News

Knowing When to Part Ways: A Practical Guide for Handling Employee or Contractor Terminations

Business leaders, HR managers, and founders eventually face one of the most difficult management decisions: letting someone go. Whether the person is an employee or a contractor, the decision affects morale, productivity, and the organization’s culture. Handling the situation thoughtfully protects the company while maintaining fairness and professionalism.Key Takeaways Performance patterns matter more than isolated mistakes. Clear expectations and documentation reduce legal and operational

Freedom 250 Mobile Museum at Indiana Wesleyan University March 19-21

  Indiana Wesleyan University is honored to invite you to experience the Freedom 250 Mobile Museum as our nation kicks off its celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. Freedom 250 is a White House initiative launched to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States. The Freedom 250 Truck Mobile Museums are an outreach effort from this initiative, operated by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), to bring the story of America’s founding directly to communities across the

IU Kokomo Art Gallery Features High School Exhibition Including Grant County Students

PRESS RELEASE More photos here.  IU Kokomo Art Gallery features high school exhibition The exhibition includes work by students from Guerin Catholic, Lafayette Jefferson, Mississinewa, Northfield, Peru, Taylor, Tipton, and Western high schools. KOKOMO, Ind. — Creative work by 65 area high school juniors and seniors is showcased in the Indiana University Kokomo Art Gallery’s newest exhibition. The 28th Annual High School Art Exhibition continues through Wednesday, April 1, and includes artwork in a

Growing Together: Community Seed Swap & Giveaway Returns to Minnetrista on March 21

Growing Together: Community Seed Swap & Giveaway Returns to Minnetrista on March 21 Written By Brea Cunningham March 10, 2026 Media Contact: Brea Cunningham, Director of Marketing & CommunicationsE-mail: bcunningham@minnetrista.netTel: 765.287.3525   Muncie, IN—Minnetrista Museum & Gardens, in partnership with Red-tail Land Conservancy, Delaware County Invasive Plant Project, the Master Gardeners of Delaware County, and the East Central chapter of the Indiana Native Plant Society, invites the community

IWU Receives Gift of The Center for Sports and Physical Therapy and The Wellness Center from Alumni

Contacts: Pam Downing, Director of Communications pam.downing@indwes.edu Indiana Wesleyan University Receives Gift of The Center for Sports and Physical Therapy and The Wellness Center from Alumni Lee and Lori Smith MARION, Ind. (March 17, 2026) — Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) announced today a generous gift from alumni Lee and Lori Smith. The gift includes ownership of The Center for Sports and Physical Therapy, with locations in Wabash and Marion, as well as The Wellness Center in Marion. “We

How Huntington Business Owners Can Make Every Presentation Pay Off

Public speaking is one of the most underleveraged growth tools available to small business owners. A single well-delivered talk can generate leads, open doors with investors, and establish your credibility faster than any ad campaign. For owners connected to the Greater Grant County Chamber, that opportunity is closer than most realize — and the business owners who step up to speak are consistently ahead of those who don't.The Real Cost of Staying Quiet If you've decided public speaking "just isn't for

Why Financial Literacy Is a Core Skill for Small Business Owners

Small business owners operate at the center of every major decision their company makes. Financial knowledge—understanding cash flow, costs, pricing, and profitability—helps owners make decisions that keep the business stable and growing. Without a clear grasp of the numbers behind operations, even a strong product or service can struggle to sustain itself. When entrepreneurs understand how money moves through their company, they gain the ability to plan ahead, manage risk, and respond to unexpected

Marion Robotics Squad Headed to State Finals

Marion robotics squad headed to state finalsMcCulloch Tech Giants will compete on March 14 in Indianapolis McCulloch Junior High’s Tech Giants are headed to state finals!  Earlier this year, the Tech Giants Team B earned their state finals berth by claiming the Robot Skills Champion Award during the invitational held at Justice Intermediate School on Feb. for the Frances Slocum Elementary League on Feb. 29.  Congratulations to these skilled and dedicated students on this achievement! The VEX IQ State

City of Marion Gives $20K to CASA of Grant County to help offset Federal Funding Loss

City Gives $20K to CASA of Grant County to help offset Federal Funding LossShareemailfacebooklinkedin Mar 11, 2026  |  Web Administrator May­or Ronald Mor­rell, Jr. has giv­en $20,000 on behalf of the City of Mar­i­on to assist CASA of Grant Coun­ty, Inc. after learn­ing of a sig­nif­i­cant drop in their fed­er­al funding. CASAs are Court Appoint­ed Spe­cial Advo­cates for Chil­dren. CASA of Grant Coun­ty, Inc. served near­ly 300 chil­dren in 2025, and cur­rent­ly oper­ates with a wait­ing list

