Coffee with the County - Knees and Corn

Sara Patrick • June 18, 2025

Are you a believer in the statement around here that goes, “Knee high by the Fourth of July”? Ever since I was a kid, I found this statement to be a rigged lie. I mean, really, the truth is that either our knee-height-standard is much taller than my own kneecaps, or our LaGrange County crops are over-achievers. Our local corn crops are often knee-high by June! (Insert a chuckle here.)


No matter what you believe about knees and corn, I would bet that you’re watching the changing of seasons happen before our eyes. The crops are beginning to look lush and green, shade trees are boasting of protection from the sun, and more people are freely out and about, enjoying the warmer weather. It’s summer! (As of June 20, to be exact!)


The changing of seasons brings many things: growth, innovation, hard work, and transitions, to name a few. It is no different within our local economy and business scene. As the weather changes, different people visit for leisure and work alike. Our local recreational landscape is bustling, with campgrounds, rivers, and parks hosting more and more people every week. Shipshewana–the tourism industry anchor of LaGrange County–is beginning its annual hospitality high, welcoming over 2 million people (yes, 2 million people!) to its small-town community. The tourism industry boasts of shoppers, antiquers, eaters, and entertainment-seekers. Our agricultural stakeholders are busy planting, watering, and maintaining, with their sights set on a robust harvest come fall.


When we consider the changing of seasons, it is fairly easy to see a simple correlation between the changing of local economical focuses. Summertime and the holidays bring shoppers. Warmer weather and springtime bring planting and laboring for crops, handmade goods, and artisan treats to sell at farmers markets, collective storefronts, and brick-and-mortar small businesses. Wintertime–though frigid cold at times–is growing with entertainment options inside 300- , 1,500- , and 5,000-seat venues (yes, all here in LaGrange County). The seasons of commerce in LaGrange County are vibrant, and there is always something to do, something to purchase, something to eat, and something to see here in our small-town communities.


When we “shop small” by supporting our local small businesses, we are dreaming big. We’re investing our dollars into the local neighbors here who see a vision for a bigger and better LaGrange County tomorrow. Consider the local farmers who are turning their crops into highly-sought-after products. Consider the local restaurateurs who are transforming the experience of a dine-in meal in the downtown strip. Consider the service centers fixing a nail-ruined tire or a check-engine light, all welcoming you on a first-name basis. Consider the relentless recreational stakeholders who are building out businesses that host thousands of people who seek to envelop themselves in the great outdoors, found here in LaGrange County.


These small business owners are doing it–day in and day out–dreaming big, while laying one brick at a time in the grand scheme of LaGrange County prosperity. When you purchase a product or service locally, you’re investing in the same dream. You’re choosing to say, “Yes, I want to make sure that my kids, grandkids, and more will see a sustainable future in LaGrange County–one that is home, that offers amenities, treasures, experiences, and more. I want to invest in their tomorrow. And it’s worth shopping local.”


Here we are in June. We’re not in the holiday season. We’re not celebrating any specific commemoration. But, we are still built upon the hardworking backs of those building up LaGrange County. This week, my charge is this: head to your favorite local establishments (from restaurants to theaters, kayak rentals to gas stations, auto mechanics to retail shops) and purchase a gift or a gift card. Invest in tomorrow by shopping small today.


And, when you look at the next knee-high cornfield this summer (whether it’s your knee’s height, or your belly button!), consider its changing seasons just as our economical seasons change in our communities. With every change of season comes the opportunity to invest in tomorrow.

 

Not sure where to start?

Visit the Chamber’s online directory (or pick up a hard copy at many local establishments!) to see a full list of our Chamber members across the county. Head to www.lagrangechamber.org/directory to learn more.








By Sara Patrick June 11, 2025
Have you ever found yourself complaining about roads? Did I catch your attention? I find it a bit comical how much people have to say about the condition of roads. Even more so, it is funny to hear people compare roads from state to state. “Well, these may be bad, but have you ever been to [insert state here]? Their potholes are the size of Texas!” I’d bet that all of us have something we can say about the condition of our roads. The truth is, infrastructure–roadways, broadband, and utilities–matter now more than ever. Did you know that, because of the recent growth of technology over the past couple of decades, information on the internet now is considered to travel at the speed of light? Information is so readily available, and our world is moving faster now than ever before. When we consider the business community, the movement of information, goods, and services is growingly significant, because it is now competing not just for business, but for connection to a marketplace that moves at the speed of light. Let’s talk transportation.  North American transborder freight rose 8.4% from March 2024 to March 2025, totalling $144.8 million in freight moved. Truck freight moved $94.2 billion of freight in March 2025, as compared to March 2024. Truck freight accounts for more dollars moved than rail, pipeline, vessel, and air combined. How do trucks move in and out of our community to move the products and services of our local economy? Our roads. Our roads matter. Allow me to introduce you to the two local leaders making a difference in how our economy moves on the roads. Tharon Morgan, the LaGrange County Engineer, manages, organizes, and directs county-wide road projects. This can include roadway management (from filling holes to grading dirt roads), culvert management, and bridge maintenance. Aaron Fugate, the LaGrange County Highway Supervisor, manages his highway team to oversee these projects. His team repairs county roads, bridges, and culverts. They’re the ones you see in large county trucks repairing roads and plowing snow. They’re on the roads, ensuring that transportation is always possible in LaGrange County. Why do I share this? Because it’s important to consider the processes and projects behind and in front of our road complaints. The beauty is within the last several years. Granted, we’ve always had folks working to ensure business happens and infrastructure is available in our communities. However, I think it’s more than fair to give a good pat on the back to Tharon, Aaron, and their teams. Since they’ve come on board, highway grant dollars have been received and brought into our local infrastructure. Bridges have been repaired and culverts updated to ensure sustainability of roadways. Roads that haven’t always received the attention they deserve have seen much-needed repair and management. Aaron’s and Tharon’s teams are doing the work and making the difference. Why is this important? I’ll go back to a statement I made before–transportation and infrastructure matters now more than ever before. Information and the marketplace are moving at such rapid speeds that our local businesses and entrepreneurs must identify how to keep up with the pace while maintaining and growing success. The roads are needed for freight trucks coming in with supplies or exiting out with local products. Vehicles (gas- and horse-powered alike!) need the roads to get to work, the store, the hardware, and