Regional Chamber of Northeast Indiana Weekly Legislative Update

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 25th. 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 1st.
 
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 16th 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 15th.
 
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 52nd Governor on January 13th. 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!

Coffee with the County - Tourism Gravy

By Sara Patrick • May 7, 2026
As a young girl, I often had the chance to travel from LaGrange to Shipshe for some quality grandma and grandpa time. They lived back in Valley Hills for many years, and it was always a treat to visit and spend the night with them. Grandma would integrate me into Shipshewana: we’d visit Forks Grocery, drop a nickel down the yellow spiral wishing well in Yoder’s Shopping Center, or stop at the mini golf course for a game or two. As a child, I never really paid attention to the type of folks around me during those excursions. I just knew that I was with people I loved in busy, bustling places in town. What I can appreciate now as an adult is that, more times than not, those folks around me were visitors traveling to the great metropolis of Shipshewana to get away–just as they still do today. When we talk about economic development, most people automatically associate it with industry: Manufacturing. Workforce. Housing. Infrastructure. And in LaGrange County, those absolutely matter. But there’s another sector quietly doing the same kind of heavy lifting–creating jobs, generating income, and bringing new dollars into our communities. Tourism. In 2025, 3.5 million non-resident visitors came to LaGrange County. Here, let me say that a little louder…THREE POINT FIVE MILLION VISITORS! That’s not just a number. It’s a steady flow of outside dollars entering our local economy. Every. Single. Day. And here’s what makes tourism different from many other industries: Those dollars don’t originate here. They’re imported. They’re family budgets and personal finances earned from outside communities and states, brought into our very own LaGrange County to be spent and exchanged here in our communities. These dollars are the gravy on top of our delicious home cooked mashed potatoes! Visitors arrive from places like Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis, and Fort Wayne. They stay for an average of 2.54 days, and while they’re here, they spend–on meals, lodging, retail, entertainment, and experiences. That spending becomes revenue for local businesses. That revenue becomes wages. And those wages support families right here at home. If you read last week’s column, you’ll remember these stats: tourism in LaGrange County supports over 1,500 jobs and generates $48 million in wages annually. That’s not a side economy. That’s an entire workforce. And it’s growing. Recent data shows tourism’s economic impact in LaGrange County has reached more than $250 million annually, a significant increase over the past decade. That kind of growth doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because people are choosing to come here, and because we’ve built experiences worth traveling for. Tourism isn’t passive. People aren’t just driving through. They’re looking for something to do. That’s where events, attractions, shops, and experiences come in. From large-scale venues that can host thousands of people at a time, to community festivals, to small, locally-owned shops and markets…these aren’t just amenities. They’re economic drivers. Events fill hotel rooms. Experiences extend stays. And longer stays mean more spending. Even something as simple as increasing the average visit by a fraction of a day–as we’ve already seen–translates into real dollars circulating through our economy. Not all tourism is created equal though, and in LaGrange County, we’re attracting the kind of visitors other communities compete for. Typical visitors travel in small groups or families, and are increasingly intentional about how they spend their time and money. They’re not here by accident. No, they’re choosing a destination that offers something they can’t find in larger, faster-paced places: authenticity. That authenticity–rooted in one of the largest Amish communities in the country, in locally-owned businesses, in craftsmanship, and in a slower pace of life–isn’t just culturally valuable. It’s economically powerful. And it’s what differentiates us in a crowded marketplace. Our local hospitality landscape touches all of us. It supports local restaurants and retailers. It sustains small businesses. It helps justify new investment in infrastructure and placemaking. It creates jobs that allow people to live and work locally. And importantly, it diversifies our economy. In a county known for manufacturing and agriculture, tourism provides balance. It creates resilience. It brings in outside revenue that isn’t tied to a single industry cycle. That’s not just a good strategy. That’s smart economic development. Tourism in LaGrange County is not a finished product. It’s an evolving opportunity. We’re already seeing fresh momentum in visitor growth, in length of stay, and in economic impact. But there’s more ahead if we choose to invest in it intentionally: supporting and scaling events, enhancing visitor experiences and interactions across all communities, supporting small businesses, and continuing to tell our story in a way that attracts the right audiences. Because at its core, tourism is about one simple idea: Creating a place where people want to be. We’ve already done that. Now the question is whether we’re willing to fully recognize tourism for what it is–not just a nice bowl of gravy in our community, but a key driver of its future. So pull up your plate of mashed potatoes, and let’s dig in together. Looking for more information on how to interact with our own homegrown hospitality industry? May is National Tourism Month, and we want you to see LaGrange County for yourself! Be a tourist in your own hometown by showing your ID or proof of local employment at these establishments to receive discounts, incentives, and more! Valid May 1-31: Blue Gate Theater - 50% off musical tickets to Simple Sanctuary and America 250 Bloomfield Schoolhouse Lavender - $15 off purchases of $100 or more Cook’s Bison Ranch - BOGO Wagon Ride Admission East of Chicago Pizza - 10% off total purchase Farmstead Inn & Conference Center - 15% off any room reservation Menno-Hoff - 50% off admission Mongo General Store - BOGO Burger Polish Girl Collectible - 10% off total purchase Shipshewana Popcorn Co. - Buy a large bag of popcorn, get 10% off total purchase Trading Post Outfitters - 10% off paddling trips