Learn to Skate at Idyl Wyld

Idyl Wyld Offers Monthly Memberships

College Takeover at Idyl Wyld March 20th

Idyl Wyld March Calendar

I&M Offers Free Online Sessions to Help Customers Understand Their Bills

I&M Offers Free Online Sessions to Help Customers Understand Their Bills   FORT WAYNE, IN, March 04, 2026 – Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is hosting four “Understanding Your Bill” virtual learning sessions.  The events, which will be held for I&M residential customers in both states, are designed to help customers gain a clearer understanding of how their monthly bill is calculated. I&M leadership and members of the customer service and regulatory teams will lead online sessions to walk customers through

New Coaches, New Energy for MHS Soccer Teams

New coaches, new energy for MHS soccer teamsWelcome, Coach Hancock and Coach Allison! Both the boys and girls soccer teams at Marion High School will have new head coaches at the helm heading into the 2026 season.  Both coaches are on the job and planning for the coming season. MHS and MCS are excited to see the next chapter of Giants soccer begin. Hancock to head up girls soccer Blake Hancock has been selected as the next head coach for the MHS girls soccer team, bringing with him more than a decade of

Twin Sisters Pioneer Honors Program for Online RN to BSN Students

  PRESS RELEASE Twin sisters pioneer honors program for online RN to BSN students KOKOMO, Ind. — Twin sisters Ashley Derf and Heather Grandstaff love a challenge. So, when they were invited to join Indiana University Kokomo’s honors program as students in the online RN to BSN program, the siblings were determined to take the opportunity. Grandstaff, from Walton, reached out to honors program director Nick Baxter, assistant professor of sociology, who told her no student in her program had ever

Ball State PBS Documentary: ''Now Entering Marion''

AnnouncementBall State PBS Documentary: "Now Entering Marion"Shareemailfacebooklinkedintwitterreddit Mar 9, 2026  |  Web Administrator Ball State PBS’s most recent doc­u­men­tary under their ​“Now Enter­ing…” series is all about Mar­i­on, Indi­ana — hon­ing in on our rich his­to­ry, the arts, basketball. It is view­able on YouTube at:  Related Posts

Grant County Economic Growth Council Announces Retirement of Executive Director Chuck Binkerd

NearSpace Education Summer Camps Registration Open Now

Health Professions Exploration Camp Offers Hands-on Experience for Middle Schoolers: Enrolling Now

  PRESS RELEASE Health Professions Exploration camp offers hands-on experience for middle schoolers KOKOMO, Ind. — Do you know a middle school student interested in health care? Register them for an inside look at careers in nursing and beyond at the Indiana University Kokomo Health Professions Exploration camp, planned for June 22-26 on campus. Leigh Swartzendruber, director of the RN to BSN track and clinical assistant professor of nursing, and Christy Douglas, director of the occupational therapy

Local Radio Stations Announce 2026 Central Indiana Home & Garden Show April 18th

Local Radio Stations, Radio 80's, Radio Classics, The Boot, and Gospel Praise are excited to announce the 2026 Central Indiana Home and Garden Show.  The show will take place on April 18th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Grant County Family YMCA.  This is a great opportunity for the public to see what businesses offer.  Station owner had this to say about the event.  "We feel like this show will be able to showcase local businesses to the public. Whether people are looking for lawn and garden help,

Marion Community School of the Arts Now Accepting Applications for 2026–2027 Board of Directors

​Brianna Coffing <bcoffing@chronicle-tribune.com>;​Haley Anderson <haley@showmegrantcounty.com>;​+17 others​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Marion Community School of the Arts Now Accepting Applications for 2026–2027 Board of Directors Marion, IN — The Marion Community School of the Arts (CSA) is pleased to announce that it is now accepting applications for individuals interested in serving on its Board of Directors for the 2026–2027 term. CSA invites community members who are passionate about

Dozens of Marion Musicians Earn ISSMA’s Top Award at State Solo & Ensemble

Dozens of Marion musicians earn ISSMA’s top award at State Solo & Ensemble   Marion Community Schools congratulates more than four dozen outstanding young musicians from Marion High School and McCulloch Junior High who competed recently at ISSMA’s annual State Solo & Ensemble competition! We are proud of these artists, who all took on a high degree of difficulty to reach the state level. Impressively: 16 of them earned the top adjudication award, Gold with Distinction, which recognizes a high degree of

36th Minnetrista Annual Juried Art Show, on view through May 3, 2026, at Minnetrista Museum & Gardens.

