510-1233.   College Takeover Night  Come join the fun this one is for the college crowd only. College ID required at the door Admission $5 Skate rental $3 $4 inline/speed Friday April 17 from 10:15pm - 1 amHoly Rollin Night  Come and enjoy some Christian music and

CASA Sand Sculpture Artfest Registration Open

Registration is now open for the 2026 CASA Sand Sculpture Artfest: Shaping Growth – 18 Years and Counting, which will be held Saturday, July 11th.   Register for this year's event at:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfoaHCEsJffGQ18eNHRpcHBhBf4a0tH_T4_jFK_NISYp16aCw/viewform?usp=header 

IUK Professor Recognized as a Distinguished Scholar

Professor recognized as Distinguished Scholar by the Indiana Academy of Science Hisako Masuda, Indiana University Kokomo professor of biochemistry, was honored by the Indiana Academy of Science (IAS) as its 2026 Distinguished Scholar. The award is given to an individual who is recognized by the IAS as having an exceptional record of scholarship. Recipients are selected from nominations submitted to its awards committee. “I was surprised,” said Masuda, who joined IU Kokomo’s faculty in 2013. “I feel there

ANNOUNCING: Two GREAT Summer shows!

 FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME August 22, 2026  Tickets on sale this Thursday, March 26, 2026 Tickets   Feels Like The First Time is an American 7-piece rock band formed in 2017 as a tribute to the music of British/American rock band Foreigner and is based out of Milwaukee, WI. The band is made up of veteran musicians with decades of experience entertaining rock music fans at premier venues, festivals and concert events. The members of Feels Like The First Time having grown up with the music of Foreigner, are

Marion JROTC marksman Hamilton qualifies for Junior Olympics and All-Services National Championship

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 25, 2026   CONTACT: Patricia Gibson, Director of Communications, Marion Community Schools cell: 765.618.2924 email: pgibson@marion.k12.in.us     Marion JROTC marksman Hamilton qualifies for Junior Olympics and All-Services National Championship   Marion JROTC cadet Gwynneth Hamilton has qualified for two prestigious national marksmanship competitions:  She will compete later this month in the National All-Services Air Rifle Championship in Camp Perry, Ohio — only

OTA senior pays it forward by creating educational podcast

PRESS RELEASE OTA senior pays it forward by creating educational podcast KOKOMO, Ind. — Choosing a career path as an occupational therapy assistant was an overwhelming process for Reiley Hiser. As she considered the many options available, the Indiana University Kokomo senior thought about how she could share all the viewpoints she had gathered with other students trying to decide the right workplace for them. As her capstone project, she created a six-episode podcast, Discovering Your OT

Exclusive Discount at the Gas City PAC for GGC Members!

Greater Grant County members and their employees receive a $5 discount on tickets for the following shows using the promotion code CHAMBER at checkout!

Activate Your Storefront in Downtown Upland

Knowing When to Part Ways: A Practical Guide for Handling Employee or Contractor Terminations

Business leaders, HR managers, and founders eventually face one of the most difficult management decisions: letting someone go. Whether the person is an employee or a contractor, the decision affects morale, productivity, and the organization’s culture. Handling the situation thoughtfully protects the company while maintaining fairness and professionalism.Key Takeaways Performance patterns matter more than isolated mistakes. Clear expectations and documentation reduce legal and operational

IWU Receives Gift of The Center for Sports and Physical Therapy and The Wellness Center from Alumni

Contacts: Pam Downing, Director of Communications pam.downing@indwes.edu Indiana Wesleyan University Receives Gift of The Center for Sports and Physical Therapy and The Wellness Center from Alumni Lee and Lori Smith MARION, Ind. (March 17, 2026) — Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) announced today a generous gift from alumni Lee and Lori Smith. The gift includes ownership of The Center for Sports and Physical Therapy, with locations in Wabash and Marion, as well as The Wellness Center in Marion. “We

How Huntington Business Owners Can Make Every Presentation Pay Off

Public speaking is one of the most underleveraged growth tools available to small business owners. A single well-delivered talk can generate leads, open doors with investors, and establish your credibility faster than any ad campaign. For owners connected to the Greater Grant County Chamber, that opportunity is closer than most realize — and the business owners who step up to speak are consistently ahead of those who don't.The Real Cost of Staying Quiet If you've decided public speaking "just isn't for