to family and friends. We need roads that will be endured for generations. Before we considering voicing a frustration about the state of our roads, consider a few things: How can I consider the process? Attend a county commissioner or county council meeting to learn how the county engineer and the county highway department projects are funded, granted, and bidded out. Learn about the process by asking questions. Research and learn about county government and infrastructure. The truth is, these projects don’t happen overnight, but our leaders are working on them. Understand before speaking. How can I be a part of the solution? Did you know that there is a link on the county highway department website to report a road or bridge issue? The truth is, as great as our local leaders are, they aren’t able to be in all places at all times. Consider lending a helping hand by reporting issues you come across (and report these issues with grace, of course!). Call the department at 260-499-6353. Divert your commute away from road construction instead of driving through it, allowing our highway department to complete projects in a timely manner. We can be a part of the solution, when we pause and consider. Transportation–our roads, our local transportation methods, and the like–matter now more than ever. We need our roads to be successful, to be business friendly, and to be connected. When you drive down a bumpy road or see an issue out on a county road, consider how you can lean in to be a part of the solution. Together, we’ll ensure that LaGrange County is a great place to live, work, and enjoy for generations to come. Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics Yale News
By Sara Patrick June 4, 2025
I remember the feeling of getting up early, with a bit of nervousness married with eager anticipation in the pit of my stomach. Oddly enough, it was the morning of the first election I ever voted in. I remember the requirement of early arisal in order to “beat the line” with my dad before school and work. I was a fresh 18-year-old looking forward to embracing the freedom I had in casting my vote. Excited as I was already, I was walking into a presidential election ballot no less. If I may be honest for a moment, I dare confess that I knew only enough to be dangerous. I doubt I remembered much of what the poll worker told me in the regular instructions before I headed to my private booth. I was eager to push the buttons and select my choice. Truthfully, once I arrived at my ballot machine, I wasn’t entirely clear on what all of the titles meant. I confused “representative” with “senator,” and all I knew about the different legislative chambers was what I learned in my high school government class. Here I am, nearly two decades later, and I am proud to say that I’ve learned a thing or two since that election. I’m privileged to be exposed to all levels of government in my role at the Chamber, from local town meetings to congressional officials working on behalf of our communities. Sometimes, though, it’s nice to add a refresher in there, just to remember “who’s who.” In Indiana, counties contain townships–subdivisions of a county. In LaGrange County, we are home to eleven different townships, which are overseen by elected township trustees, each with their own powers and responsibilities. Township trustees handle things like poverty relief payments for those who find themselves in a time of need, cemetery management, and buggy plate oversight. In our communities, the elected trustees are: Bloomfield Township: William Pipher (trustee@bloomfieldtownship.org, 260-463-3411) Clay: Deb Muntz (trustee4ClayTwp@gmail.com, 260-463-2151) Clearspring: Melissa Eichelberger (meclearspringtrustee@gmail.com, 260-350-5839) Eden: Staci Smith (edentownship@yahoo.com, 260-593-2939) Greenfield: Peggy Whitlock (greenfieldtownshiptrustee@yahoo.com, 260-463-6511) Johnson: Amy McKowen (amymckowentrustee@gmail.com, 260-854-4634) Lima: Terry Iannarelli (tjiannarelli@embarqmail.com, 260-562-2042) Milford: Bruce Bowman (bownmanbk46795@yahoo.com, 260-351-9103) Newbury: Brandie Fitch (newburytownshiptrustee@gmail.com, 260-768-7330) Springfield: Sherri Johnston (sprtwplagco@gmail.com, 260-367-2362) VanBuren: Bruce Miller (homedad5@hotmail.com, 260-768-9181) In our county, we have four towns that are “incorporated.” This means that they have received a charter from the state granting them legal identification, which permits these communities the right to govern themselves in services like water, sanitation, and law enforcement. Within these communities, three of the four incorporated towns have town managers. They are: LaGrange, managed by Mark Eagleson (meagleson@townoflagrange.in.gov, 260-463-3241) Topeka, managed by Stewart Bender (townmanager@topeka-in.gov, 260-593-2300) Shipshewana, managed by Terry Martin (tmartin@shipshewana.org, 260-768-4743) Wolcottville is the fourth incorporated town in LaGrange County. All four towns have a town board or council. In LaGrange, town board meetings are held on the first and third Mondays of each month at 6:00 PM; in Topeka, on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 4:00 PM; in Shipshewana on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at 6:00 PM; and in Wolcottville on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:00 PM. In the state of Indiana, each county is governed by a Board of Commissioners. These elected officials represent different districts but work the county as a whole. They serve as the executive body of the county government, and are responsible for overseeing county buildings and land; receiving bids and authorizing contracts; overseeing construction and maintenance of roads and bridges; among other legislative powers and duties. LaGrange County’s Commissioners specifically seek to “establish and nurture a local government that is open and accessible” in a way that encourages citizen involvement, pursues fiscal responsibility, and plans for growth and sustainability of our communities. The current LaGrange County Commissioners are: Terry Martin, North District (tmartin@lagrangecounty.in.gov, 260-499-1814) Peter Cook, South District (pcook@lagrangecounty.in.gov, 260-585-0007) Kevin Myers, Middle District (kevinmyers@lagrangecounty.in.gov, 260-336-4524) Standing alongside the county Commissioners is the County Council. This legislative body is responsible for overseeing the county’s financial affairs as well as making decisions about local laws. The County Council manages the county budget while also creating, amending, and repealing local ordinances. They set priorities for how county funds are allocated, and they fix tax rates accordingly. Our current County Council includes: Jeff Campos, District 1 (jcampos@lagrangecounty.in.gov, 260-367-1230) Ryan Riegsecker, District 2 (rriegsecker@lagrangecounty.in.gov, 260-499-0602) Harold Gingerich, District 3 (hgingerich@lagrangecounty.in.gov, 260-499-0126) Jim Young, District 4 (jyoung@lagrangecounty.in.gov, 260-350-0486) Jeff Brill, At Large (jbrill@lagrangecounty.in.gov, 260-336-1010) Karen Eagleson, At Large (keagleson@lagrangecounty.in.gov, 260-499-1700) Mike Strawser, At Large (mstrawser@lagrangecounty.in.gov, 260-336-2204) So why is a local leadership refresher a big deal? Because when you need something, you need to know who to call. These elected local officials are serving in a capacity because they are passionate about making our communities economically sound, sustainable, and strong. My bet would be that, if you’d ask any of these folks, they’d tell you they do it because they love their hometown, and they want to make a difference. So this week, tear this column out of your paper and tack it up on the wall or on your fridge. Keep this list for later, when you may need to partner with your local leader for assistance, a project, or an inquiry. They’re there to ensure LaGrange County is a great place to live, work, and enjoy for generations to come.