Written By Brea Cunningham Muncie, IN—Experience the vibrant tapestry of Indiana’s artistic talent at the 36th Minnetrista Annual Juried Art Show, on view from February 28 through May 3, 2026, at Minnetrista Museum & Gardens. Celebrating creativity across the Hoosier State, this juried exhibition showcases a diverse array of artistic expressions and invites visitors to immerse themselves in the rich world of fine art.  This year’s exhibition was juried by Erika Kvam, Director and Head Curator of Purdue

Conrad T ''Gunny'' Heslin Memorial Scholarship Applications Open

Application Link

Marion Community School of the Arts Awarded IYI Well-Being Project Grant to Strengthen Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Efforts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarion Community School of the Arts Awarded IYI Well-Being Project Grant to Strengthen Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Efforts Marion, Indiana — Marion Community School of the Arts (CSA) is proud to announce that it has been awarded the IYI Well-Being Project Grant to support a comprehensive Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) initiative across the organization. This grant will allow CSA to take intentional steps toward strengthening equitable access,

''Champion for Children'' Award Nomination Form Page 1

''Champion for Children'' Award Nomination Form Page 2

Det. Lt. Leland Smith to Retire after 20 Years with MPD

Det. Lt. Leland Smith to Retire after 20 Years with MPDShareemailfacebooklinkedin Feb 25, 2026  |  Web Administrator Mar­i­on Police Depart­ment Detec­tive Lieu­tenant Leland Smith will retire in May, com­plet­ing 20 years of service. Fol­low­ing a 15-year career with Mar­i­on Com­mu­ni­ty Schools, Smith became an MPD Police Offi­cer on May 8th, 2006. He served on Patrol, Crash Inves­ti­ga­tion Team, Hon­or Guard, then was select­ed to join Mar­i­on and Grant County’s Joint Effort Against Nar­cotics

I&M Announces Base Rate Reduction for Hoosiers Through Customer Benefits Plan

2026 Senior Expo with The Marion-Grant County Senior Center May 1st

2026 Senior Expo Registration Due March 31

Cooking Class at The Mansion, March 25

Upcoming Events at the Hostess House

City of Marion Launches Repayable Loan Program for Investors of Underutilized Buildings

Find Repayable Loan Program Details HERE

Dozens of Marion Musicians Advance to ISSMA’s Solo & Ensemble State Competition

Dozens of Marion musicians advance to ISSMA’s Solo & Ensemble state competition   Dozens of Marion Community Schools students competed in the annual ISSMA Solo & Ensemble competitions in the past month, and many brought home top ratings for their performances. More than 50 Marion Community Schools students have advanced to the state level competition! State qualifiers:  Audrey Alsup (10th) Nolan Berryhill (11th) Madelynn Boogar* (11th) Skylar Boogar (10th) Cassandra Bucher (12th) Mariana Castro

Huhtamaki Foundation Boosts GRCC Advanced Manufacturing Program

Huhtamaki Foundation boosts GRCC advanced manufacturing programGrant will support expansion of opportunities for area students Grant Regional Career Center is excited to be a recipient of a Huhtamaki Foundation grant of $20,000 to support their advanced manufacturing program. Huhtamaki, which operates a manufacturing facility in Marion that produces paper goods, supports community initiatives and organizations through their foundation.  “Huhtamaki supports community initiatives and organizations to

Radiant Health Announces 22nd Annual Circle of Friends Fundraiser

Radiant Health Announces 22nd Annual Circle of Friends Fundraiser [Marion, IN – 2/19/26] Radiant Health will host its 22nd Annual Circle of Friends  Fundraiser, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Ivy Tech  Community College – Conference Center, 261 S. Commerce Dr., Marion, IN 46953.  Presented by Charlie & Bernie Wallace, this year’s event will center on the theme “Find Your  Way Forward,” emphasizing not only the power of community support, but also the

IU Kokomo Offers Free Financial Aid Help at College Goal Sunday, Feb. 22

  PRESS RELEASE IU Kokomo offers free financial aid help at College Goal Sunday KOKOMO, Ind. — Students and families can access scholarships and financial aid to make college affordable, with free assistance available at College Goal Sunday February 22. Financial aid experts will be available from 2 to 4 p.m. in the IU Kokomo Library, 2300 S. Washington St. Kokomo, to help families complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is required for students to be considered for

Walk of Hope, May 1, 2026: Registration Open

Labor Market Review: Region 3 December 2025

Your Monthly Snapshot of the Region  Labor Market ReviewThe Labor Market Review contains a monthly snapshot of various labor market information in Economic Growth Region 3. This report consists of data for December 2025. Some of the data in this report includes:Labor force: employment and unemployment Consumer Price IndexUnemployment insurance claimsWARN NoticesIndiana Career Connect: applicants and job postingsIndustry employmentBureau of Labor Statistics commentaryView The ReportContact

