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513 W Central Avenue
LaGrange, IN 46761
260-499-4994
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LCEDC Finalizes Purchase of Former Surgery Center to Launch Innovation Center
The LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation (LCEDC) is proud to announce the successful closing on the former surgery center located at 2500 N Ventura Way, just north of the Town of LaGrange. The acquisition marks the first major milestone in the development of the new LaGrange County Innovation Center, a multi-purpose facility designed to address several pressing community and economic development needs.
The renovated building will serve as a dynamic hub for business, childcare, and community engagement. Plans for the facility include:
· New office space for both LCEDC and the LaGrange County Chamber of Commerce
· Flexible co-working space and additional rental offices for startups, non-profits and businesses
· A 60-person community meeting room for public use and events
· A 72-seat licensed childcare center operated by the GO Foundation (Imagination Station)
The project has received widespread support and significant investment from local and state partners. In April, the LaGrange County Commissioners and County Council approved the use of $2.2 million in Major Moves funding to support the initiative. Additional funding includes a $500,000 Lilly Endowment Early Learning Indiana grant, a pending $921,000 READI grant through the State of Indiana, and generous local contributions, including $250,000 from LCEDC, $50,000 from NIPSCO, and $25,000 from the LaGrange County Community Foundation, with more commitments anticipated.
“The Innovation Center represents a transformational opportunity for LaGrange County,” said Sherri Johnston, President & CEO of LCEDC. “This project brings together economic development, early childhood education, and small business support under one roof, all while repurposing an underutilized facility in a strategic location.”
Renovations will be managed by JICI Construction (Angola) and Moake Park Group (Fort Wayne), with a focus on maximizing the involvement of LaGrange County-based contractors and trades wherever possible. Pending final funding approvals, construction is anticipated to begin later this year, with the center expected to open in Fall 2026.
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Made in LaGrange - PowerSafe Automation
Mission: A Turnkey Machine Safety & Automation Solutions Provider
In Wolcottville, Indiana, innovation started 9 years ago inside the walls of PowerSafe Automation, a safety company providing custom machine safety and automation solutions across the country.
PowerSafe Automation was founded in 2016 by Shawn and Tracy Mantel. Shawn has over 30 years of experience in T-slot aluminum extrusion safety industry, and he saw a need in the market to offer not only safety products, but offer installation as well. What began as building small projects from their living room quickly expanded, and in the fall of 2016, they purchased a building in Wolcottville, where the business is still located today.
PowerSafe Automation reflects the company's dual focus on machine safety and electrical tie in—helping factories and industrial operations stay compliant, efficient, and most importantly, safe. The company specializes in custom-designed machine safety guarding made from Aluminum T-Slot framing systems, as well as electrical safety components that integrate directly into their customers’ machines. The purpose of their products is to reduce risk and improve safety in complex machine environments. They often work directly with engineering teams to ensure their solutions meet strict OSHA, ANSI, and other industry safety standards. Each project is designed to the specific needs of a facility—from consultation to design, fabrication, installation, training and more.
PowerSafe started in 2016 with just a few part-time employees. By 2022, they had grown to 11 employees—and as of today, they operate with a team of 22. They continue their growth strategy, employing team members in multiple states to better serve their customers. They are also partnering with risk assessment companies, robotics, and AI driven solutions to better compete in the market.
PowerSafe Automation services clients from coast to coast, and while much of their work happens outside of LaGrange County, their home remains in the Hoosier state. PowerSafe Automation is proud to be part of the LaGrange County manufacturing industry.
To apply for a position with PowerSafe Automation, please contact Samantha Stout at 844-520-SAFE
To learn more about PowerSafe Automation’s services, visit their website at PowerSafeAutomation.com
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Growing Together: Building Leaders for LaGrange County's Future
This month, we proudly launched the third year of Leadership LaGrange County—a program that continues to grow in strength, purpose, and impact since the LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation re-imagined it in late 2021. What began as a revitalized vision for cultivating local leadership has now evolved into a dynamic, collaborative experience.
This year, we’ve joined forces with the LaGrange County Chamber of Commerce to deliver a thoughtfully designed curriculum focused on both personal and professional development. The 2025 cohort, made up of fifteen individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds—business and banking, healthcare, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, farming and young professionals—will meet on the third Friday of each month from May through November, with a graduation luncheon scheduled for December.
Sessions will run from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., rotating through locations across LaGrange County to give participants a broad view of the county. Each session includes focused training around leadership and development topics as well as a monthly panel discussion spotlighting civic leadership in action—highlighting opportunities for engagement, service, and impact across the county. What makes this program especially unique to LaGrange County is that every session and panel features local leaders and homegrown talent—ensuring participants learn directly from the people who live and lead successfully right here in our own communities.
We kicked things off with a full-day summit on May 16th centered around Gallup’s CliftonStrengths assessment. Prior to attending, each participant took the assessment to identify their top five strengths from a set of 34. During the session—led by local Strengths Coach and career HR professional Jenny Landez—participants explored how their individual strengths can show up as assets or challenges in both team and community settings. It was a powerful, introspective way to begin the journey and set the tone for the months ahead.
This program is about more than individual growth. It’s a direct response to a shared vision for LaGrange County’s future, as outlined in the LaGrange County Together Comprehensive Plan. Specifically, Action Item QL 13 calls on us to “Encourage civic leadership,” recognizing that the future of our community depends on preparing the next generation to lead. By offering opportunities for leadership training, mentoring, and connection, we’re laying the groundwork for a thriving, civically engaged county.