By Sara Patrick May 28, 2025
I’ll be honest…the first time I ever took a wagon ride at Cook’s Bison Ranch and saw a bison’s tongue extend its slimy self toward my position on the wagon, I was a little grossed out. I couldn’t get myself to do it. I couldn’t convince the innermost part of me to grow the confidence to extend some feed pellets onto that slimy, scratchy bison tongue. I am, however, always mesmerized by the sheer size and power of these beasts. Covered in burly brown fur, often with burrs attached throughout, these mammals approach wagon rides ready for close-up feedings and socializing with their human counterparts. It’s an experience unlike any other in LaGrange County, and it’s available to you in Wolcottville! On May 9, we released our latest Chamber Chat Podcast episode which spotlighted Peter and Erica Cook, owners of Cook’s Bison Ranch. This week, allow me to introduce you to the Cooks through an abbreviated version of our podcast conversation. To catch the full version, head to our website, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. C: Tell us about the ranch, its history, and all about you. Peter Cook: Well, we really only started calling it a “ranch” in the last 26 years or so since we established the bison part of it. It was originally purchased by my grandfather in 1939. When he bought it, he decided to raise popcorn and sold it to Yoder’s. We still have a really great relationship with them after so many years. He did regular farming all the way into the 50s–pigs, chickens, cows, they had everything. In the 60s, my uncle and dad took over the farm, and eventually it transferred entirely under my dad. In 1998, I was in college and my dad came to me and asked, “What do you want to do with the farm?” I was there getting a degree in finance, but I began researching and came across the National Bison Association. I found out people actually raised them, which I thought was strange. I had been to Yellowstone a couple of times and the animals always intrigued me. When I found out people actually raised them, I got this idea, and shared it with my dad. He basically said, “Well, you’ve got some time left in school, do some research.” I did, visited different places, we became members of the National Association, and decided we could start doing this as a part-time thing. Then we get to today where we get to an expanded full-time farm. I never raised or sold animals in my life, but we did it, and it wasn’t hard, because it was so different. Erica Cook: Shortly after we got married, we went to a conference talk and learned about how this lady had opened up her home to host tours. I was going to school for education and thought, “Well we could do that.” So we started hosting groups and literally were hosting them in my in-laws’ garage and pool room with his grandpa’s hay wagon. We took the resources we had and just went with it. C: So it started with your grandpa, Peter, and your kids have been involved their entire lives now too. That’s four generations. What does it mean to you to continue this legacy, this bison empire if you will, with your family surrounding it? PC: Our daughter got married two years ago, and our son is a junior. They don’t yet know entirely what they want to do, and we don’t want to push them into something they don’t want to do. The ground will never go away, the animals might not be here forever. But I like that we were able to raise our kids in this setting, and they have the opportunity to do this too, if they choose to. EC: You almost just sit here being in awe of grandpa’s property, getting to raise our kids here and having them be a part of this here. It is 24/7, and so being able to give them those tools, the work ethic, and the service that we get to provide to our community and guests is just really important to be able to hand down. C: I love that you give this full experience, available for school children all the way up to adults. There’s an opportunity for everyone to experience the ranch. EC: Yeah, we had a 90-year-old woman come to our ranch who saw our bison and was in tears, because she wanted to be able to see one in person before she died. You get so busy and rush through this and have to do life, but then you have these moments like this that are great reminders of why we get to do this. It’s really cool. C: There is this word that gets thrown around within the tourism scene–”agritourism”--and it just means that there is an opportunity to showcase agriculture to visitors who want to experience something different than what they’re used to. Can you talk about the agritourism scene, and why you think that component is so important in your experience here on the ranch? PC: Tourism is a huge economic driver in our county. For the most part, it is driven by Shipshewana, but it has expanded. That’s where agritourism has helped. People can come and spend 3-4 days in the area. The more they stay, the more they spend, and it’s just a snowball effect that helps everything. Agritourism makes the “tourism wheel” bigger which benefits the whole county. EC: I think that education piece is so important too because not only do they get to see the animals, but then we give them the opportunity to try the meat. There was interest from when we started. There would be cars just stopped on the side of the road to see the bison. That’s when we knew we had something, and we didn’t want to keep it to ourselves. C: Where do you distribute your meat? PC: Most of our meat here goes to Yoder’s Meat & Cheese in Shipshewana. (Side note: You can try bison meat grown locally here, all in LaGrange County!) C: How do people find out more about you? EC: Facebook is a good place to get more real-time information (@CooksBisonRanch). Our website is www.cookbisonranch.com. Sometimes the best way is to call or text our business line, and you can learn more or book a group tour. C: Is there anything else you’d like to share that you haven’t yet? PC: I think something that is really cool is that these animals are out all the time. They’re never in barns. As far as the pastures here go, I’ve only reseeded two of them one time because I thought it would make it better. In fact, it didn’t. Many of these have been there since 1983. We don’t fertilize the pastures, the animals do it on their own. It’s the way it was designed to happen, and I don’t think people really realize that. C: Not only is it a regeneration of your property, but of your family business too. How cool. 
By Sara Patrick May 21, 2025
As the Chamber of Commerce, we have the privilege of welcoming in new members weekly. We get to meet side-hustles-turned-full-time-businesses and long-running companies all the same. As a way of welcoming in these new members, we schedule a “New Member Greeting,” which at times also doubles as a special ribbon cutting celebration for the business as well. (You may have seen photos of these in the paper from time to time.) It is a true treasure to be able to stand next to the business owner at these New Member Greetings and hear them share their story, and how they came to be. As another layer to these greetings, we invite our Chamber ambassadors (representatives of different Chamber members) to attend and help us welcome the new member. A part of their interaction in the event is introducing themselves by sharing one thing they love either about their company or LaGrange County. I dare say, they get very creative, and oftentimes come competitively prepared to give the “best” answer! Each greeting we host, we hear about the love for our parks, our businesses, and our people. It is equally special to stand in that gathering and hear them share, especially from those that have been around LaGrange County since childhood. As a local girl myself, I enjoy hearing the ambassadors’ stories that sound kind of like this: “When I was young, and before I became active in the Chamber, I thought I knew what there was to know about the Chamber. It turns out, I was wrong, and I knew very little. I have learned so much about all of the small businesses who make LaGrange County unique, and I get to meet so many different people who are making a difference here.” That is a moment I take to heart, because it is real people, from our own hometowns, who have had an “eyes-opened” experience within their own community. They’ve learned something new, or experienced something different, or visited a place they haven’t been to before. That’s probably the thing I love the most about my job. I love that, as a Chamber of Commerce, we are positioned to tell the story of our members. We get to share about the rich heritage within our communities. We get to paint the picture of the seriously large variety of products made and sold right here in our hometowns. And we get to connect our locals to those experiences every single day. A couple of weeks ago, I talked about National Tourism Week in this column, which happens on a country-wide level the first full week of May every year. We partnered with the LaGrange County Convention and Visitors Bureau to showcase the extensive tourism industry here in our communities which drew over 2.5 million visitors in 2024. (2.5 million visitors!!) It is the businesses, the people, and the slowed-down culture that people love to experience here, and we partnered with the CVB to showcase that appeal to our locals. So often, we (the “locals”) take what we see every day for granted. I forget the peaceful sound of a horse’s trot pulling a buggy down the road. I forget about the feel of a warm summer breeze on my skin as I watch young children playing at the local park or competing in a game of softball at the schoolyard. I forget about the charm of knowing all of the people when you walk into a local establishment, and the relational basis on which we’re founded. I forget it, because I see it every day. The joy of celebrating National Tourism Week (and month, as we extend it throughout May) is that we get to create “eyes-opened experiences” for locals. It’s a chance to say, “Hey, don’t forget about the treasures you can find literally just a minute or two from your front step.” It’s all right here! As we creep quickly towards Memorial Day weekend, I encourage you to consider: how can you get out and explore your own backyard this month? In partnership with the LaGrange County CVB, we’re offering a few opportunities for you to learn more and to become a tourist in your own hometown: Local Tourist Insider Opportunities As a newly unveiled character, “Tourist Tammy” has made her debut in full garb, playing hide-and-seek across LaGrange County. Throughout the month, you can view videos showcasing the incredible places to visit and experience right here in our communities. Give yourself a laugh (at my own expense!) and meet Tourist Tammy on Facebook or Youtube by searching our handle “@LaGrangeCCC”.  In partnership with the CVB, we are hosting a digital trail to allow our locals to be rewarded for being a tourist in their hometown! The Love Local LaGrange County Passport boasts of 28 different stops and experiences within our local region. All a person needs to do is sign up (it’s free!), visit as many places as possible through May 31, and be entered to win gift cards, overnight stays, theater tickets and more. (Did I mention it’s free, and you can win free stuff??) To learn more, head to visitshipshewana.org and search “Love Local”.
By Sara Patrick May 14, 2025
The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.
