LCEDC Leading Stellar Pathways 2024 Application

In January 2024, OCRA (Office of Community and Rural Affairs) launched the improved Stellar Pathways Program, building off of previous reiterations of the Stellar Communities Program.  The Stellar Pathways Program is a multi-agency, multi-million-dollar investment initiative led by the Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

The program works with communities within a county boundary on a shared vision for community and economic development, promotes local and regional partnerships, and assists in implementing sustainable solutions to challenges facing Indiana’s rural communities. The Stellar Pathways program will provide resources for transformative quality of place, community, and regional improvements by:

• Enhancing Regional Planning
• Stellar Pathways, built on OCRA's extensive experience with Stellar Communities, Regional Stellar, and the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program, is focused on accelerating regional planning. The program is designed to scale up local capacity while regional teams create holistic, collaborative plans for community and economic development.
• A Collaborative Approach
• The Stellar Pathways program embodies a spirit of collaboration, mirrored by State partners: the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, Indiana Destination Development Corporation, Indiana Department of Transportation, Indiana Department of Health, and Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
• Resource-Rich Partnerships
• Through these strategic partnerships, Stellar Pathways is poised to offer the necessary resources for transformative quality-of-place improvements. Participants will tap into time-tested community development strategies by leveraging existing assets to stimulate increased regional investment through state and local partnerships.

Any incorporated Indiana community of any size that are not entitled to direct Community Development Block Grant funding through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development are eligible to apply in partnership with either a County Government or a non-profit County leader such as a community foundation or an economic development agency.

The LCEDC staff met with their OCRA Community Liaison concerning the program following the announcement and knew immediately that the program was something our office was interested in pursuing for the county as the county entity. The LCEDC staff traveled to Central Indiana with a team from LaGrange County to a preliminary workshop to learn more about the program and have since begun meeting with local and county officials to work on countywide planning concerning the proposal and to identify potential projects.

Made in LaGrange - Sunrise Metal Shop

It’s no secret that LaGrange County is home to some of the finest and most distinguished craftsman in our country, but we’re betting most of our residents have no idea about the varying skillsets of creators in our area or the impact they have on our local economy. When people think about the phrase ‘Made in LaGrange County’ or the economy here, it’s safe to say our collective, immediate thought is the RV industry. We aren’t diminishing the importance of the RV industry to our County and the economy here; however, we want to bring light to some of the other local industry and share an exclusive look into some of the unique and wonderful things that are happening right here in our rural paradise. This is Made in LaGrange, a feature written by Emilee at LaGrange County Economic Development to showcase the many facets of our complex community and the creators that reside in it.

Nestled in the quaint town of Topeka, Indiana, Sunrise Metal Shop stands as a beacon of craftsmanship and dedication to quality metalwork. With a rich history spanning over more than six decades, this family-owned business has earned a reputation for excellence. Originally established as Topeka Metal shop in 1958 with a change to the name in 1971, Sunrise Metal Shop has been handed down from generation to generation. Today it is owned and operated by a three-way partnership – Father John Kuhns, Son Devon Kuhns and Son-in-law Lee Miller, that was established in 2006 following the passing of its prior owner, John’s father – Enos Kuhns.

At its start the business was a full line plumbing store and custom sheet metal fabricating shop. Today Sunrise Metal Shop caters to a diverse range of clients, serving both commercial and residential needs with unmatched expertise and precision in several markets including both commercial and hobby evaporators for maple syrup, top of the line outdoor BBQ grills and a full line of range hoods and custom metal furnishings. So how did they get here?

When their partnership was formed in 2006 the three men knew that they wanted to drive growth and expansion for the business, and that they may need to get creative. According to Lee they had one customer in particular who was encouraging them to dive further into the fabrication of metal products that are used for cooking maple syrup (evaporators). Prior to 2008 they were doing some evaporator repair work as well as producing single pans and replacement pans for evaporators, but it was around this time that they started to produce complete evaporators. In 2009, Sunrise Metal Shop relocated to a larger facility to accommodate their expanding operations. It was around this time that they started giving the interior metal works portion of their business more attention, producing high end kitchen range hoods and custom bistro shelving among other things. Over the next five years, their workforce grew from 5 to 15 employees, reflecting the company's commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction.