Coffee with the County - It's Working for You

By Sara Patrick • May 6, 2026
We’ve all seen it: a car with its blinkers on, either pulled off on the side of the road or driving eeeeextra slow down a trafficked highway. They’re easy to spot in rural LaGrange County: the tourists. Sometimes they step out of the vehicle to snap a photo of the horse or cow in the roadside pasture. Other times they are squinting at a phone looking for directions. And still in other moments, they’re just on a slowed-down joy ride. Childhood had me believing that tourists were, to some level, an annoyance. And even in adulthood, when I’m trying to get from point A to point B in a certain amount of time, the visitors tend to feel like a frustrating roadblock. As time has gone on, however, I’ve come to understand visitors, instead, as folks who are just plain taking life in. They’re not afraid to slow down, snap pictures, breathe in the fresh country air, and live a little. And if we (I) take an honest look at ourselves (myself) in those moments of frustration, I think a lot of us could conclude that the reason we’re annoyed is because we’ve forgotten the almost unraveling charm of the world around us, found in our own backyard. That’s what visitors long for. That’s why tourists visit LaGrange County. Because the truth is, it’s easy to forget that what feels ordinary to us is actually a destination for literally millions of others. May 4-8 is National Tourism Week, and all month long we are partnering with our friends at the LaGrange County Convention and Visitors Bureau to celebrate and tell the story of why tourism is so vital for our local economy. In 2025 alone, LaGrange County welcomed 3.5 million visitors. Let that sink in for a moment. In a county where life often feels quiet, steady, and rooted, millions of people are choosing–intentionally–to come here. They’re not just passing through, either. Visitors are staying longer than ever, now averaging 2.54 days, up from just a few years ago. They’re coming from major metropolitan areas like Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis, and Fort Wayne–places filled with options, yet they’re choosing us. And when they do, they’re investing here. Tourism in LaGrange County supports 1,546 jobs and generates $48 million in wages. That’s not abstract. That’s real-time livelihood being supported by these tourists. It’s the barista who remembers your order, the shop owner who greets you by name, and the young professional building a career without leaving home. Even more telling: our visitors aren’t random travelers. They’re families, couples, and professionals with a median household income of $77,000, choosing to spend their time–and their dollars–right here in our communities. So what draws them? It’s not manufactured. It’s not overbuilt or overcommercialized. It’s real. LaGrange County is home to one of the biggest Amish communities in the country, and that influence shapes more than just what visitors see–it shapes how this place feels. There’s a pace here, a purposefulness, a connection to craft, land, and tradition that people can’t replicate where they come from. You see it in the handmade furniture, the fresh-baked goods, the quiet roads, and the conversations that don’t feel rushed. You feel it in places like Shipshewana, where on a busy summer day, a town of fewer than 1,000 residents can welcome tens of thousands of visitors, without losing the very character that brought them here in the first place. That’s not an accident. That’s stewardship. And the impact of tourism doesn’t stop at storefronts and attractions. It ripples outward, supporting local restaurants, fueling small business growth, sustaining events, and helping create opportunities that allow people to build a life and career right here in LaGrange County. Even if you’ve never thought of yourself as part of the “tourism” industry–and even more so, if you’ve tried to avoid it–chances are, it’s working for you. It’s easy, especially when you live here, to overlook what makes this place special. To see the familiar instead of the exceptional. But through the eyes of a visitor, we are reminded: This isn’t just where we live. This is where people come to experience something they can’t find anywhere else. And that should make us proud. Not just proud of what we have–but proud of how we’ve preserved it. Because the real success of tourism in LaGrange County isn’t just measured in visitor numbers or economic impact. It’s measured in something harder to quantify: authenticity. Character. Identity. Those aren’t things you can manufacture. And once they’re gone, they’re nearly impossible to get back. So as we celebrate National Tourism Week, maybe the opportunity isn’t just to welcome visitors. Maybe it’s to see our own backyard a little differently. To slow down. To notice. To experience this place not just as residents, but as stewards of something truly worth sharing. Because the rest of the Midwest already knows what we have. The question is, do we? Looking for ways to engage with our local tourism industry? Say no more! From May 1-31, you can access special deals, discounts, and value-added bonuses at selected destinations just by showing a LaGrange County ID or local employment validation, pay stub, name tag, or business card. No digital pass or printed coupon is required. To learn more and see the full list of locations you can visit this month, visit www.lagrangechamber.org/tourismweek. 