By Sara Patrick May 7, 2025
If you’ve ever heard me talk about our annual Career Expo, you’ve probably heard me tell this story. It was 2023, and the Chamber was positioned behind a vendor table at the expo. A student came up to me, and I asked him what he wanted to do after high school. He told me, “Well, what I want to do, I can’t do here.” Being the Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, this energized me and I got nerdy-excited. There was a “come on, try me” spirit that arose within me. I inquired and asked for more information. Come to find out, this student wanted to an actor. The giddiness in me could not be held back. I said, “Did you know that you actually CAN be an actor in LaGrange County?” His eyes lit up. I was so excited to tell him! I responded, “You need to go over there and talk to the Blue Gate booth. Did you know they actually have two theaters? One of them is live theater with shows year-round.” I couldn’t contain myself. The question had to be asked, because how did this student not know of—at the very least—the Blue Gate? “What school do you go to?” I asked. “Westview.” The energy within me was suddenly shut up. How did this Shipshewana-based student not know about one of the larger, tourism-based companies in his hometown? (Side note: This is not to degrade this student or any, but rather to paint the picture that we’ve got work to do in the realm of storytelling and educating about local gems!) This week is deemed National Tourism Week. We are fortunate to have a strong, bold Convention and Visitor Center (CVB) in our county who works hard to market our communities and tourist opportunities to the masses. They drive our economy by leveraging our unique destination. This week specifically, we are partnering with the CVB to celebrate the local tourism scene through a few different ways: Local Bus Tours Before my role at the Chamber, I worked in Group Sales for Blue Gate Hospitality. My department oversaw all groups and tour buses that came to visit the Blue Gate and Shipshewana. I learned quickly the valuable addition of a step-on guide–a hired professional who would quite literally step onto the bus and take the group around the countryside, showcasing various “off the beaten path” locations and attractions. Visitors loved it! Our local bus tours this week are mirroring that very idea by giving locals an opportunity to tour LaGrange County through the eyes of a visitor. We’ll bus folks around the backroads, stopping at local gems along the way, with our very own step-on guide. While the registration process is closed for these bus tours, be sure to visit our website to learn more about our tour host sites and the agendas. You can learn more at www.lagrangechamber.org/tourismweek . Luncheon The Chamber is known for our monthly luncheons. It’s a great space for businesses and professionals to network, do business, and learn about all things LaGrange County. As a part of our luncheons, we often host a presenter on a given topic. This week, our Thursday luncheon (May 8) is taking place at the beautiful Delt Church Park, and the CVB will give a presentation on the tourism economy of our communities. They’ll also be distributing goodies and items related to visitors and the tourism industry. If you’d like to join us, phone the Chamber office at (260) 463-2443. Love Local Passport Finally, in our partnership with the CVB, we have opened our very own local, digital trail. Hosted online, this list of “local gems” gives folks the opportunity to visit some of the great establishments that make up our local tourism ecosystem. From restaurants to retail, artisans to experiences, there is so much to do and experience in our own hometowns! And, you can win prizes for participating! All you have to do is visit the site, and your phone will log your stop. It will be added to your name, which puts you in the running for great, local items as your reward. To learn more about the Love Local LaGrange County Passport program, head to www.visitshipshewana.org/love-local-lagrange-county . Hurry to use the pass–it’s only available through the month of March! When Sonya, the Executive Director of the CVB, first mentioned National Tourism Week, it was an easy “yes” for us to collaborate. Why? Because it is incredibly important that we work together to change and then elevate the narrative that LaGrange County is a great place to live, work, and experience. There is so much to do here! We must commit to educating ourselves about all of the things that make LaGrange County wonderful, and then share the love with those around us. It takes intentionality to change the narrative so that the masses see it. This week, let’s love local, and love LaGrange County. To learn more about all of the beautiful LaGrange County assets, don’t forget to visit our online directory at www.lagrangechamber.org/directory . 
By Regional Chamber of Northeast Indiana May 5, 2025
End of Session Update 2025 Legislative Session The General Assembly concluded the 2025 Legislative Session in the early morning hours of Friday, April 25 th . Many key issues were addressed by legislators this session – all of which will now head to Governor Braun’s desk for final approval before becoming law. Most legislation will have an effective date of July 1 st . In the legislative session, the House introduced 708 bills, with 143 passing both chambers and 140 sent to the governor, reflecting a pass rate of 20%. The Senate introduced 521 bills, 110 of which passed both chambers and 104 were sent to the governor, also with a pass rate of 20%. You can follow along with Governor Braun’s Bill Watch Page to see when bills make their way to Governor Braun’s desk and are signed. Below are the highlights for the 2025 legislative session: The Budget Despite being the last bill passed this session, HEA 1001, State Budget (Rep. Jeff Thompson, R-Lizton) was a top priority for all members of the General Assembly. The Indiana Constitution requires the General Assembly to pass a balanced budget every two years, with this biennium’s totaling around $45 billion. This year, the budget process was complicated by the April 16 th revenue forecast which showed the state at a projected shortfall of around $2.4 billion over the next 3 years. Following this announcement, fiscal leaders from both caucuses, along with Governor Braun, met and shortly thereafter unveiled the final version of Indiana’s next biennial budget (presentation linked here ). Governor Braun’s proposed 5% budget cuts from his budget have been expanded across additional state agencies, with several being asked to cut even more. The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) is among the hardest hit, with a projected 25–30% reduction in its operational and administrative funding. To bridge the funding gap, a $2 per pack increase to the cigarette tax, along with similar hikes on other tobacco products was included in the budget. This is expected to raise about $800 million over the biennium. All revenue from these increases will be dedicated solely to funding Medicaid. The budget funds all of Indiana’s current Medicaid obligations. Additionally, the state’s public health funding has been reduced from $100 million down to the $30–40 million range. However, funding was increased for the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Department of Corrections (DOC), and Department of Child Services (DCS). The additional dollars will be pooled into a discretionary fund, which the governor can draw from as needed throughout the biennium to meet the most pressing needs from among those three agencies. Also in the budget is a $65 million increase in K–12 education funding, as well as fully funded universal school choice, which was a main budget priority for House Republicans and Governor Braun. The catch with universal school choice is that due to the tight budget forecast it will not take effect until the second fiscal year (2027). In a press conference Sen. Ryan Mishler (R-Mishawaka) noted that under the new budget and with the effects of SEA 1 , local governments are projected to experience stronger revenue growth than the state government, with local growth at 1.6% in FY26 and 1.7% in FY27. The House voted to pass the conference committee report on the budget with a 66-27 vote, while the Senate voted to pass the amended budget with a 39-11 vote. Property Tax Reform SEA 1, Local government finance , (Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle) overhauls Indiana’s property tax and local income tax systems by capping levy tax growth, phasing out certain deductions in favor of credits, and introducing property tax deferral programs while requiring more public accountability for tax increases. It raises the local income tax expenditure limits starting in 2028, shifts tax authority to county fiscal bodies, phases in new requirements for school corporations to share operating referendum revenues with charter schools and mandates the development of a property tax transparency portal. This legislation also dissolves the Union School