-YOU ARE INVITED-

In 2021 Leadership LaGrange County (LLC) returned with a mission to identify, train, prepare and inspire community engagement and development, and economic growth and development throughout LaGrange County. In its third year, the Lagrange County Economic Development Corporation is setting out to do the same thing with some improvements based on feedback from our program alumni and staff.

Programming will place a special emphasis on leadership education, local economic development, place-making, and community history as they pertain to the specific skills necessary to be a successful and effective leader.

This year’s programming will consist of 6 sessions held once monthly from 9am-2pm on the first Thursday of each month from November 2023 – April 2024. Session dates are November 2^nd, December 7^th, January 4^th, February 1^st and March 7^th and April 4th. Sessions will focus on topics like the Gallup Science of Strengths, being an Ideal Team Player, crucial conversations, healthy communication, and navigating cultural differences in the workplace. A full session schedule is available on the LCEDC website. Emilee Fincher, Marketing and Operations Manager, has worked hard to pack the sessions full of valuable information and content that will be beneficial for the leadership pipeline in LaGrange County, and has set out to do so by having each session and panel lead by other leaders from around the county.

LLC is open to individuals living and working in LaGrange County who can or have the potential to demonstrate the following: the ability to achieve personal goals, availability of time and resources to commit to community service and a personal commitment to the greater good of society and LaGrange County. This a great opportunity for a group of leaders (both current and future) to come together, to learn and work together for a better LaGrange County. Please plan to join the Fall 2023 Class of Leadership LaGrange County. 

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!

Manufacturing Readiness Grants

Applications Open

Conexus Indiana is a non-profit organization in Indiana with a mission to accelerate Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics industry success by engaging a diverse network of industry, academic, philanthropic, and public-sector partners aligned and activated around a unified vision. Conexus works with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) and Next Level Manufacturing Institute to help manage the Manufacturing Readiness Grants program in the state. The program was originally launched as part of the IEDC’s Economic Activity Stabilization and Enhancement (EASE) program and was extended through a new appropriation from the Indiana General Assembly. By encouraging private sector investments, these grants have already made a substantial impact—and have helped set the stage for future innovation and growth in AML throughout the state. Manufacturing Readiness Grants assist manufacturers planning to make innovative capital investments in smart manufacturing within their Indiana operations—leveraging technologies from advanced communications to cobots to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and beyond. So far, 398 Manufacturing Readiness Grants have been made to businesses across the state. For more information, or to apply, please follow the below link. Please feel free to contact our office with questions.

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:

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!