2016 Annual Update

2016 Annual Update

Mission, Vision & Values The mission of the Grant County Economic Growth Council is to facilitate investment and reinvestment for job retention and creation. “ We will be the champions of collaboration, leading the charge to make Grant County one of the best places to live, learn, work, ” and retire in Indiana. The Growth Council strives to incorporate these critical pillar values into every Growth Council event, program, initiative, and partnership. 2

Strategic Vision Snapshot (2010-2015) Accomplishments by category Employment & Workforce Cafe Valley Grand Opening - 2013 Grant’s Got Talent - 2014 Dunham’s Expansion - 2015 Facebook Job Postings - 2015 Starting & Growing Local Revolving Loan Fund Expansion - 2010 Tools for Business - 2011 Buzzword Campaign - 2013 Date to Innovate - 2014 Retaining Young Talent Young Entrepreneurs Program - 2010 Grant for Grads - 2011 Innovative Network II - 2011 Talent Canvas - 2015 Power of Collaboration Boards joined: Main Streets Chambers of Commerce ISCDC ECIRP ACP “ ” Did you Know? Executive Director Tim Eckerle was named one of the top 50 economic developers in the country in 2016 3

Strategic Vision 2017 Growth Council Goals Proactively collaborate with educational institutions and organizations with complimentary missions Strive to provide an attractive and safe community that appeals to and retains young talent Create an environment conducive to small business growth and development 4 Collaboration Innovation Reputation

WORKING TO BE Champions of Collaboration Champions of Opportunity WORKING FOR THOSE WHO Live in Grant County Learn in Grant County Work in Grant County Retire in Grant County Collaboration Innovation Reputation 5

Investment $ $131,876,855 Invested in 2016! The Growth Council hosts the Investor Appreciation Luncheon to honor businesses in Grant County who invested $25,000 or more in new capital investment for each calendar year. In 2016, 61 businesses invested a total of $131,876,855. The Growth Council has hosted this luncheon every year since 2000. 1,200 investments have since been recognized and the total amount invested since now exceeds $2,640,000,000! “ ” Did you Know? The Growth Council’s Project Thank You reached over 100 site selectors and decision makers around the country in 6 December 2016

2016 Highlights General Motors announced $91 million modernization project at their Marion metal stamping facility Earthwise Plastics bought a 186,000 SF building in Gas City to expand their Marion operations The Growth Council team met personally with more than 30 site selectors from around the country to discuss potential projects and Grant County assets The Growth Council followed through on 30 business development inquiries The Growth Council team connected with 100 small businesses to offer assistance 7

Events 2016 Spirit of Entrepreneurship Winners Roger Dyson & Jim Gartland! The SOE Award, presented at the Spirit of Entrepreneurship Dinner, honors successful businesses that have started and grown in Grant County. Over 100 guests attended the 2016 event where both Jim Gartland of Atlas Foundry and Roger Dyson of Earthwise Plastics joined the ranks of Spirit of Entrepreneurship winners. To date, 12 entrepreneurs have received this prestigious award. Date to Innovate 2016 was the 3rd annual innovation luncheon. Put on with the help of Taylor and IWU students, the event hosted over 100 attendees and featured 3 compelling speakers who have demonstrated success in innovation across Indiana. 8

Manufacturers Luncheon The Manufacturers Council meets for a quarterly lunch meeting. The meetings are a forum to discuss successes and pitfalls in the industry. 2016 meetings primarily focused on the problem of finding skilled workforce. From the 2016 meetings, new initiatives are being created through the Talent Canvas to open the door for Grant County students to explore a career in manufacturing. Local Elected Officials (LEO) Dinner LEO dinners foster collaboration among Grant County officials while providing information on relevant topics like grants or taxes. These meetings first began in 1996, and until last year were the only gathering of their kind in the state of Indiana. The 2016 meetings featured a new addition to the agenda: community updates. At each meeting, 3-4 towns and school corporations share achievements and upcoming projects. These updates give LEOs the chance to brag on their communities and give attendees a fuller picture of what’s going on in Grant County. “ ” Did you Know? The Growth Council received 22 nominations for the Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award in 2016, a new record 9

Small Business Initiative The Growth Council launched its Small Business Initiative in 2016. After some initial research, the team developed this 3-phase plan to create a more cohesive support network for entrepreneurs in Grant County. 1 Publish a Pocket Guide With basic resources & first steps to starting a business 2 Compile a Resource Guide Of services & contacts from local firms for small businesses 3 Business Association Establish a Small To foster collaboration & local support Pocket Guides available now! Resource Guide published on grantcounty.com SBA Coming Soon! “ ” Did you Know? 1/3 of 2016 Grant County business investments recognized at the 10 annual Appreciation Luncheon were small businesses