Why Financial Literacy Is a Core Skill for Small Business Owners

Small business owners operate at the center of every major decision their company makes. Financial knowledge—understanding cash flow, costs, pricing, and profitability—helps owners make decisions that keep the business stable and growing. Without a clear grasp of the numbers behind operations, even a strong product or service can struggle to sustain itself. When entrepreneurs understand how money moves through their company, they gain the ability to plan ahead, manage risk, and respond to unexpected

Marion Robotics Squad Headed to State Finals

Marion robotics squad headed to state finalsMcCulloch Tech Giants will compete on March 14 in Indianapolis McCulloch Junior High’s Tech Giants are headed to state finals!  Earlier this year, the Tech Giants Team B earned their state finals berth by claiming the Robot Skills Champion Award during the invitational held at Justice Intermediate School on Feb. for the Frances Slocum Elementary League on Feb. 29.  Congratulations to these skilled and dedicated students on this achievement! The VEX IQ State

City of Marion Gives $20K to CASA of Grant County to help offset Federal Funding Loss

City Gives $20K to CASA of Grant County to help offset Federal Funding LossShareemailfacebooklinkedin Mar 11, 2026  |  Web Administrator May­or Ronald Mor­rell, Jr. has giv­en $20,000 on behalf of the City of Mar­i­on to assist CASA of Grant Coun­ty, Inc. after learn­ing of a sig­nif­i­cant drop in their fed­er­al funding. CASAs are Court Appoint­ed Spe­cial Advo­cates for Chil­dren. CASA of Grant Coun­ty, Inc. served near­ly 300 chil­dren in 2025, and cur­rent­ly oper­ates with a wait­ing list

Learn to Skate at Idyl Wyld

Idyl Wyld Offers Monthly Memberships

College Takeover at Idyl Wyld March 20th

I&M Offers Free Online Sessions to Help Customers Understand Their Bills

I&M Offers Free Online Sessions to Help Customers Understand Their Bills   FORT WAYNE, IN, March 04, 2026 – Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is hosting four “Understanding Your Bill” virtual learning sessions.  The events, which will be held for I&M residential customers in both states, are designed to help customers gain a clearer understanding of how their monthly bill is calculated. I&M leadership and members of the customer service and regulatory teams will lead online sessions to walk customers through

New Coaches, New Energy for MHS Soccer Teams

New coaches, new energy for MHS soccer teamsWelcome, Coach Hancock and Coach Allison! Both the boys and girls soccer teams at Marion High School will have new head coaches at the helm heading into the 2026 season.  Both coaches are on the job and planning for the coming season. MHS and MCS are excited to see the next chapter of Giants soccer begin. Hancock to head up girls soccer Blake Hancock has been selected as the next head coach for the MHS girls soccer team, bringing with him more than a decade of

Twin Sisters Pioneer Honors Program for Online RN to BSN Students

  PRESS RELEASE Twin sisters pioneer honors program for online RN to BSN students KOKOMO, Ind. — Twin sisters Ashley Derf and Heather Grandstaff love a challenge. So, when they were invited to join Indiana University Kokomo’s honors program as students in the online RN to BSN program, the siblings were determined to take the opportunity. Grandstaff, from Walton, reached out to honors program director Nick Baxter, assistant professor of sociology, who told her no student in her program had ever

Ball State PBS Documentary: ''Now Entering Marion''

AnnouncementBall State PBS Documentary: "Now Entering Marion"Shareemailfacebooklinkedintwitterreddit Mar 9, 2026  |  Web Administrator Ball State PBS’s most recent doc­u­men­tary under their ​“Now Enter­ing…” series is all about Mar­i­on, Indi­ana — hon­ing in on our rich his­to­ry, the arts, basketball. It is view­able on YouTube at:  Related Posts

Grant County Economic Growth Council Announces Retirement of Executive Director Chuck Binkerd

NearSpace Education Summer Camps Registration Open Now

Health Professions Exploration Camp Offers Hands-on Experience for Middle Schoolers: Enrolling Now

  PRESS RELEASE Health Professions Exploration camp offers hands-on experience for middle schoolers KOKOMO, Ind. — Do you know a middle school student interested in health care? Register them for an inside look at careers in nursing and beyond at the Indiana University Kokomo Health Professions Exploration camp, planned for June 22-26 on campus. Leigh Swartzendruber, director of the RN to BSN track and clinical assistant professor of nursing, and Christy Douglas, director of the occupational therapy