As we move forward, we’re excited to see how these leaders will grow—and how their energy, ideas, and commitment will ripple across LaGrange County. Leadership LaGrange County is about investing in people, because when our people grow, our communities grow, too.
So what else from the plan have we been working on? New housing projects (LU 16 Continue supporting the 2021 Housing Strategy); a utility study along South Milford’s rail corridor (LU 15 Explore opportunities for emerging or specialty markets, EC 10 Evaluate opportunities for expansion of rail-served businesses); the LaGrange County Innovation Center (EC 5 Launch a small business development program); quality of life and beautification projects in the town of LaGrange (EC 9 Support pop-up or temporary markets in vacant areas, RI 3 Improve pedestrian safety and streetscape on Detroit Street (SR-9) in LaGrange); investigated Broadband Ready Communities programming (RI 9 Pursue additional broadband funding opportunities); and a new Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan (QL 15 Share the 2019 Multi-
Hazard Mitigation Plan with key organizations). For more information about the plan please visit www.lagrangecountytogether.org or reach out to me at ebuller@lagrangecountyedc.com
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In September 2024, the LaGrange County Commissioners and County Council appointed the LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation (LCEDC) to oversee the implementation of LaGrange County Together, the county’s comprehensive plan, which was developed with extensive community input and includes 75 recommendations across five key areas: Land Use and Development, Local Economy, Natural Environment, Roadways and Infrastructure, and Quality of Life. To support these efforts, LCEDC created a new position dedicated to community development, allowing Emilee Buller to focus on overseeing both the County’s Comprehensive Plan and Strategic Investment Plan. As part of this role, I will be sharing regular updates on community development initiatives in LaGrange County via this monthly column.
| | 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. | | |
Vibes are High at Destination 814
By Brice Vance on June 9, 2025
The next stop in the Pioneer Eats Here series took us to LaGrange County. Despite being one of our more rural counties, LaGrange features an array of food options to choose from. As soon as the voting went live, Destination 814 in LaGrange took the early lead and never looked back, and was voted as the Best Restaurant in LaGrange County! ...
| | 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).
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Help IBF Advance the Cause of Saving More Indiana Heritage Barns! | |
The Indiana Barn Foundation (IBF) has scheduled its 2025 annual meeting at the Beck's Hybrids headquarters in Atlanta, Indiana, for July 12th, and the annual barn tour will be in LaGrange County on September 13th. We invite you or your business/organization to become a sponsor! IBF is pleased to be coming to both these locations and planning is well underway to ensure a wonderful experience for all who attend either or both events.
Our Annual Meeting is not just a business meeting. It includes learning sessions about the restoration of heritage barns and time for members to talk about their barns. The meeting provides opportunities for barn owners to connect with IBF board members, barn contractors, and each other to discuss the saving of Indiana's heritage barns. IBF prides itself on this event which continually draws barn lovers from around the state and beyond.
Our annual Barn Tour is being planned in partnership with LaGrange County Convention and Visitors Bureau and LaGrange County Economic Development and will feature nine heritage barn locations including two Amish homesteads, a honey farm, a Percheron horse barn, and a Bison ranch. The local planning committee also has additional events available on both Friday and Saturday evening so tour goers can make a weekend get-away of the event.
Offering these unique experiences and keeping registration affordable relies upon the generous support of sponsors. IBF would like to invite our members to consider sponsorship of one or both events, either under a business or organization name or as individuals. Please see the following sponsorship levels:
$1,000 Sponsor
Logo/name recognition on the Indiana Barn Foundation website and registration page
Logo/name recognition in annual meeting/barn tour promotion on social media with featured sponsor post
Logo/name recognition on day-of sponsorship placard
Four complimentary annual meeting/barn tour tickets
Indiana Barn Foundation membership
$500 Sponsor
Logo/name recognition on the Indiana Barn Foundation website
Name recognition in annual meeting/barn tour promotion on social media
Logo recognition on day-of sponsorship placard
Four complimentary annual meeting/barn tour tickets
Indiana Barn Foundation membership
$250 Sponsor
Name recognition on the Indiana Barn Foundation website
Name recognition on day-of sponsorship placard
Two complimentary tickets for the annual meeting/barn tour
Indiana Barn Foundation membership
As IBF prepares to ramp up promotion of both events, we want to be sure
sponsors at each level receive the associated benefits. Please let me know of your interest at your earliest convenience at 727-641 6454 or
director@indianabarns.org
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| 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.
| | Indiana Small Business Development Center | | |
Nikki Heffelfinger – Business Advisor – litena01@pfw.edu – 260-481-0495
WORK WITH THE INDIANA SBDC TO SET YOUR BUSINESS UP FOR SUCCESS
Helping Hoosier small businesses at every stage of the entrepreneurial journey The Indiana SBDC offers no-cost business advising, training, referrals, and a library of cultivated tools and resources to help businesses, from startup through sale or retirement, succeed.
2nd Thursday and 3rd Tuesday every month at the LaGrange EDC and Chamber
513 W Central Ave, LaGrange, IN 46761
June Dates: June 12th and June 17th
| | 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 | | Focus Areas & Action Items | |
- Business Retention & Expansion
- Building Upon Assets
- Business Attraction
- Community Development
- Sustainability
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LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation
513 W Central Ave
LaGrange, IN 46761
(260) 499-4994
www.LaGrangeCountyEDC.com
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