Coffee with the County - Getting Lost in the Art

By Sara Patrick • April 29, 2026
One of my favorite classes in high school was art class. Even more specifically, I loved the drawing courses. I was fascinated at how a plain old pencil could be merged into a blank paper with a blending stump and added or decreased pressure of the lead tip. I got lost in the art.  Then, I went off to college, and that was where I was first exposed to dance. I will be the very first to admit that I am no dancer, and the only time I break out dance moves is when there is a keen opportunity to embarrass my kids. I was introduced to the art of dance through a friend who was also a dance major. I sat in the auditorium on several occasions, absorbed by the fluid movements to music on stage. It was something I’d never experienced before, and I quickly understood how captivating art could truly be. I’ve been personally exposed to photography, written compositional art, paint, clay, and more. But not until I took this role did I understand what the integration of art into a community could do. Quite truthfully, art and culture into a community does what the dancers used to do on stage: it opens up the eyes to a new horizon of expression, understanding, and inclusion. Art has a way of bringing together different people from different backgrounds, using a single language with different mediums. We at the Chamber are privileged to have a front seat vantage point as the LaGrange County Arts continues to grow. Founded in 2022, this non-profit organization was created to promote, present, and support literary, visual, musical, and theatrical performance arts in our own communities. They quite literally create the stage for budding and seasoned artists alike to present artistic masterpieces and expression via collaboration, shared experiences, and learning opportunities. The impact this team has made in just a few years is phenomenal, and it’s only beginning. This week, I want to introduce you to Kari Lipscomb, a familiar face around LaGrange County. As a photographer and artist herself, Kari currently serves as the President of LaGrange County Arts. Read below more about the organization and its work: Chamber: Why is LaGrange County Arts, and the work you do, important to our community? Kari Lipscomb: LaGrange County Arts strengthens our community by creating opportunities for connection, creativity, and cultural expression. Access to the arts enhances quality of life, brings people together, and helps elevate local artists while raising awareness of arts opportunities right here at home. C: What are some of the notable projects or programs you’ve worked on? KL: We’ve supported a variety of meaningful projects and programs. One highlight was the LaGrange INspired initiative, created through a community grant partnership with the LaGrange County EDC, LaGrange County Community Foundation, Indiana Arts Commission, and National Endowment for the Arts. This project featured six local artists and helped increase their visibility and sales. We’re also known for our Summer Arts Festival on the courthouse lawn, now in its fifth year, as well as bringing public art, like the Heritage Sculpture on the courthouse lawn, to the community. LaGrange County Arts supports artists of all ages and abilities. C: What are the future goals and plans of LaGrange County Arts? KL: Our goal is to continue expanding access to the arts while reaching more people through new programs and partnerships. We’re focused on supporting artists and creating meaningful opportunities for community engagement, helping build a strong and sustainable arts culture in LaGrange County. C: How do people get involved or learn more? KL: We’re always looking to grow our membership, which can be both artists and art appreciators, which is key to sustaining our work. People can get involved by visiting our website, attending a monthly meeting, or reaching out by email to learn more. Our office and meeting room is located in the lower level of the Methodist Church in LaGrange. We are a 501c3 nonprofit and we are sustained through fundraising, donations, and grants. LaGrange County Arts Programming includes: Painters Guild – meets monthly on the fourth Thursday from 6:30-8:00 PM in the LaGrange County Arts Meeting Room (209 W Spring Street, LaGrange), for ages 16+ Youth Arts Festival – occurred on April 25, featuring local youth artists in music, photography, painting, handmades, and more. Arts in Bloom Fundraiser – May 8, 4:30-7:30 PM at 111 W Spring St., LaGrange, tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door Summer Arts Festival – June 27, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM, featuring art exhibits, live music, photography, pottery, food trucks, kids creation zone, and more Corn School Creation Station – Held nightly during Corn School in the Garage Community Center If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my role at the Chamber, it’s that art is a tool for placemaking and community development. When art is integrated, community pride swells. When the local front is loved and enjoyed, talent stays, businesses grow, and leadership rises. It’s a full-circle moment, and it all starts–for us–with LaGrange County Arts. To learn more about LaGrange County Arts, visit www.lagrangecountyarts.org or email Kari at kari@lagrangecountyarts.org. Get creative, and get plugged in!