Local Radio Stations Announce 2026 Central Indiana Home & Garden Show April 18th

Local Radio Stations, Radio 80's, Radio Classics, The Boot, and Gospel Praise are excited to announce the 2026 Central Indiana Home and Garden Show.  The show will take place on April 18th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Grant County Family YMCA.  This is a great opportunity for the public to see what businesses offer.  Station owner had this to say about the event.  "We feel like this show will be able to showcase local businesses to the public. Whether people are looking for lawn and garden help,

Marion Community School of the Arts Now Accepting Applications for 2026–2027 Board of Directors

​Brianna Coffing <bcoffing@chronicle-tribune.com>;​Haley Anderson <haley@showmegrantcounty.com>;​+17 others​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Marion Community School of the Arts Now Accepting Applications for 2026–2027 Board of Directors Marion, IN — The Marion Community School of the Arts (CSA) is pleased to announce that it is now accepting applications for individuals interested in serving on its Board of Directors for the 2026–2027 term. CSA invites community members who are passionate about

Dozens of Marion Musicians Earn ISSMA’s Top Award at State Solo & Ensemble

Dozens of Marion musicians earn ISSMA’s top award at State Solo & Ensemble   Marion Community Schools congratulates more than four dozen outstanding young musicians from Marion High School and McCulloch Junior High who competed recently at ISSMA’s annual State Solo & Ensemble competition! We are proud of these artists, who all took on a high degree of difficulty to reach the state level. Impressively: 16 of them earned the top adjudication award, Gold with Distinction, which recognizes a high degree of

36th Minnetrista Annual Juried Art Show, on view through May 3, 2026, at Minnetrista Museum & Gardens.

Written By Brea Cunningham Muncie, IN—Experience the vibrant tapestry of Indiana’s artistic talent at the 36th Minnetrista Annual Juried Art Show, on view from February 28 through May 3, 2026, at Minnetrista Museum & Gardens. Celebrating creativity across the Hoosier State, this juried exhibition showcases a diverse array of artistic expressions and invites visitors to immerse themselves in the rich world of fine art.  This year’s exhibition was juried by Erika Kvam, Director and Head Curator of Purdue

Conrad T ''Gunny'' Heslin Memorial Scholarship Applications Open

Application Link

Marion Community School of the Arts Awarded IYI Well-Being Project Grant to Strengthen Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Efforts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarion Community School of the Arts Awarded IYI Well-Being Project Grant to Strengthen Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Efforts Marion, Indiana — Marion Community School of the Arts (CSA) is proud to announce that it has been awarded the IYI Well-Being Project Grant to support a comprehensive Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) initiative across the organization. This grant will allow CSA to take intentional steps toward strengthening equitable access,

''Champion for Children'' Award Nomination Form Page 1

''Champion for Children'' Award Nomination Form Page 2

Det. Lt. Leland Smith to Retire after 20 Years with MPD

Det. Lt. Leland Smith to Retire after 20 Years with MPDShareemailfacebooklinkedin Feb 25, 2026  |  Web Administrator Mar­i­on Police Depart­ment Detec­tive Lieu­tenant Leland Smith will retire in May, com­plet­ing 20 years of service. Fol­low­ing a 15-year career with Mar­i­on Com­mu­ni­ty Schools, Smith became an MPD Police Offi­cer on May 8th, 2006. He served on Patrol, Crash Inves­ti­ga­tion Team, Hon­or Guard, then was select­ed to join Mar­i­on and Grant County’s Joint Effort Against Nar­cotics

I&M Announces Base Rate Reduction for Hoosiers Through Customer Benefits Plan

2026 Senior Expo with The Marion-Grant County Senior Center May 1st

Upcoming Events at the Hostess House

Walk of Hope, May 1, 2026: Registration Open

Labor Market Review: Region 3 December 2025

Your Monthly Snapshot of the Region  Labor Market ReviewThe Labor Market Review contains a monthly snapshot of various labor market information in Economic Growth Region 3. This report consists of data for December 2025. Some of the data in this report includes:Labor force: employment and unemployment Consumer Price IndexUnemployment insurance claimsWARN NoticesIndiana Career Connect: applicants and job postingsIndustry employmentBureau of Labor Statistics commentaryView The ReportContact