Corporation, limits bond issuances by the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District and sets caps on fire protection territory tax rates. SEA 1 was passed by both chambers and received signatures by both Lieutenant Governor Beckwith and Governor Braun later that same day on April 15 th . HEA 1427, Department of local government finance , (Rep. Craig Snow, R-Warsaw) increases the cost threshold for when the Department of Natural Resources can use its own workers for projects. The bill allows the State to sell bonds through negotiation and grants the ability for several counties to raise local food, beverage, and innkeeper taxes, with new rules that ensure that these funds are properly reported and managed. HEA 1427 also added flexibility for partnerships and investment firms regarding taxes and expands eligibility for a physician tax credit. The legislation ensures local health funding benefits only lawful U.S. residents and assigns study committees to investigate property tax issues for charitable organizations. It also helps fund local fire departments. Overall, the bill updates and cleans up many parts of Indiana’s financial, tax, and government systems while giving new options for local governments to manage their finances more effectively. This bill also contains several technical changes to SEA 1, restoring existing veteran property tax deductions, and offering new tax breaks for community land trusts, nonprofits, and businesses that provide childcare. It also simplifies and modernizes property tax procedures, improves transparency on tax bills, and allows some counties to raise their property tax limits temporarily. HEA 1142, Fiscal matters , (Rep. Jeff Thompson, R-Lizton) was one of the last bills passed during the legislative session. This bill contained additional trailer language for SEA 1 to ensure that it was technically correct and could go into effect. House Priority Bills HEA 1002, Various education matters , (Rep. Bob Behning, R-Indianapolis) is a 138-page bill that was often referred to as the education “deregulation bill.” HEA 1002 seeks to clean up education language in Indiana Code removing around 35,000 words from Title 20 Education in the Indiana Code with the goal of reducing regulations, increasing flexibility, and allowing more local control over education decisions. The proposed conference committee report was ultimately passed in both chambers and now heads to the governor’s desk. HEA 1003, Health matters , (Rep. Brad Barrett, R-Richmond) strengthens investigations into Medicaid fraud by expanding the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit’s authority and allows for better data sharing between agencies. It also improves healthcare transparency by requiring healthcare providers to post pricing information, ensuring patients receive good faith estimates sooner, and makes it easier for consumers to compare medical services. This bill also streamlines healthcare operations by reforming prior authorization practices, protecting provider reimbursements, and speeding up physician credentialing when they change jobs. Provisions in the bill prohibit anti-competitive contracting provisions between hospitals and insurers including a prohibition on all-or-nothing clauses, anti-steering clauses, and anti-tiering clauses. Finally, the bill clarifies language enacted in 2023 that prevents patients from being charged hospital rates at a physician office. HEA 1004, Nonprofit hospitals, (Rep. Martin Carbaugh, R-Fort Wayne) went through various iterations this session as it seeks to reduce healthcare costs and improve services. In short, this bill penalizes large hospital systems if their prices exceed certain thresholds. It creates a state-directed payment program funded by payments from Managed Care Organizations, adjusts how hospital payments are handled under Medicaid, and imposes strict financial transparency requirements on nonprofit hospitals with steep penalties for noncompliance. The bill mandates price studies on hospital services, ties nonprofit hospital pricing to statewide averages, increases transparency around insurance commissions, fees, and drug rebate practices, and expands data reporting requirements for hospitals and insurers. HEA 1005, Housing and Building Matters, (Rep. Doug Miller, R-Elkhart) promotes housing development by streamlining the permitting and inspection processes to address delays and inefficiencies. It establishes clear timelines and expands inspection options to help reduce costs and uncertainty for developers. Additionally, by prioritizing infrastructure funding for communities that adopt pro-housing policies, the bill incentivizes local governments to implement practices that support economic growth and help address housing shortages. HEA 1006, Prosecutors, (Rep. Chris Jeter, R-Fishers) targets public safety by establishing the prosecutor review board to investigate prosecutors that may not be fully enforcing Indiana laws. The bill initially had a fund associated with it that could be distributed to prosecutors who follow the requirements set out for them, however due to the tight budget forecast, this provision was removed in Senate Appropriations , and the House concurred on the changes. HEA 1007, Energy generation resources, (Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso) focuses on Indiana’s growing energy needs by providing a state tax credit for the manufacturing of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) and creating a process for utilities to add new generation capacity to meet major customer load growth. It will also strengthen oversight on utility plans to retire or refuel large electric generating facilities by requiring detailed reporting, mandatory investigation by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC). If reliability is at risk, then there may be orders to delay these retirements or require replacement capacity. Additionally, there is a cost recovery process for certain acquisition costs or projects costs incurred by energy utilities. HEA 1008, Indiana-Illinois boundary adjustment commission, (Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers) which drew national attention at the beginning of session, will establish the Indiana-Illinois Boundary Adjustment Commission. The duty of this commission is to evaluate the possibility and make a recommendation regarding an adjustment to the shared border. For the border to shift Illinois would need to pass similar legislation, and while a bill had been filed in Illinois General Assembly this session, that bill died at the committee deadline. Senate Priority Bills SEA 2, Medicaid matters, (Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Mishawaka) strengthens oversight and tightens rules around the state’s Medicaid program. It requires the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) to regularly report important Medicaid data to lawmakers and explain how the five-year look-back rule (used to prevent fraud) is being enforced. It bans unauthorized marketing or advertising of Medicaid services, although certain exceptions are made for official partners who have contracts with the state. The bill also lets the state pay medical providers for certified claims that meet certain conditions, even if the patient’s Medicaid benefits hadn’t officially started yet. It mandates regular checks of Medicaid recipients’ eligibility by using data from federal and state agencies. Hospitals that make quick Medicaid eligibility decisions (presumptive eligibility) will now have to meet clear performance standards or face penalties if they don’t and will have a way to appeal decisions they disagree with. The bill also clarifies how the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP), the state's Medicaid expansion program, must operate, including its requirements and limits. SEA 3, Fiduciary duty in health plan administration , (Sen. Justin Busch, R-Fort Wayne) seeks to lower healthcare costs by stipulating that health insurance third-party administrators (TPAs) and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) have to act in the best financial interest of the health plan sponsors with whom they work. SEA 4, Water matters , (Sen. Eric Koch, R-Bedford) puts new restrictions on building and transferring long-distance water pipelines in Indiana. Water utilities must now get approval, called a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN), from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) before they can build a large water pipeline. It also allows utilities to recover certain costs through their rates if they relied on an approved CPCN. If a pipeline is sold, transferred, or leased, the seller must notify the IURC within 60 days. Additionally, anyone planning to transfer large amounts of water out of a water basin – or from a restricted area – must first get a transfer permit from the Department of Natural Resources. The Department will only approve permits if the transfer won’t harm water supplies and is in the public interest. Permits won’t expire, but they