Coffee with the County -Lessons from Golden Miami

By Sara Patrick • April 22, 2026
Picture it: Sicily, 1922. (Sophia Petrillo) Let me try that again. Picture it: Miami, 2026. (Sara Patrick) I recently returned from a trip to Miami, Florida for the capstone weekend of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Business Leads Fellowship Program. I’m officially a Fellow! This eight-month program was chocked full of insight, lectures, and peer-to-peer learning on all things workforce development: early learning and childcare, K-12 education, work-based learning, post-secondary education, skills-based hiring, affordable housing solutions, talent pipeline management, and more. It was a momentum-creator for Chambers of Commerce and communities like ours. In my short trip, my days were full of roundtables, homeroom sessions, and presentations on these topics, wrapping up all of the things we’ve learned over the past year. The food was incredible, the ocean was beautiful, and my lifelong network of peers (and friends!) who are doing this work across the country—from Hawaii to New York—have impacted my life and work for the better. As I reflect on my time in the Business Leads Program, as well as my capstone weekend in Miami, I thought I would offer you some insights into Miami and workforce development in this week’s edition. Our country is diverse in landscape, culture, and industry, and we should all commit to seeing it in our lifetime. As I flew from Chicago to Miami on my way down, I was assigned a window seat, which gave me a birds-eye view of the landscape across the country. I saw marshlands, circular agriculture plots, solar fields, wide metro areas and small rural settings. At one point, my phone notified me that we were over Nashville, and I couldn’t help but think about the music industry there and who might be living beneath my plane. This experience has taught me that not everything can be learned in LaGrange County (or even Indiana, for that matter). Go out and experience it, then bring it back to teach others. Bring extra clothes. The Miami coast is FAR bigger from the Lake Michigan coast that is closest to home. And so are the waves. Bring extra clothes, because you will get wet when you dip your toes in the water. (Trust my experience.) Miami metro is a spectrum of economy. And so are our communities. As I “uber-ed” from the airport to our hotel, I watched the landscape change very quickly from cement-brick-built homes and impoverished neighborhoods to very luxurious high-rise hotels with no cares in the world. While I sat in our meeting room, I couldn’t help but think about how the work being done in those spaces and the discussions being had really DO impact our communities for the better. Enhancing childcare or affordable housing is more than putting warm bodies in the workplace. It’s about transforming lives and communities for the next generation, elevating the person living paycheck-to-paycheck into a life of sustainability. Bring an umbrella, and one that won’t break easily. Miami sure does have some warm sunshine, but it also has its fair share of wet, wet rain. Marry that with the wind, and you’ll experience weather not normally experienced here at home. Brace for impact. Bring the umbrella. Skills-based hiring is where it’s at. My eyes were opened in Miami to the value of renaming our positions and roles from the title to the skills required to get the job done. Imagine how we could reinvent hiring and workforce practices when we reimagine agricultural skills that could very easily transfer to manufacturing, or hospitality skills to sales and marketing. When we refuse to limit ourselves by the title, and instead position ourselves in the power of skills-based hiring, our local workforce could be transformed. Try the new food. If you know me, you know I’m a home-cooked, homemade cuisine type of gal. And that’s easy to find around here—noodles, mashed taters, steak, and fried chicken. Yum. In Miami, I had the pleasure of taste-testing plantain, Cuban pork, black and tomatilla (green) rice, coconut flan, and more. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this new menu of tastes. Do it - try the new food! We’ve got to learn to de-silo ourselves and speak a common language. I get it, the system sort of pigeon-holes us into the current system. Education speaks the language of the state and federal departments. Business speaks the language of production and doing business. Intermediaries try to navigate the middle. Imagine what could happen when we sit around the same table, understand the other, and find a common language! More to come on this, and if you want to be a part of the conversation, reach out. It’ll take all of us! And finally, don’t forget to look for Sophia, Dorothy, Rose, and Blanche when in Miami. You better believe that I wore my Golden Girls t-shirt when I was there, but…I didn’t find them. Until next time, Miami. All joking aside, there is so much to unpack when it comes to workforce development. As we closed out our capstone, we each had the opportunity to share our key takeaways and what we plan to do next. Again and again, my peers shared that they learned that there is still so much to be learned. And that we can’t do it alone. Workforce development is ongoing, and it has to be collaborative. From childcare to housing, K-12 education to work-based learning, there is much to be done in LaGrange County. Join the conversation. Become a member of the Chamber. Take the transformation of Miami and bring it back to our home communities for a better LaGrange County. And, don’t forget to be Golden. 