Quarterly Reports from the IN Dept of Workforce Development

Quarterly Reports are Available Three different quarterly reports includes information on online job ads, industry sector employment and wages, and UI claimants in Economic Growth Region 6.  Real-Time Job Demand Online job postings summary of real-time data including skills, certifications, and education/experience from many different online job boards.View the Report Industry Sector Snapshot A quarterly count of employment and wages by industry from the Indiana Department of

Hoosiers By the Lumbers Labor Market Review

Your Monthly Snapshot of the Region  Labor Market ReviewThe Labor Market Review contains a monthly snapshot of various labor market information in Economic Growth Region 3. This report consists of data for November 2025. Some of the data in this report includes:Labor force: employment and unemployment Consumer Price IndexUnemployment insurance claimsWARN NoticesIndiana Career Connect: applicants and job postingsIndustry employmentBureau of Labor Statistics commentaryView The ReportContact

Purdue To Host Just In Time Career Fair on April 15th, 2026

Purdue is hosting the Just In Time Career Fair on April 15th, 2026! This is Purdue’s only career fair that welcomes all employers from all industries and provides a unique opportunity to connect with Boilermaker Talent across all majors.This is your chance to recruit and engage with top-notch Purdue Talent in hopes to fill those 'just in time' summer internships and full-time opportunities. Space is limited, so register today! For more details and information, use the registration link

Take Charge of Your Own Small Business Marketing in Greater Grant County

Small business owners in Greater Grant County often juggle operations, customer service, and community involvement—but marketing is the lever that multiplies all of those efforts. Owning your marketing doesn’t require big budgets; it requires clarity, consistency, and a willingness to test what works in your community. Learn below about: How small businesses can build simple, durable marketing habits Why understanding your audience shapes every message you put out Where local owners tend to get

An Evening with Rainn Wilson, April 12, at GCPAC

 Tickets for "An Evening with Rainn Wilson" will be available starting tomorrow morning at 5 a.m.!  Certain tickets come with a VIP Photo Experience, so make sure to order early to guarantee your meet-and-greet and photo opportunity. TICKETS  Rainn Wilson played Dwight Schrute on NBC's American version of The Office from 2005 to 2013, earning three consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance.  In addition to his well-known acting career, Rainn

Thriving Through the Surge: Smart Ways to Handle Sudden Business Growth

When a small business experiences a sudden surge in demand, the initial excitement can quickly be tempered by the reality of stretched systems, overwhelmed staff, and precarious finances. Managing rapid growth isn’t just about keeping up — it’s about making intentional choices that preserve quality, protect cash flow, and prepare the company for sustainable scaling. Unplanned expansion can strain operations, hurt customer satisfaction, and create lasting financial instability if not managed carefully.

How Smart Accounting Keeps Small Businesses Confident and Compliant

When you’re running a small business, financial health is just as critical as customer growth. Owners often think of accounting only in terms of compliance — filing taxes or meeting state requirements — but in reality, disciplined accounting practices provide the visibility you need to make confident growth decisions. Whether you’re hiring your first employee, taking out a line of credit, or preparing for expansion, clarity in your books removes the guesswork.    Track Cash Flow Like a Daily Pulse Cash

How Smart Companies Build Bridges Across Departments

The challenge isn’t that departments don’t want to collaborate. It’s that they often don’t know how to do it meaningfully. Despite the best intentions, silos form easily and solidify over time, leaving once-fluid organizations rigid and reactive. The businesses that figure out how to breach those invisible walls—those are the ones that grow faster, solve problems quicker, and weather disruption with less drama. Interdepartmental communication isn’t just a buzzword anymore; it’s the backbone of companies

Adobe Acrobat AI Assistant: All You Have to Do Is Ask Acrobat’s Generative AI Document & PDF Tool

Adobe Acrobat has long been an invaluable tool for business owners, entrepreneurs, and employees all over the world thanks to its wide array of PDF generation and editing tools. Now, Acrobat AI Assistant offers new benefits for businesses of all sizes. Acrobat AI Assistant’s revolutionary software can transform your business with its incredible features:   Content Summarization and Insights: Long documents can be overwhelming to review, especially for busy entrepreneurs. The AI Assistant can