can be modified, suspended, or revoked if necessary. Finally, the Department can issue fines for violations of these new rules. SEA 5, State fiscal and contracting matters , (Sen. Scott Baldwin, R-Noblesville) focuses on improving how Indiana state agencies manage their budgets, contracts, and federal funding. It allows agencies to use artificial intelligence to help prepare financial information and projections for the state budget. Agencies must now report every three months to the budget committee about any requests for new federal funds or to join new federal programs. Agencies must also submit copies of new contracts to the state transparency website within 30 days and review any full-time job positions that have been vacant for 90 days to decide whether to keep or eliminate them. Contracts valued at $500,000 or more will need special language developed by the Department of Administration, and any major contract changes must be reported to the budget committee. State agencies are banned from making private contracts; all contract opportunities must be posted online at least 30 days before a contract is awarded. Finally, the Family and Social Services Administration and Medicaid offices must regularly review service and financial reports for the Medicaid program, post detailed monthly updates online for the public, and submit quarterly reports to the budget committee. Education Legislation SEA 146, Teacher compensation, (Sen. Linda Rogers, R-Granger) raises the teacher minimum salary to $45,000 and requires schools to spend at least 65% of their state funding on teacher pay (up from the current 62%). Other provisions include requiring the Department of Education to submit a report to the General Assembly, analyzing how practical and costly it would be to offer more health insurance options for school employees. It also creates a new Indiana teacher recruitment program and removes a rule that banned the ranking or comparison of teacher preparation programs based on a rating system. Legislators were also hoping to include a provision requiring school districts to offer paid parental leave policies to their teachers, but that provision was eliminated from the bill due to the fiscal forecast. SEA 287, School board matters, (Sen. Gary Byrne, R-Byrneville) creates partisan school board races and lays out the rules and new requirements for the races. It also changes the process of how filling of school board vacancies occurs and updates the school board member pay – instead of being capped at $2,000 per year, it will now be capped at 10% of the school district’s lowest starting teacher salary. This bill narrowly passed both chambers, with a final concurrence vote in the Senate of just 26-24 . SEA 442, Instruction on human sexuality, (Sen. Gary Byrne, R-Byrneville) requires schools that provide instruction on human sexuality or sexually transmitted infections to also include education on consent to sexual activity and information about human growth and development during pregnancy. They also must provide written consent forms to parents or eligible students before they receive this instruction. Furthermore, schools are also now required to publish a list of materials used in human sexuality instruction on their website and include a link to this list on the consent forms and can only use curricular materials on human sexuality that have been approved by the governing body of the school corporation. HEA 1041, Student eligibility in interscholastic sports, (Rep. Michelle Davis, R-Whiteland) requires universities to clearly label each sports team as either a male (men’s or boys’) team, a female (women’s or girls’) team, or a coed (mixed) team. It bans males — based on their biological sex at birth — from playing on female-designated teams. This is an expansion on a law passed in 2022 banning transgender participation in K-12 sports. HEA 1515, Education and higher education matters, (Rep. Bob Behning, R-Indianapolis) is a large various education matters bill. The bill has a large number of provisions including the ability of accredited nonpublic schools to form their own police departments, implementing grants for hiring and retaining STEM teachers, makes changes to virtual charter schools, changes zoning laws about the construction of new charter schools, language authorizing charter school bussing, and various changes to help local school corporations, as well as changes to comply with the new high school diploma requirements. Lastly, the bill contains language from 2 other bills that did not pass, including bullying notification requirement from HB 1539 Education matters (Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary). The bill also adds in language that would require an action plan for AED’s at school sporting events in case of cardiac arrest. Utilities Legislation SEA 424, Small modular nuclear reactor development costs, (Sen. Eric Koch-Bedford) updates Indiana law related to small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) by allowing public utilities to seek approval from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) to incur project development costs before receiving a certificate of public convenience and necessity. It also outlines the factors that IURC must consider when reviewing the petition and requires a decision within 180 days (unless an extension is agreed upon). Once approved, the utility would be allowed to recover 80% of their approved costs immediately through rate adjustments. The bill restricts the recovery of costs that exceed the initial estimates unless they are determined to be reasonable and necessary. Costs from canceled or incomplete projects can be recovered without a return unless the IURC finds otherwise. If a utility chooses to not use the new approval process IURC can still allow the deferral and the recovery of costs over a certain period under existing procedures. SEA 425, Energy production zones, (Sen. Eric Koch, R-Bedford) streamlines the permitting process for certain electric generating facilities. It exempts project owners from needing local zoning permits if the IURC grants a certificate of public convenience and necessity, declines jurisdiction, or if the facility is built on land with an existing electric generation facility (80+ MW) or a former mine site as of January 1, 2025, and specified notice and hearing requirements are met. The bill clarifies how development agreements and land use rights are handled, ensuring legal protections for approved projects. Additionally, it allows local authorities to impose a one-time, one-year moratorium on new electricity generation projects, but prohibits any extensions. Finally, it requires that the local legislative bodies take final action without returning proposals to advisory plan commissions. SEA 502, Attachments to utility poles , (Sen. Andy Zay, R-Huntington) streamlines the process for installing communications equipment on electric poles when funded by state or federal broadband expansion programs. It defines "attachment requests" and "process management agreements" between broadband providers and pole owners. Additionally, the Indiana Broadband Office may also set up a rapid mediation process for disputes. The bill has a sunset of July 1, 2030. HEA 1601, Quantum research tax incentives, (Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso) expands Indiana’s sales and use tax exemptions for data centers to include projects focused on quantum computing research, advanced computing, and defense infrastructure. To qualify for this exemption, the project must result in a minimum investment of $50 million within five years. Other Notable Legislation SEA 10, Voter registration , (Sen. Blake Doriot, R-Goshen) tightens voter ID rules by excluding documents that were issued from educational institutions and affirms that a voter’s consular report of birth abroad (CRBA) is proof of citizenship. It also strengthens voter list maintenance by requiring counties to act within 48 hours to review their voter lists when prompted. Furthermore, there are additional clarifications for who can and cannot be removed from voter rolls. Finally, it allows for cooperation with other states to share voter data. SEA 43, Study of location of gambling operations, (Sen. Andy Zay, R-Huntington) requires the Indiana gaming commission to contract with an independent, qualified gaming industry research firm to conduct a study to identify the top two regions in the state where an owner’s license for a riverboat could locate gaming operations. This bill was introduced after a bill that would have allowed the Rising Star Casino in Rising Sun, Indiana to relocate their operations to the Fort Wayne area did not receive a final committee vote. SEA 306, Film and media production tax credit, (Sen. Andy Zay, R-Huntington) is one of the very few tax credit bills to make it through the General Assembly this year. As the name suggests, this legislation hopes to spark film and media production in the State by allowing for a transferable $250,000 tax credit that may total up to $2,000,000. SEA 