February 2025 Newsletter

513 W Central Avenue

LaGrange, IN 46761

260-499-4994

Focus Areas & Action Items

We are excited to share our focus areas and action items for 2025 with you! In line with our mission and vision, we want to focus on:

• Business Retention & Expansion
• Building Upon Assets
• Business Attraction
• Community Development
• Sustainability

We are excited for what 2025 has to bring to LaGrange County!

LaGrange Surgery Center & Childcare Update

Sherri Johnston, President and CEO of the LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation (LCEDC), has been diligently working to make the LaGrange Surgery Center Project a reality. Recently, she has been collaborating with construction companies to establish a renovation budget. With these quotes in hand, she can now apply them to the overall project cost and continue pursuing funding opportunities. Two grant applications have already been submitted, and she anticipates receiving updates in March regarding potential funding awards.

In addition to the surgery center project, the LCEDC is thrilled to partner with a local childcare facility in LaGrange to establish a 70-seat childcare facility. This new space will also serve as the future home of the LCEDC and the LaGrange County Chamber of Commerce. Beyond office space, the facility will feature additional square footage dedicated to community resources, providing local businesses and entrepreneurs with valuable support and opportunities.



Stay tuned for more updates as these initiatives progress!

Made in LaGrange

Founders Forum: A Resource for Local Entrepreneurs

Founders Forum is a program of the LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation, created to encourage networking, collaboration, and provide valuable resources to local entrepreneurs.

This FREE, one-hour roundtable event features a guest speaker discussing a topic—often one requested by attendees. The speaker shares insightful information, followed by an open conversation where participants can ask questions and exchange ideas.

Past topics have included discussions with LaGrange County Commissioners, local business professionals, financial institutions covering business finance, leadership development, Planning and Zoning, the Highway Department, and fellow entrepreneurs sharing their experiences.

For details on upcoming Founders Forum events, visit our Facebook page, check our monthly newsletter, or the In the Loop communication chain.

Join us on the second Tuesday of each month from 8:00 – 9:00 AM at Topeka Pizza in Topeka, Indiana!

Community Development

Connect LaGrange County Strategic Investment Plan

The LCEDC team recently met with representatives from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) to receive feedback on their selection decisions for OCRA's Stellar Pathways Program. We are excited to share our vision for moving forward on the Connect LaGrange County Strategic Investment Plan.

Next Steps...

Following the feedback meeting with OCRA, the LCEDC has been meeting with our consultant and leaders from each community to discuss moving forward with projects, potential funding, priorities for which pieces of projects to pursue first, etc.

LaGrange

Emilee Buller has had a meeting concerning the potential for LaGrange Facades Program reinstatement with local artists, business owners, and the LaGrange Town Manager. Emilee then presented to LaGrange County Council on potential for reinstatement of Façade Granting Programming in 2026, and pursuit of an alleyway activation in downtown LaGrange. The County Council approved motions to move forward.

Howe

Emilee Buller hosted meetings with Lima Township Trustee, Commissioner and Major Moves representative, and the Community Foundation to discuss funding for the public restroom project in Howe. Emilee has since assisted in completing and submitting a grant asking for this portion of their project, with additional plans to help represent Lima Township in meetings.



Topeka, Shipshewana, Mongo, South Milford

Emilee Buller coordinated follow-up meetings with community leaders from the communities of Shipshewana, Topeka, Mongo, and South Milford, in addition to the LaGrange County Council on Aging. They discussed moving forward on projects presented in the Connect LaGrange County SIP, potential funding for these projects, and priorities for which pieces of the projects to pursue first.

LaGrange County Together Comprehensive Plan

As part of the LaGrange County Together Comprehensive Plan, we are also making strides in aligning with county-wide initiatives for community health and engagement. Emilee Buller joined the Wellness Connection Collaborative, an initiative formed from the 2019 Community Health Needs Assessment. The latest Community Health Needs Assessment with Parkview LaGrange wrapped up in late 2024. Join us March 13th at Lakeland Primary School from 3-5 pm to learn about the data collected from the Community Health Needs Assessment. To learn more, check out their Facebook page today!

As a result of joining the Wellness Connection Collaborative, Emilee is working on a list of safe places to walk in LaGrange County that can be shared with our community. This has brought light of doing a "LaGrange County Summer Bucket List". This bucket list would shine light on several opportunities throughout the county to encourage family activities that residents may not have otherwise known about.

In addition to community health, Ms Buller has been meeting with various LaGrange County departments (including LaGrange County Planning & Zoning, Highway Department, Chamber of Commerce, Emergency Management, Health Department, and Parkview Health to continue efforts towards the LaGrange County Together Comprehensive Plan. Emilee is planning a State of the County Event in April that will be open to the public and provide a platform for residents to converse one on one with their leaders, while providing an opportunity for county leaders to give updates. These meetings have resulted in progress on 19 comprehensive plan points.

To view a working copy of the LaGrange County Together Comprehensive Plan with updates on the progress being made, please visit our community development website at:

For inquiries or to learn more about community development efforts, please reach out to Emilee Buller, VP of Community Development and Engagement. You can contact her by phone at 260-499-4994 or via email at ebuller@lagrangecountyedc.com.

You're Invited!

LCEDC Resources

Apply for the Workplace Preparedness Funds!

The Workplace Preparedness Funds aim to assist recent LaGrange County graduates of a certification, associate's degree, or bachelor's degree to acquire the tools and supplies needed to begin work.

A recent graduate is defined as an individual who has completed a certification or degree in a field related to the areas of study listed below in the last 12 months and has accepted employment in Northeast Indiana.



Areas of Study:

• Industrial Technology
• Machine Tool Technology
• Engineering Technology
• Sales
• Entrepreneurship-Leadership

For more information, please reach out to Sherri Johnston by phone (260-499-4994) or by email (sjohnston@lagrangecountyedc.com).

NIIC - Entrepreneurship Coach Assistance

Northeast Indiana Innovation Center's (NIIC) Angela Harrison will be at the LaGrange County EDC's office on Tuesday, March 11th and 25th for any individuals who would like to meet with Angela.

Angela can assist any entrepreneur with brainstorming business ideas, how to market their product and other marketing plans, succession planning and so much more! She offers a safe, judgement free space for individuals to share their ideas, ask questions, or assist in finding other resources for their business.

The first THREE sessions are FREE!

For questions or more information, please reach out to Angela at aharrison@niic.net or the LCEDC office.

Purdue MEP Supplier Scouting Opportunities

Purdue Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) is the official representative of the MEP National Network in Indiana. Through this network known as the MEP National Network (MEPNN), Purdue MEP is able to leverage the MEPNN's extensive relationships and knowledge of U.S. manufacturing capabilities and capacity to identify manufacturers across the country that can meet supply chain needs of commercial entities and government agencies.

Purdue MEP is able to connect U.S. manufacturers that have relevant production capabilities and capacities with other manufacturers – enabling them to fulfill current market and societal needs. We can then assist those manufacturers in actually delivering needed products.

For a full list of Open Supplier Scouting Opportunities, please visit the link below.

If you have any questions about the information in this newsletter or would like to learn more, please reach out to the LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation at 260-499-4994 or email Sherri Johnston at sjohnston@lagrangecountyedc.com

LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation

513 W Central Ave

LaGrange, IN 46761

(260) 499-4994

www.LaGrangeCountyEDC.com