Coffee with the County - Shared Caring

By Sara Patrick • April 15, 2026
Happy Tax Day! I can almost hear the collective groans and sighs at that opening exclamation. For those accountants out there – you made it!  April 15, give or take a few days, is commemorated as Tax Day across the United States every year. It is the day in which individual income tax returns are due to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The day dates back to the mid-1800s when the Revenue Act of 1861 first introduced the concept of federal income tax. Many different appeals, repeals, and Supreme Court challenges followed suit, especially as federal income tax related to the constitutionality of unapportioned income taxes. The year of 1913 proved to be a year of change when the Sixteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution was ratified, giving the United States Congress authority to tax all incomes. In its inaugural year, the filing deadline for individuals was March 1, and was changed to March 15 in 1918, and then again to April 15 in 1955. The date remains still to this day, unless it conflicts with a federal holiday or a weekend. Taxes are a testy subject. Why? Because it’s a conversation around your money, and your ability to spend your money that you earned. Right? And there are ALL kinds of opinions around that very topic. The reality is that, at the end of the day, taxes are a way to spread the burden of expenses for communal living–think public safety, healthcare, infrastructure, and the like–to be spread across the multitude, with the end goal being that the load is lightened for all while being able to manage the masses. And there are all different types of taxes and structures: Property tax–In the state of Indiana, this tax structure is a bit fluid currently, but it generally taxes one’s property value to cover the cost of local services: schools, police and fire, libraries, towns, townships, and local roads and bridges. Income tax–Depending on which type we’re talking about (local vs. state vs. federal), this tax pays for public services as well, and could also include things like EMS, economic development, and more. Gas tax–Charged per gallon of gasoline (so don’t forget to shop local, even for gas!). This tax goes directly into transportation: highways, bridges, road maintenance, and related projects. Vehicle excise tax, wheel tax, and county surtax–Often these are a part of a vehicle’s registration, and are based on the value or age of the vehicle. The latter two are based on locally adopted rates. Many of these flow back into the local infrastructure. Sales tax–A tax added to many purchases, and is set at a state level. (For Indiana, it is seven percent.) A large share of this goes to the state budget and funds state priorities, education, safety, health, and transportation. Some are shared with local governments. Mom tax–When I get the munchies and also take advantage of a prime opportunity to teach my kids about taxes by taking 10% of their candy stash for myself. (Okay, this one isn’t legit, but I wanted to make sure you were still following along, because, you know…taxes.) I’ll be the first to confess that it’s difficult to wrap my head around taxes. The narrative is: “You mean, I get my salary taxed, only then to pay tax when I spend my already-taxed money, then pay property tax on a property that I already purchased with my money that was already taxed?” What in the tax? Is your head spinning? Mine too. But imagine a world without taxes (aka, shared spending): No police or EMS. Crime rates go up and emergencies go uncared for. Every man for himself. No fire department. Houses and establishments burn down with no way to control the emergency, unless you have lots and lots of buckets. No public healthcare subsidies. Affordable healthcare becomes nearly inaccessible for everyone. No department of transportation. Roads become so full of potholes that you might as well go fishing in them. Bridges go out and we’re forced to become active pole vaulters across the local waterways. No education. Public schools will struggle until consolidations or closures become the only viable option. Or non-educators like me become homeschool teachers, which, if we’re being honest, is not good for me or my kids. So how can we flip the script and climb ourselves out of the confusion of taxes? Allow me to offer a few reasonable solutions: Volunteer for your local fire department. Attend local fundraisers. (Sure, there are a lot of fundraisers to go around, but it’s an easy way to support the organizations you’re passionate about.) Run for local positions, like the school board, a township trustee, town board, or a county government position. Report a road or bridge issue on the county highway department’s website or call their office at 260-499-6353 (because remember, be a part of the solution, not a part of the complaint). Be a sharer of resources. Learn about the local non-profit organizations which offer discounted or free services to the underserved or unserved. (For a list of non-profits in the healthcare, mental health, food insecurity, or housing resources, visit our website.) The lesson in Tax Day is that it is a great reminder of the value of shared caring. When each of us commits to giving just a little, the entire community is elevated for the better. Whether it's our money (sorry if I opened a can of worms this week!), our time, or our talents, we all have something to give to better LaGrange County.