480, Prior authorization, (Sen. Tyler Johnson, R-Leo) changes rules around health insurance prior authorization and reimbursement. It sets new requirements for companies that review and approve services before they are provided, making the process clearer and more consistent. It also bans insurances companies from requiring prior authorization for the first 12 physical therapy or chiropractic visits for each new treatment episode. This bill also protects patients by preventing insurance companies from denying payment just because the doctor who referred them was out-of-network. HEA 1144, Courts , (Rep. Chris Jeter, R-Fishers) reallocates the judges and magistrates throughout the state to make sure that courts that have overutilized staff may receive additional judges or magistrates, meanwhile counties who have underworked court systems will lose judges or magistrates. Late in session, the Senate added language to eliminate judges in 11 counties, but the final version of the bill only eliminated 3 courts. HEA 1390, Bureau of motor vehicles , (Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie) updates and modernizes various Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) and transportation laws. This bill was particularly notable because controversial language both prohibiting the advertisement of marijuana and the strengthening of towing regulations (setting fee limits and consumer protections) made it into the final passed version of the bill. HEA 1393, Immigration notice, (Rep. Garrett Bascom, R-Lawrenceburg) states that in a circumstance when a law enforcement officer that arrests an individual for a felony or a misdemeanor and finds that there is probable cause to believe that the individual is not lawfully present in the United States, the jail or detention facility will notify the county Sherriff, and the sheriff will notify the proper authority. HEA 1461, Road funding, (Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie) makes significant updates to Indiana’s road and transportation laws. Starting next year, local governments could have more flexibility in using highway funds if their roads meet certain standards. Indiana can also request federal approval to toll interstate highway lanes without needing new state legislation. There are also clarifications for maintaining certain bridges and making it easier for local road boards to address low water crossing projects. Every township in the state must create a yearly capital improvement plan, and provided they have cash reserves, they must allocate part of that money to be spent on roads and infrastructure. The bill also creates a new state income tax credit for certain railroad expenses and rail infrastructure projects but limits the total amount of credit each year and sunsets the credit. It raises the maximum county wheel and vehicle excise taxes in Marion County and provides an extra $50 million in state funds to the county if a matching $50 million from their fund is appropriated. Additionally, these funds must be used to take care of the roads they currently maintain and must not be used for reducing lanes, transit, or new roads. Finally – with much appreciation from members from Indianapolis - the speed limit on I-465 was increased to 65 mph. Dead Bills SB 346, Rural business growth, (Sen. Brian Buchanan, R-Lebanon) did not receive a hearing in the House Ways and Means Committee in the second half of session. SB 346 would have created a new state tax credit for specific capital investments made in rural funds. The procedure for the funds included an application for Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) for certification of eligible investments, and an application fee. The initiative would have leveraged $60 million in tax credits over a six-year period to create a pool of $100 million to invest in growing business in rural areas. Additional provisions included recapture specifications and required that the entities that receive the fund submit annual reports to the IEDC. SB 478, Craft hemp flower and THC products, (Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle) sought to impose rules on the largely unregulated THC and Hemp business within Indiana. Even after the bill’s extensive journey, passing through two Senate Committees and three separate House Committees, neither the Senate nor the House were happy with where the bill landed. Caucus members were not able to concur on the changes, and while expected to pass regulation at the very least making the products 21+, nothing was adopted. As a result, the products will remain unregulated for at least the next year. HB 1389, Local regulation, (Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie) had its fair share of troubles after passing into the Senate. Initially on third reading, the bill was brought back to second reading due to controversy about certain provisions. When passed, the bill went back to conference committee and while the House was able to pass the conference committee report, the motion failed in the Senate 17-33 in the final hours on Sine Die. The author was able to get a concurrence filed after this, but it was too late, and while managing to make its way onto the House calendar, it was not called down for a final vote. HB 1662, State and local policies on homelessness, (Rep. Michelle Davis, R-Whiteland) would have criminalized homeless individuals from sleeping on public sidewalks. HB 1662 was originally defeated in the first half of session, but there were multiple attempts in the second half to insert the language in another bill. However, the language was not able to find a permanent home and was ultimately defeated this session. Governor’s Office Aside from the legislature, Indiana kicked off the year by inaugurating a new governor to lead our state. Governor Mike Braun (R-Jasper) was inaugurated as Indiana’s 52 nd Governor on January 13 th . In his inaugural address, Governor Braun honored the state’s history of hardworking pioneers and entrepreneurs and emphasized the need to continue that legacy through bold leadership and innovation. Braun called for reducing government inefficiencies, lowering healthcare costs, empowering education, and fostering small business growth. Braun’s tone was optimistic, and the Governor was determined to lead boldly to ensure Indiana remains a land of opportunity and prosperity. While Governor Braun has only been in office for 4 months, that has not stopped him from working closely with the legislature. The governor expressed interest in multiple bills throughout this session and heavily promoted the passage of his version of SEA 1 throughout session, targeting rising property taxes as his key priority. Additionally, the new governor has begun to reshape government through executive orders. At the time of writing, Governor Braun has signed a grand total of 64 executive orders . Some of his key initiatives include reorganizing state government (into the new vertical integration system), reducing red tape by eliminating degree requirements and licensing barriers, and increasing oversight of state spending and benefits on programs like SNAP and Medicaid. On health, the orders focus on improving nutrition, prevention of chronic diseases and healthcare transparency. Indiana’s energy reliability has also been an important issue for the Governor. He has promoted the use of coal, natural gas, and nuclear as means to fulfill the growing energy demand in the state, whilst also cutting regulations. State security has also been addressed through the Governor’s cyber initiatives and foreign adversary restrictions. Finally, the Governor has also addressed many social policy issues such as emphasizing traditional gender definitions, pro-life laws, workforce participation in addition to student safety and prison reform. In short, Governor Braun’s orders are targeted at streamlining government, protecting Hoosier values and ensuring long term resilience. Following Sine Die from the legislature last Friday, many of the bills that we detailed above will be swiftly signed into law. While the Governor has already signed several bills, you can follow the status of all legislation sent to his desk by accessing the Governor’s Bill Watch Page , which updates in real time. Once a bill reaches his desk, the governor will have 7 days to review it. In that time, he can sign the bill, veto it, or if he does not act within the 7-day window, the bill automatically becomes law on the 8th day. Thank You! Catalyst Public Affairs Group has been honored to advocate for you throughout this year’s legislative session. We would like to thank the many elected officials who fought for your issues throughout all stages of the legislative process. On behalf of our team, we would also like to thank you for your close partnership with us during this session as we worked enthusiastically to pursue your priorities!
By Indiana Chamber May 2, 2025
Wrap-Up Documents From the 2025 Indiana General Assembly View our 2025 Final Legislative Report . And see the Chamber's 2025 Legislative Scorecard .