Evaporator production kept the shop busy in fall and winter, but once syrup was done in the spring the men noticed there was a lull in their business. Brainstorming began for new products to offset the uneven production year. Devon was the first to suggest that they try their hands at designing and building a grill. The idea was unpopular at first, dismissed even, as their team didn’t like the idea of building an ordinary grill. After a couple of months, the men came back to the idea – unwilling to compromise on quality, they decided that there was only one place in the market their grill could fit. They decided they would build a grill that would outlast generations, the highest end grill – The Silver Rocket.

Today, with a team of 23 dedicated employees, Sunrise Metal Shop continues to thrive as a leader in the industry. Their commitment to quality craftsmanship, innovation, and customer satisfaction remains unwavering, as they serve both wholesale and retail markets nationwide. According to Lee, they view obstacles as challenges, and challenges as opportunities for growth and learning. Their advice to young and aspiring business owners is to think outside the box, be creative, and find solutions to problems. In an era where mass production often takes precedence over craftsmanship, Sunrise Metal Shop stands as a shining example of what can be achieved through dedication, passion, and good faith. Locals can visit their shop at 3070 W 350 S, Topeka, IN. 46571 or call them at 260-463-4026.

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Do You Need Broadband?

The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program is a federal program with a goal of connecting unserved and underserved locations to broadband service. Indiana received an allocation of $868 million to connect as many Hoosiers as possible.

The BEAD program uses the FCC National Broadband Map to determine these levels of service. The Indiana Broadband Office is starting its Challenge Process to correct these locations. Say an individual's home is identified as "served" on the FCC map, but that location is in fact not able to receive service at all - this would be the way to correct the map and, therefore, increase the likelihood of getting services to that location. 

Internet Service Providers (ISPs), governments, and non-profit organizations are the only ones who can submit corrections to the FCC map. Be Noble Inc. encourages governments and non-profits who serve individuals who lack internet services in Noble County to attend an upcoming webinar to learn more about how to submit challenges to correct the FCC map.

Ag Grants Available

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture has announced a cooperative agreement to bring over $6.7 million in competitive grant funding for projects designed to build resilience across the middle of the supply chain. Indiana businesses and producers that work in the middle of the food chain sector (from the farm gate to the end retail market) are eligible to apply. Eligible product ideas include creating a produce packing line, value-added dairy and egg products, establishing or expanding a co-packing facility or building a commercial kitchen. Much more information is available via the link provided. Click the button above for more information.

Additional Resources

In LaGrange County we know that access to affordable childcare and early learning affects everyone – both our residents and our businesses alike. In order for our county to retain businesses and help them expand, it is critical that they be able to retain employees. It’s no secret that parents miss work due to a lack of childcare, and LaGrange county falls into what is classified as a childcare desert. This is why LCEDC is a part of the Early Childhood Coalition and is supporting the efforts of Thrive by 5. Thrive by 5 is an organization that is dedicated to helping the community thrive by increasing capacity, affordability, and quality of childcare in both LaGrange and Noble Counties. Click here to find out how you can get involved:

Indiana has a brand new entrepreneurship portal, ConnectIND! This portal of over 2000 entrepreneurship resources and organizations will only help further innovation and success across the state. Below, we have included a portal link - the portal was designed to empower ESOs and Hoosier entrepreneurs to connect with each other and our state's entrepreneurial ecosystem. You're invited to join this community of like-minded ESOs and entrepreneurs who share your passion for success. Start exploring today!

As advocates for Indiana’s thousands of manufacturers, Purdue Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) provides high-value solutions to help businesses maximize their success. Our staff identifies areas for improvement, streamlines processes, and ultimately increases competitiveness.

Since 2005, Purdue MEP has helped Hoosier manufacturers collectively achieve over $6.6 billion of economic impact and assisted our state-wide network of 8,000 manufacturers with:

• Producing products faster, better, and more economical
• Introducing engineering and technology solutions
• Training and upskilling the manufacturing workforce
• Overcoming employee attraction and retention challenges
• Achieving and maintaining customer-required certifications
• Securing state and federal funding or grants to lower costs
• Making products more profitable
• Clean, sustainable manufacturing processes

To learn more about how Purdue MEP provides affordable solutions for all of your manufacturing challenges please feel free to reach out to our LaGrange County Purdue Extension Office at 260-499-6334. To view a full catalog of courses offered, please click below. Workshops are available online, in person, and on demand!