Coffee with the County - Remember the Roots

By Sara Patrick • April 8, 2026
Want to know something about me that you might not already know? I LOVE a good auction. I think it’s because of the adrenaline rush and the search for the best deal of the day. Give me a good auction, and I’ll camp out until my luck comes through.  If you’ve read my column for a while, you probably know that my husband and I built our house about five years ago on a plot of pasture and old corn field. When you build a new homestead in a space like that, it rises up pretty bare, and I’m a girl who loves some good shade trees. So away I went to the best of both worlds: my very first tree auction. I attended, and I was hooked! Year after year, I’ve trekked to the tree nursery to find more mighty maples to line our driveway, our fenceline, and well, just about anywhere else I could find a place to plant another. The unfortunate halt to my tree auction addiction was the year when we had no access to a backhoe. So here I came, gleefully driving home with a trailer of burlapped trees, trying to figure out how I was going to get these root balls into the ground. Luckily, we had access to a skidloader (that might’ve taken an adult or two on the back to balance out the weight), but the hole-digging was all done by pure muscle…very, very sore, pure muscle. I’ve enjoyed watching my auction purchases take root and blossom. Every year, especially about this time of the season, I begin to see the buds turn into glistening baby leaves, ready for another year to offer shade to its inhabitants. In 2025, though, we discovered that one of my prized plants was less-than-beautiful. It began to take a leaned shape, and the buds were few and far between. “Water it!” my husband would say. Week after week, I’d park a four-wheeler trailer with a water basin dumping its contents, to no avail. No matter what we did, we just couldn’t seem to bring back any life into the once lively tree. And now, starting the 2026 spring season, we’ve decided it’s time to rip this one out, with no hope in sight. By the time you read this column, you’ll be in the middle of National Small Business Development Week. In LaGrange County, we are built on the foundation of small business entrepreneurship which innately understands and embraces the “get up and go” that it takes to develop small businesses. Business owner after business owner has rolled up his sleeves to open shop, produce the products, craft the craft, and grow the business. And as small businesses develop, year over year, they deepen their roots and firm up their foundation. They grow, they expand, they provide broader impact to our communities. That’s the beauty of development. However, there’s one piece we often forget when we talk about growth and development. It’s very easy to see the fruit of development, because in business, it often equates to an increase in product output, a growth of the staff, or an expanded workplace–the things we can see. But when true development happens, the roots of the business trench deeper and deeper into the ground in which it started. The business is taken care of, and the products or services blossom, but the unseen work is what happens behind the scenes and underneath the tangible outcomes. Small business development is so much more about the roots than it is about the fruit. Business success happens when the small business owner puts in the overtime to water, fertilize, and support the business, so to speak, when no one else is watching. It takes decisions that evaluate the soil quality (where we do business, how much of it we do, and which employees we start with). It requires an evaluation of the root support (what training to invest in, what processes to implement, and what financing to ensure sustainability). And it takes an intentional, ongoing effort to care for and maintain the roots (who we bring on, when we invest, and when to double down). While my tree-mothering qualities have enabled all others to grow prosperously on our new homestead, this one tree was destined to fail. It was planted in rocky, sandy soil, and its trunk was positioned in the windiest part of our land. And I’ll be the first one to admit that my watering skills for this particular young sapling were less than par. It definitely could have used more fertilizer and attention, too. Fortunately, our local small business owners tend to their shops much more intentionally than I do my tree, and our eyes have the privilege of being witness to that work. Take my tree as this week’s metaphorical example, and pause to reflect on the multitude of small businesses in our communities. Without their blood, sweat, and tears–and I assure you, small businesses don’t develop without a few of each–we wouldn’t have the LaGrange County as we know it. Remember the tree-caring process it takes to develop a small business, and choose to support that effort by shopping local this week. Happy National Small Business Development Week, LaGrange County!