By Sara Patrick April 30, 2025
When I was first introduced to the Chamber of Commerce world and our local business community through this lens in 2019, I was also introduced to the United Fund. At the time, it was in the process of dissolving and identifying the “next direction.” Now, 6 years later, a rebranded (and growing) nonprofit organization is making strides in impacting our local communities by “mobilizing the caring power of our community.” This organization is United Way, Serving Elkhart, LaGrange, and Noble Counties. As the LaGrange County Chamber, we are privileged to work alongside their efforts and their team as they continue to grow their footprint across our greater region. I had the honor of sitting down with President and CEO Bill Purcell for one of our latest Chamber Chat Podcast episodes, and in this week’s column, I’d like to share a few pieces from that conversation. Chamber: What is the history of Crossroads United Way? How did the three counties become one? Bill Purcell: Back in 1922, United Way of Elkhart was started. However, the first United Way was launched in the 1870s in Colorado. It was a sort of “chest” between some leaders who came together to say, “How do we take care of people?” They used this method to collect money to serve people and it moved across the country. At the time [before the three-county union], there was the Elkhart United Way, the United Fund of LaGrange County, and a Noble County United Way. It was a discussion of how we bring the resources together to make sure that the money that is being made is going into the grants and not spread too thin in the overhead. C: That’s a great example of stewardship. BP: Yeah, it’s a regional impact because issues don’t stop at the [county] line. Housing doesn’t stop at the line. Things that we do not only impact what we do in one county, but in multiple. C: Yes, and that so easily concurs with what we see within a county, even. You consider that an issue like housing or doesn’t stop at the line. How true that is within a county’s borders, that these issues don’t stop at a town’s line. The impact can go across the entire region. BP: Yes, and that goes right along with what I want to talk about today, which is advocacy. Advocacy is about giving people a voice and oftentimes, people think of advocacy and think federal level. But, many things I did when I started was on the county line and speaking about United Way. It’s about making sure they’re aware of what we’re doing, especially the non-profit community. C: Yes, and it makes me think about the term “grassroots.” I never really understood that concept until this role. It’s about people who get up in the morning, who want to make a difference, and find the people to link arms with, and then they get it done. That relates to how you’re describing advocacy. How does Crossroads advocate for the needs of the community? BP: The mission is that we work to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community. Key word: mobilize. The very concrete thing we do is to be an ambassador for our nonprofit community. We meet with our legislators on all levels. We attend third house meetings. We work with social media. We’re not lobbying, or going on a particular issue. What we’re doing is advocating on things like hunger, mental health, childcare. What are issues that we need to address to be a flourishing community overall. As a United Way, we focus on health, education, and financial stability, and then we discover what are the things that communities are doing to address these issues. C: I think it’s important to differentiate what you did–the difference between lobbying and advocacy. So often, in the Chamber world, we see and hear folks quickly associate advocacy with politics, and the nasty and dirty part of governmental affairs. What I’m hearing you say is that advocacy is about communication. Making sure people are aware of the resources are there, and aware of the influence they have. BP: Yeah, and advocacy is about going to your leaders and getting people to speak up. You’re only going to get things done if you have good leaders. We have democracy, and people go and cast their vote, and decide the leaders. So then how do we build a relationship with these leaders and get things done? It’s about raising awareness, and how we provide resources overall and speak up about these resources. Some people don’t know that we actually give grants to over 50 agencies across our region through our Strategic Investment. We get to support those agencies through this type of resource distribution. C: One of the things that has been so profound to me that you have hit on is the intensely strong network of nonprofit organizations within our community. It’s this systematic approach to addressing these issues–organizations like Crossroads who supports the local nonprofits, who then support the people dealing with these issues. How does all of this come together? BP: We think of it in three buckets. The first is that we’re raising funds, so we spend time as ambassadors at different agencies and companies who are connecting their employees to our services and our workplace campaigns. Second is that we work with agencies directly. We work to help develop funds and match locally raised funds for their needs. And then the third side is being an ambassador for the nonprofit communication. We serve as a liaison between nonprofit organizations and the stakeholders and funding resources, demonstrating that we’re all working together to make the biggest impact. C: If you could offer one call of action to listeners within the realm of advocacy, what would it be? BP: Be involved with your civic organizations–your Chamber, your EDC, your Community Foundation. And know who your representatives are. We’re not just in our own world; we need to be in relationship with each other. It needs to be embodied. We need to love each other, and be in a community that loves each other. It’s about building that common good. To listen to the full podcast episode, visit Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or our website (and search LaGrange County Chamber Chat Podcast). Crossroads United Way is positioned to mobilize their communities for the common good, and that’s something we love to get behind at the Chamber of Commerce. This week, resolve to Live United, and build the common good for generations to come in LaGrange County.
By Indiana Chamber April 25, 2025
Long-Held, Far-Reaching Objectives Achieved in 2025 Session Our president and CEO Vanessa Green Sinders says the 2025 Indiana General Assembly, which adjourned earlier this morning, was successful in advancing key Indiana Chamber priorities, including business personal property tax relief and steps to improve the health of the workforce. “We’re encouraged to see legislators increase the state's cigarette tax, something we've long advocated for," Sinders remarks. "Making sensible improvements to property taxes for Indiana's small businesses is also something to celebrate – and both are key components of our vision plan for the state, Indiana Prosperity 2035 .” Members of the Chamber government affairs team offer their brief commentary below on the ultimate or most important outcomes in their issue areas. Look for the overall scorecard and a more complete recap in next week’s Final Legislative Report. VICTORY: Tax Climate (passed in Senate Bill 1) “Senate Bill 1 was the session’s key property tax reform measure and provides near-term relief for homeowners, businesses and farmers while initiating long-term structural changes to the state’s property tax system,” notes David Ober, senior vice president of business operations and finance. “Among its provisions, SB 1 raises the de minimis threshold for business personal property tax from $80,000 to $2 million over the next two years and exempts newly acquired property from the 30% depreciation floor. These changes help create a better environment for capital investment and economic growth across Indiana.” VICTORY: Hoosier Health (passed in House Bill 1001) “The state budget includes the first cigarette tax increase in over 17 years,” shares Sinders of the $2 per pack increase. “We are taking the necessary steps to create healthier Hoosiers and slow the growth of Medicaid while also generating additional revenue. We also applaud state leaders for taking the additional action of raising the tax on vaping and other tobacco products – to send a message across the board about the perils of using tobacco. “A healthy state is good for business. Reducing our smoking levels will increase employee wellness, lower healthcare costs for employers and reduce absenteeism in the workplace.” VICTORY: Housing (passed in House Bill 1005) “Promoting housing development is critical and House Bill 1005 does this by addressing delays and inefficiencies in permitting and inspection processes, which are significant barriers to growth,” Ober offers. “Creating clear timelines and expanding inspection options is needed to reduce costs and uncertainty for developers and support efforts to meet workforce housing demands. Additionally, prioritizing infrastructure funding for communities with pro-housing policies encourages local governments to adopt practices that facilitate economic development and address housing shortages.” VICTORY: Childcare (passed in House Bill 1253 and Senate Bill 463) “Extending the employer childcare expenditure tax credit and promoting further investment in childcare services adds flexibility in staff-to-child ratios and group sizes and will help childcare providers improve care quality and meet demand, benefiting both providers and families in Indiana,” shares Sinders. “Setting up a license category for multisite childcare centers will also help streamline the application process for owners while also reducing the administrative burden to the state.” VICTORY: Road Funding (passed in House Bill 1461) "Reliable infrastructure is foundational to business growth and regional economic development,” Ober comments. “We’re encouraged by the steps taken this session to strengthen Indiana’s road funding framework in a way that supports long-term investment and ensures businesses across the state have the transportation connectivity they need to compete and grow." VICTORY: Energy (passed in House Bill 1007 and Senate Bill 425) “House Bill 1007 provides incentives for small modular reactors, which will enhance the framework to respond to large load customer demand,” Ober notes. “The legislation also improves processes to review utility decisions to retire major generation assets. “Senate Bill 425 also strengthens certainty for permitted energy projects and reuse of existing generation or former mine sites. These improvements will impact energy access and costs for Hoosier businesses and citizens.” VICTORY: Education and Workforce (passed in House Bills 1002 and 1634 and Senate Bills 365 and 448) “Cleaning up outdated and unnecessary provisions and relieving compliance burdens for K-12 schools is important, and this marks the first of an envisioned three-year deregulation effort of Title 20 statutes governing Indiana’s public schools,” relays Jeff Brantley, senior vice president of political affairs. “Improvements in math education and career coaching programs also highlighted meaningful achievements this session. “What's more, Senate Bill 448 improves alignment for postsecondary programs and sets a process to ensure market-driven stackable credentials, which will benefit both employers and potential employees.” VICTORY: Economic Development (passed in House Bill 1001 and Senate Bills 306 and 516) “Increasing the aggregate tax credit by $100 million over the biennium increases the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s ability to continue the momentum of the last decade in attracting companies and high-wage jobs to Indiana,” states Adam H. Berry, vice president of economic development and technology." Berry adds, “Repositioning the film and media tax credit as one that is transferrable will attract productions and talent to Indiana that would not consider working in the state but for this more flexible credit. We know producers around the country were monitoring the progress of this bill and are now ready to make investments in Indiana. “Creating a new state Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation will ultimately help Indiana’s small business climate, a key to boosting our economy. It will be helpful to consolidate resources and information for those who want to start and grow their businesses in Indiana.”
More Posts