March 2026 Alliance Newsletter

A summer of celebrations for America's 250th

The "From Strawberries to Stars & Stripes" summer series brings together many of the community’s favorite festivals, concerts, games and traditions into one shared five-week celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday.

The Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance has been working with community partners and event organizers to help connect these activities into a cohesive five-week season of events that highlights the best of summer in Kokomo. By coordinating promotion and storytelling around these gatherings, the goal is to make it easier for residents and visitors alike to experience everything happening across the community during a very special summer.

The series begins with the Strawberry Festival and builds through concerts and community events before culminating in a full day of patriotic celebrations, Kokomo Creek Chubs baseball and fireworks on July 4.

Learn more and explore the full calendar at greaterkokomo.com/summer2026

INVENTREK TECHNOLOGY PARK

Level Up program continues to make an impact

Inventrek Tech Park's Level Up Business Branding Program continues to help local entrepreneurs strengthen how they present and grow their businesses.

Through the program in partnership with Vision Studio, participating small businesses receive professional branding and marketing support, helping them refine their messaging, develop creative assets and build a stronger presence in the marketplace.

As the program continues, participating businesses are already seeing the impact, gaining new tools and confidence to tell their stories and connect with customers.

Explore the businesses participating in Level Up and see how their brands are evolving by clicking here.

Deadline approaching for Drive applications

Time is running out to apply for the 2026 edition of The Drive, Howard County’s annual business pitch competition that awards $10,000 in seed funding to a local startup or small business ready to grow.

This year’s program features a streamlined six-month timeline designed to better fit the schedules of busy entrepreneurs while still providing the coaching, feedback and pitch development that make the program valuable.

Entrepreneurs who participated in Level Up are especially encouraged to apply and continue building on the progress they’ve already made.

Applications close March 31, and the competition will culminate with a live pitch event on Oct. 15.

Apply now and learn more at greaterkokomo.com/thedrive.

Founder Forum creating space for real conversations

Some of the best conversations among local entrepreneurs are happening each month at the Founder Forum, a casual gathering designed to connect founders, small-business owners and innovators from across Howard County.

The monthly meetups give entrepreneurs a place to talk through challenges, share wins and exchange ideas with others who understand the realities of running a business. The discussions are informal, participant-driven and often lead to new connections, collaborations and fresh perspectives.

The Founder Forum grew out of the Linked to the Future masterclass series and continues through a partnership between Inventrek Tech Park and Vision Studio to keep entrepreneurs connected beyond the classroom.

The next meeting is Wednesday, April 1, from noon to 1 p.m. at a location to be announced.

Get details here

Small business owners and entrepreneurs are invited to a free, hands-on QuickBooks and Bookkeeping Essentials Workshop happening in Kokomo on April 30 - May 1. Hosted by Inventrek Tech Park, this 2-day training is designed to build confidence and practical skills in managing business finances — whether you're just starting out or looking to streamline your current process.

Learn how to:

• Set up and use QuickBooks effectively

• Handle day-to-day and month-end bookkeeping tasks

• Understand financial statements to make better decisions

Participants should bring a laptop or tablet with a keyboard for optimal engagement.

Click here to register

This no-cost workshop is made possible through Indiana’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Technical Assistance program.

GREATER KOKOMO DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION

Applications open for 2026 Strawberry Festival

Summer in Kokomo begins with strawberry shortcake, and planning is already underway for the 28th annual Kokomo Strawberry Festival on Friday, June 5, 2026 in downtown Kokomo.

The festival draws thousands for a full day of strawberry shortcake, food vendors, artisan goods, live music, and family-friendly fun, including the popular Artsapalooza Art Market featuring juried artists and makers.

Want to be part of it? Applications are now open for food vendors, artists and makers for Artsapalooza, and the volunteers who help bring the festival to life.

Mark your calendars! A year of First Friday fun in downtown Kokomo kicks off on Friday, May 1 with an evening filled with art, shopping, dining and family-friendly fun. Details here

While you’re there, take a look at the full 2026 lineup and start planning your year downtown!

GREATER KOKOMO VISITORS BUREAU

Sharing Kokomo's story with travel media

The Greater Kokomo Visitors Bureau recently took part in the Indiana Media Marketplace, an annual event that connects tourism organizations with travel writers, broadcasters, bloggers and content creators from across the region and beyond.

During the event, the staff met with media representatives from magazines, traditional media, and digital platforms to share story ideas and invite them to experience Kokomo firsthand. These conversations help generate media coverage that introduces new audiences to the festivals, attractions and experiences that make Howard County a great place to visit.

By building relationships with travel media, the Visitors Bureau helps bring more attention to the community and encourages visitors to discover everything happening in Kokomo.

Community calendar moves to new home

Our online community events calendar has a new home. You can now find upcoming Kokomo-area events, festivals and activities at events.visitkokomo.org.

The calendar is maintained by the Greater Kokomo Visitors Bureau as a free resource to help residents and visitors discover what’s happening across Kokomo and Howard County. By gathering events in one place, it helps local organizations promote their activities while making it easier for people to explore the community and support local events.

Be sure to update your bookmarks and stay connected with everything happening in Kokomo.

Check it out here

GREATER KOKOMO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Join us to celebrate this great small business!

4-4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 19 | Event details here

UPCOMING CHAMBER EVENTS

11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. April 15

Bel Air Events
3014 S. Webster St., Kokomo

Hear from the Howard County Commissioners about what's been accomplished in the last year and
what's ahead for 2026.

Learn more

8:30-9:30 a.m. April 24

Inventrek's Shared Drive

700 E. Firmin St., Kokomo

Whether you're a new member looking to get connected or a long-time member wanting to re-engage, join us to help maximize your Chamber membership.

Learn more

KOKOMO CONFERENCE CENTER

Construction continues to speed along downtown

Construction continues on the Downtown Kokomo Conference Center, and the latest photos offer an exciting look at the progress now taking shape.

You can now see the emerging ballroom space, the future automotive museum, and the floor-to-ceiling windows that will bring natural light and views of downtown into the facility. Each milestone brings the project closer to opening and to welcoming meetings, events and visitors to Kokomo.

View the latest construction photos and follow the project’s progress on the conference center's Facebook page here.

New positions now posted for conference center

As construction continues on the Kokomo Conference Center, a wide range of new job opportunities are now posted on the center’s website.

Positions include roles in the kitchen and hospitality team, from chef and kitchen staff to servers, bartenders and dishwashers, along with team members who will help with event setup and teardown.

These roles will help bring meetings, banquets and community events to life when the center opens. Those interested in joining the team can view open positions and apply through the conference center’s website.

See the open positions here

Internship opportunities available

Students and emerging professionals can also gain hands-on experience through internship opportunities connected to the conference center. Available areas include event planning, hospitality marketing, hospitality sales and culinary management, offering a chance to learn about the many moving parts that make conferences and large events successful.

Get started here