Watch the latest Growth Council Video! The Heart of Grant County This brief video highlights Check it out stories of entrepreneurship, on YouTube! collaboration, and success. It was produced in partnership with the Taylor University Media Department and With basic resources & first steps to starting a business is available for viewing on both the Growth Council YouTube page and the Growth Council website. Of services & contacts from local firms for small businesses To foster collaboration & local support Shop Small 11

Student Development The Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEP) is a 10 week high school business plan competition which awards scholarships to the top 3 winning teams. Students learn business fundamentals from local experts and put together a business plan they think meets a need in Grant County. 14 $8,500 YEP Students Scholarships in 2016 in 2016 155 $67,000 YEP Students Scholarships Overall Overall 2016 Highlights NEW BRAND! YEP underwent its first rebranding process in 2016, introducing the new logo shown above. PROGRAM REVIEW Following the 2016 program, the Growth Council will reassess YEP to see if a new structure could open up the program to include more students and school districts. Because of this, YEP will not take place in 2017. 12

The I-69 Challenge brings together students from colleges along the I-69 corridor for a weekend competition in which the students must develop for-profit solutions to a chosen social problem. Teams have 24 hours to create their plans, and the winning teams receive monetary prizes. The social problem for 2016 was lack of education. 20 4 2016 Schools Indiana Wesleyan University i-69 students colleges in 2016 in 2016 Huntington University Taylor University 212 6 Grace College I-69 students colleges overall Overall 2016 Highlights NEW SCHOOL! Grace College participated in the challenge for the first time in 2016. The Growth Council will continue to include new schools moving forward, beginning with Ivy Tech Community College in 2017. “ ” Did you Know? Business Development Director Charity Bailey was selected as a judge for Kentucky’s 2016 statewide collegiate entrepreneurship competition 13

Workforce Grant for Grads is a housing assistance program created by the Growth Council and administered by the Affordable Housing Corporation. This program is for graduates with an associate’s degree or higher who are choosing to live and work in Grant County. The Growth Council gives up to $5,000 for a home purchase or up to $2,500 in rental assistance to those who qualify. 2016 Recipients 31 $42,993 25 $36,921 AVg buyer Avg buyer AVg Renter Avg renter age income age income Where They Work “ ” Did you Know? Grant for Grads was featured at the International Economic Development Council’s annual conference for being a top talent 14 attraction & retention tool

Grant’s Got Talent is a work force development program designed to help close the skills gap in Grant County. This program offers training for long term careers in manufacturing. Previous classes trained unemployed Grant County residents and then introduced them to employers for entry level jobs. The 2016 class has opened the training up to employers who want to train entry level workers for higher level positions. 12 6 27 38 2016 2016 Total Students to be Participants Employers Graduates trained by 2018 $250,000! The Growth Council was awarded a work force development grant through the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) for $250,000 which will help to fund Grant’s Got Talent for 2016-2017. Thank you OCRA! 15

Talent Canvas The Talent Canvas is an exploratory effort meant to help create new programs, partnerships, and opportunities for Grant County students that better prepare them to enter the workforce. In 2016 the Talent Canvas focused on three main areas: manufacturing, computer coding, and entrepreneurship training. Manufacturing In fall 2016, the Growth Council planned visits to three Grant County high schools for local manufacturers to come and speak about careers in their industry. They spoke on what opportunities exist within manufacturing, what it takes to succeed, and how to begin a career. Moving into 2017, the Growth Council will be working even more closely with the schools and manufacturers to develop a four year plan that will provide opportunities to prepare for careers in manufacturing. Schools Manufacturers Eastbrook American Woodmark Oak Hill Hartson Kennedy Marion Weaver Popcorn General Motors 16

Coding Academy The Growth Council met several times with Grant County teachers, superintendents, and a coding academy out of Fishers to explore the possibility of a coding program for Grant County high school students. Due to costs and logistics, the program did not come together. However, soon after the Marion Public Library and The Refinery Business Center began offering intro coding classes, which the Growth Council supported through promotion. Business 4 Kids Business 4 Kids is a creation of the Taylor University Enactus Team. The Growth Council has partnered with Enactus 2 years in a row to bring this age-appropriate introduction to entrepreneurship to 5th and 6th grade students in the Eastbrook school system. “ ” Did you Know? The Growth Council was one of the founding members of Project Leadership and continues to be a financial supporter of the program 17

University Partnerships Internship The Growth Council participated in the Fall intern fairs at both Taylor and Indiana Wesleyan University and hired an IWU intern for the Summer and Fall of 2016. Spark Tank & Shark Tank Growth Council staff attended Spark Tank to support Indiana Wesleyan students’ business ideas and Charity Bailey of the Growth Council was a judge for Taylor’s Shark Tank competition. Mock Interviews Growth Council staff led mock interviews for the Office of Career Development at Indiana Wesleyan and the Calling & Career Office at Taylor in an effort to help prepare students for entering the workforce. Marion Design Co. The Growth Council sponsored Marion Design Co. students to attend Centric’s Day of Innovation conference in Indianapolis and participated in Marion Design Co.’s design thinking sessions during their rebranding process for the City of Marion. Video Production 3 Taylor students worked through the Fall semester with the Growth Council team to produce the Small Business video, which was featured at Taylor’s Envision Film Festival and won an Indiana Association of School Broadcasters Award. 18