Coffee with the County - East or West: Momentum is Claimed in the Action

By Sara Patrick • April 1, 2026
All throughout childhood, my parents intentionally planned a one-week family vacation. In the heat of the moments, we often experienced familial frustration, things breaking unexpectedly, and plans having to be changed on a dime. It was the true picture of family vacations.  But one such vacation, we were packed into the family van, driving down the highway. The year before, I had received my driver’s license (I was a teenager at this time), and I begged my dad to let me drive on the freeway. After I wouldn’t let up on the asking, he finally caved, and we switched seats. He told me where to go, which sign to look for, and said he was going to get some shut-eye. He laid his seat back, covered his face with his ballcap (classic dad-move), and dozed off. I felt like a million bucks! I had the freedom of the driver’s seat, and I was pointing our noses in the direction of our vacation. Time went on, and I drove for 45 minutes to an hour before my dad awoke to check in. “Where are we?” he asked. “I don’t know,” I answered quickly. (Wrong answer, by the way.) Dad started looking around, trying to ascertain where we were and how far we had traveled since he handed over the reins. All of a sudden, he exclaimed, “Sara! We’re driving west. We’re supposed to be going east! How long have you been driving this way?” I panicked a bit inside, not wanting to show that my newfound confidence behind the wheel was quickly crumbling at my amateur mistake. Because while I had big plans for myself as the family captain, the truth was, I didn’t know where I was headed or how I was actually going to get there. Today marks the beginning of a brand new month, and if you are a business or numbers person, you’ll also know it’s the beginning of the second quarter of the year. Oftentimes in business or leadership, this is a checkpoint to review quarter one, and plan for quarter two. It’s a refresher on the goals for the year, and a chance to pivot or adjust where needed. In January, I shared about the value of setting goals, and why fully knowing and embracing your mission and vision matter. (Because without vision, people perish. Without direction, people get lost.) So, here’s a reality check-in: How are things going? When you began the new year, what did you envision for 2026? What things did you hope to accomplish? What changes did you commit to making to reach that vision? And maybe a more honest question is: What haven’t you done yet that you told yourself you were going to do? If you’ve felt off track–or haven’t looked at your goals since January–you’re not alone. Quarter 2 is a second-chance at revisiting goals, and adjusting to get there by December 31. I challenge you to find your 2026 goal list–these can be personal goals, professional goals, or business goals. And if you never set goals this year, what better time than now to do it! Before you push harder and officially start your second quarter, take an hour and walk through this quick audit. Step 1: Start With the End in Mind (Re-anchor Your Vision) Before we look at the details of your goals, take a moment to zoom out and examine the big picture. Ask yourself: ● What does a “win” look like by December 31, 2026? ● If this year is successful, what’s different in my life or business? A lot of goals drift because they were never clearly tied to a bigger outcome. Step 2: Reality Check This is where the rubber hits the road. The success of this audit is entirely dependent upon your willingness to be honest with yourself. Ask: ● What progress have I actually made? ● What’s stalled? ● What have I avoided, and why? (Ouch - that one hurts) Don’t be afraid to look at the data. If you’re a business person, examine your sales, your hires, and your outreach. Look at your cash flow and bottom line. What’s working, and better yet, what’s not? The goal here is to be honest, not (overly) optimistic. You can’t adjust your direction if you won’t acknowledge where you really are. Step 3: Cut or Keep – Simplify Your Focus This is where we stop trying to do everything, and figure out was is top-priority for success to be accomplished. For each of your goals, decide: ● Do I keep this? It’s a yes if it’s working and it still matters. ● Do I adjust this? It’s a yes if it still matters, but the approach isn’t working. ● Do I cut this? It’s a yes if it’s no longer relevant, realistic, or appropriate. The key here? Carrying dead goals is one of the biggest productivity killers. Don’t be afraid to cut a once-great-idea for the sake of ensuring achievement and vision fulfillment in the end. Step 4: Choose Q2 Priorities Don’t be tempted to fix everything at once. (If you are, it’s okay. I’m guilty of this too.) Here is where we identify the absolute top priorities, and set sub-goals to reach that end. What are one or two (yes, 1 or 2!) goals that would make the biggest impact if you actually followed through? Then, define for yourself: ● What does progress look like by the end of June? ● What needs to happen weekly to move it forward? Step 5: Take the Next Right Step (Immediately) This is where thinking is separated from doing. What is one action that you can take this week to move forward? This is not a plan. It’s not a strategy. It’s a step. Examples could include: ● Make the call ● Schedule the meeting ● Test the idea ● Have the conversation Momentum doesn’t come from clarity–it comes from action. Read that again. Momentum doesn’t come from clarity–it comes from action . As you launch your April and quarter two, let it not be a Fool’s Day joke. Breathe deep, and let it be the real deal. Check your signs (make sure you’re actually headed east instead of west), get the right people in the right seats, and make it happen. You don’t need to start over–you just need to make sure you’re still headed in the right direction.

Coffee with the County - Uncharted Territory and the Next Right Step

By Sara Patrick • March 25, 2026
The first time my son brought home a less-than-great report card, I experienced all sorts of emotions. I, of course, was displeased (as a self-diagnosed perfectionist) that I didn’t see all As on the white piece of paper. I also felt sorrow for him, that perhaps, there was some sort of struggle occurring in the walls of school. I experienced curiosity, and a sudden drive to uncover the real happenings behind my boy, who oftentimes, doesn’t love school. As a mom, I experienced an entire array of mixed emotions.  But in these moments, I am reminded of the truth that I’ve had to absorb time and time again for the last nine years as a mom. It’s this: I’m new at this. I’ve never parented a child before, let alone a very energetic, intelligent, different-than-me son. And, the flip side of that truth is this: he’s never been a nine-year-old boy before in 2026. Let that land for a sec. It hits hard every time I swallow it. This is uncharted territory as a mom, as a son, and as a family. You may know that I’ve had the true privilege of taking part in the Business Leads Fellowship program with the United States Chamber of Commerce. I’ve had the honor of meeting and learning from peers from all across the country–literally, from California to New York, and everywhere in between. Our last virtual “homeroom” session happened recently, and I felt myself feeling stuck as we wrapped up our seven-month conversation around workforce development and everything that falls under that umbrella. In that discussion, I confessed that it seems like workforce development is just one roadblock after the other. Here’s what I meant by that: When we finally gain some traction in systems-level solutions, another hurdle comes up. If it isn’t compensation for entry-level workers, it’s insurance and liability, or transportation, or delivering expansive value to the student on very limited school schedules. The list goes on and on. And then it hit me as I listened to my peers on that last homeroom call: I’ve never been in this position, on this day, in this year, tackling these exact roadblocks. It’s uncharted territory. And all it takes is a willingness to take the next right step. It seems elementary, sure, but the saying goes that an elephant can only be eaten one bite at a time. So as I close out a full month of columns about work-based learning, workforce development, and the next generation of LaGrange County laborers, consider it joyful and honest work to engage in the process. It takes all of us taking the next right step to pull off an empowered, prepared, and work-ready generation of students. Here are a few key tips to get involved: For Students: ● Be curious about work, not just jobs. Ask questions when you meet someone in a career field. Commit to understanding the reality of work, because knowing the reality of work is often more valuable than just knowing the job titles. ● Try something–even if you’re not sure it’s “the one.” A job shadow, internship, or part-time job isn’t a lifetime decision. It’s an experiment. Every experience teaches you something about what you enjoy, and what you don’t. ● Show up like a professional. Be on time. Ask good questions. Follow through. All of these things will set you apart quickly. For Parents: ● Help your student explore, not just decide. Many parents feel pressure to guide their child to the “right” career path. Instead, encourage exploration–job shadows, part-time work, conversations with local professionals. ● Use your network. You likely know someone in a field your student is curious about. A simple introduction or workplace visit can unlock the world for your child. ● Value experiences as much as academics. (Can I say this one louder to myself??) Grades matter, sure, but so do work habits, communication, and real-world exposure. Work-based learning builds those skills in ways a classroom alone cannot. For Business Owners: ● Start small. You don’t need a formal internship program to get involved. A one-day job shadow, facility tour, or short-term project can make a meaningful impact for a student. ● Show the “why” behind your work. Students connect when they see the purpose behind what your company does–how your work serves customers, build community, or solves problems. ● Invest in your future workforce. Today’s students are tomorrow’s employees. A small investment of time now can build awareness, interest, and relationships that benefit your business for years to come. The simple truth is this: It takes one person to make a difference. When one person is willing to roll up their sleeves and get involved, even in the smallest way, a ripple begins to play out. It’s the multiplication effect–when you impact one person, they impact another, and another, and soon, you’ll have touched an entire community of students by taking the right next step. We’re here, today, in 2026, living a life we’ve never lived before. Every day is a new opportunity to navigate uncharted territory in order to impact the future of our communities. Are you in? Take the plunge, because the future of LaGrange County is counting on it.