Quarterly Reports from the IN Dept of Workforce Development

Quarterly Reports are Available Three different quarterly reports includes information on online job ads, industry sector employment and wages, and UI claimants in Economic Growth Region 6.  Real-Time Job Demand Online job postings summary of real-time data including skills, certifications, and education/experience from many different online job boards.View the Report Industry Sector Snapshot A quarterly count of employment and wages by industry from the Indiana Department of

Grant County Early Childhood Coalition: Playful Pathways to Advocacy, Feb. 21 at Ivy Tech

Fairmount Offers Hometown Hero Banners, Order Through March 31

Main Street Fairmount is proud to renew our Hometown Heroes Banner Program, recognizing current and former Fairmount residents who have served or are currently serving in the United States military.Each banner:• Measures 3 ft x 5 ft• Printed in full color on durable 18oz vinyl• Displayed on Main & Washington Street for TWO years (Memorial Day–Veterans Day each year)Cost: $200 per banner sideNew this year: Every sponsor receives a FREE 9”x12” foam board print of their banner(Additional foam prints available

Hoosiers By the Lumbers Labor Market Review

Your Monthly Snapshot of the Region  Labor Market ReviewThe Labor Market Review contains a monthly snapshot of various labor market information in Economic Growth Region 3. This report consists of data for November 2025. Some of the data in this report includes:Labor force: employment and unemployment Consumer Price IndexUnemployment insurance claimsWARN NoticesIndiana Career Connect: applicants and job postingsIndustry employmentBureau of Labor Statistics commentaryView The ReportContact

Purdue To Host Just In Time Career Fair on April 15th, 2026

Purdue is hosting the Just In Time Career Fair on April 15th, 2026! This is Purdue’s only career fair that welcomes all employers from all industries and provides a unique opportunity to connect with Boilermaker Talent across all majors.This is your chance to recruit and engage with top-notch Purdue Talent in hopes to fill those 'just in time' summer internships and full-time opportunities. Space is limited, so register today! For more details and information, use the registration link

Take Charge of Your Own Small Business Marketing in Greater Grant County

Small business owners in Greater Grant County often juggle operations, customer service, and community involvement—but marketing is the lever that multiplies all of those efforts. Owning your marketing doesn’t require big budgets; it requires clarity, consistency, and a willingness to test what works in your community. Learn below about: How small businesses can build simple, durable marketing habits Why understanding your audience shapes every message you put out Where local owners tend to get

An Evening with Rainn Wilson, April 12, at GCPAC

 Tickets for "An Evening with Rainn Wilson" will be available starting tomorrow morning at 5 a.m.!  Certain tickets come with a VIP Photo Experience, so make sure to order early to guarantee your meet-and-greet and photo opportunity. TICKETS  Rainn Wilson played Dwight Schrute on NBC's American version of The Office from 2005 to 2013, earning three consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance.  In addition to his well-known acting career, Rainn

Thriving Through the Surge: Smart Ways to Handle Sudden Business Growth

When a small business experiences a sudden surge in demand, the initial excitement can quickly be tempered by the reality of stretched systems, overwhelmed staff, and precarious finances. Managing rapid growth isn’t just about keeping up — it’s about making intentional choices that preserve quality, protect cash flow, and prepare the company for sustainable scaling. Unplanned expansion can strain operations, hurt customer satisfaction, and create lasting financial instability if not managed carefully.

How Smart Accounting Keeps Small Businesses Confident and Compliant

When you’re running a small business, financial health is just as critical as customer growth. Owners often think of accounting only in terms of compliance — filing taxes or meeting state requirements — but in reality, disciplined accounting practices provide the visibility you need to make confident growth decisions. Whether you’re hiring your first employee, taking out a line of credit, or preparing for expansion, clarity in your books removes the guesswork.    Track Cash Flow Like a Daily Pulse Cash

How Smart Companies Build Bridges Across Departments

The challenge isn’t that departments don’t want to collaborate. It’s that they often don’t know how to do it meaningfully. Despite the best intentions, silos form easily and solidify over time, leaving once-fluid organizations rigid and reactive. The businesses that figure out how to breach those invisible walls—those are the ones that grow faster, solve problems quicker, and weather disruption with less drama. Interdepartmental communication isn’t just a buzzword anymore; it’s the backbone of companies

Adobe Acrobat AI Assistant: All You Have to Do Is Ask Acrobat’s Generative AI Document & PDF Tool

Adobe Acrobat has long been an invaluable tool for business owners, entrepreneurs, and employees all over the world thanks to its wide array of PDF generation and editing tools. Now, Acrobat AI Assistant offers new benefits for businesses of all sizes. Acrobat AI Assistant’s revolutionary software can transform your business with its incredible features:   Content Summarization and Insights: Long documents can be overwhelming to review, especially for busy entrepreneurs. The AI Assistant can