University Partnerships Social Media Grant County Job Openings 2016 was the first full year of posting jobs for contributors and non-profits to the Growth Council Facebook page. See what happened! x2! 228 posts in 2016 4,723 shares in 2016 New! The Growth Council has a new social media account! Follow @GCEGC on Instagram to see highlights of local businesses and events! @GCEGC Follow Us! @GCEGC Linkedin.com/in/GCEGC Youtube.com/TheGCEGC “ ” Did you Know? The Growth Council website went through a major overhaul in 2016 to improve mobile accessibility and user experience 19

Thank You Contributors! Abbey Carpet Double H Manufacturing Advanced Cabinet Systems Duke Energy AFENA Federal Credit Union Dulin Ward & DeWald Agricor Dunham’s Sports American Mobile Power E & J Investments American Woodmark Earthwise Plastics Ardagh Group Ewer & Moritz Armes-Hunt Funeral Home Faegre Baker Daniels Atlas Foundry Fairmount State Bank Avis Industrial Corporation Findlay’s Tall Timbers Bahr Brothers Manufacturing, Inc. First Option Trucking Barns and Thornburg Franklin Electric Best One Tire & Auto Care Garcor Supply Company Big R Stores Gary Williams Remodeling BKD General Motors Bowman Construction Good Neighbor Pharmacy Café Valley Gorman Center for Orthodontics Canine’s Choice GP Designs Cannon Real Estate Grant County Carol Myer Grant County Abstract Central Indiana Ethanol, LLC Grant County State Bank Christen Souers Grant County Steel City of Gas City Hartson Kennedy City of Jonesboro HJ Umbaugh & Associates City of Marion Hometown Express Collins Group, Inc. Hoosier Jiffy Print Colonial Oaks Health Care Center Horner’s Butcher Block Computer Age Engineering Huhtamaki Inc. Dawson Oil Co., Inc. Hutchens Construction Denise Alexander-Pyle, Attorney at law IMI Dollar General Indiana Michigan Power 20

Thank You Contributors! Indiana Wesleyan University R & R Engineering Insurance Management Group Rea Logan & Associates Ivy Tech Community College Realtor Association of Central Indiana J. Trans, Inc. Rex Collins Electric J.G. Bowers Riverside Community Federal Credit Union K & L Dental Southworth Ford Kennedy’s Inc. Spitzer, Herriman, Stephenson, Kiley, Harker & Certain Law Firm Holderead, Conner & Persinger LLP Lein Corporation STAR Financial Bank Maidenberg Associates Stifel Marion Family Optometrist T.J.R. Marion General Hospital Taylor University Marion Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery TLC Management Marion Tire, Inc. Town of Converse Marion Utility Service Board Town of Fairmount Mason Village Town of Fowlerton Matthew’s Feed & Grain Town of Matthews Matthews Buick Town of Swayzee McClure Oil Corporation Town of Sweetser Mike Anderson Dodge Town of Upland Mutual Bank Town of Van Buren Needham Storey Wampner Funeral Home Tri Green Tractor North American Manufacturing Vectren Olynger Corp VIA Credit Union Oral & Facial Cosmetic Surgery Wal-Mart Distribution Center Owen Weilert Duncan Funeral Home Walnut Creek & Club Run Peerless Machine & Tool Welch Packaging Marion Peerless Printing Wiley Metal Fabricating Precision Tool & Die Winterfield LLC Pro Prints Gear Zacher Company Progressive Cancer Care 21

Community Partners 22

2017 Board Members PRESIDENT VP STRATEGY & EVALUATION Bill Gartland Scott Adams PRESIDENT ELECT VP MARKETING Brett Carey Kyle Hawkins TREASURER VP RESOURCE Josh Matchette Anne Duncan BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONSULTANTS Dave Abernathy Chuck Binkerd Jess Alumbaugh Jerry Breeck Jeff Aupperle Scott Deetz Mark Bardsley Jacquie Dodyk Michelle Bunker Judy Fitzgerald Aaron Caudell Mike Flynn Terry Cheney Brett Garrett Tom Gallagher Kayla Johnson Phil Herring Kylie Jackson Dave Homer John Lightle Alex Huskey Brad Lindsay Larry Leach Joel Martin Trevor Martens Tab McKenzie Jim McWhirt Bob McNutt Scott Murphy Tequilla Page Shane Nevers Ashley Savieo Jodi Pomeroy Larry Strange Wendy Puffer Larry Terwillegar Adrienne Rines Randy Sneed Tim Street-Past President Kelly Turner Jeff Wakefield 23

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