Coffee with the County - Sowing Today for a Harvest Tomorrow

By Sara Patrick • March 18, 2026
I recently had the privilege of assisting in the funeral of a community and church member I’ve known for many years. What made it sweet was that, not only did I know him and his wife, I also have known his daughter and his granddaughter for many years. It was a sweet time of reflection that the end of a life brings.  As I sat and listened to the numerous (and quite comical) stories about his life, a theme began to emerge for me. My friend was a decades-long farmer in our community, and he was known for his farm suspenders and his ag-centric adages. The pattern that was so intricately woven throughout every story was this firm belief and behavior in him that said: “When you’ve got a job to do, you just get up, and you do it.” That was his way of life–he inherently knew how to work hard and get the job done. And it was equally quite clear that he instilled that work ethic in his children, his grandchildren, and even his great-grandchildren who spoke about his life. As does any funeral service for most folks, this one caught me hanging on these shared words most of the weekend that followed. I found myself pulling many nuggets of wisdom. They included: 1) We are fortunate for the farming community found in our midst. 2) We are fortunate to have an integral work ethic here that is, at times, hard to find in other communities. 3) We are fortunate to have men and women who understand and live out community–caring for those both within and outside of their families. 4) We are fortunate to have people here who teach the next generation, both through their words and their actions. If you’ve read my column long, you’ve probably read a few articles around the idea of career readiness and career awareness, particularly for our next generation of workforce (i.e., our youth). As I often do (perhaps because of my line of work), I tie many life experiences back into this strategy, because our work is not linear or done singularly. Agriculture is the undercurrent of our way of life here. From gardening to thousand-acre corn fields, we know how to sow and harvest our land. But where career preparedness meets the farming industry is in the people. It’s the “ole farmers” who carry the wisdom of sunbeat life and hundreds of hours of tractor-driving that trickle down into the next generation. While they may not realize it in the process, their actions, their responses, their words, and their gestures are teaching the young farmers and agriculturalists coming behind them in more ways than one. This concept trickles right into every aspect of life, especially for those of us who have a younger generation following us (i.e., kids, grandkids, students, neighbors, nieces and nephews, or children of friends). Everything we do and say is teaching a lesson. So, how will we leave our legacy, and how will we choose to intentionally water the next generation? The truth of the matter is, everyone’s a teacher, whether we own it or not. Everyone has a lesson to give, a life experience to share, or some words to depart. How can you invest by giving what you have? Here are a few tips to consider: ● Slow down . I bet if you take a few minutes every day to intentionally stop, breath deeply, and look around, you’ll find an opportunity to talk to someone you wouldn’t normally have time for. Who is that person (or persons)? ● Be willing to be the conversation-starter . The best way is to ask a genuine question. Enough of this shallow “How are you?” conversation. Ask a question that pulls back a layer, and be honestly willing to listen (and ask more questions!). ● Lend your experience. It won’t cost you a thing to share a story from your past. What happened, and what did you learn? Your experiences carry value. Share them before you get to the end of your life! ● Walk in relationships . I am who I am today because of people who saw something in me that I didn’t yet see in myself. They took me for car rides, they bought me coffee, they took me to lunch. All because they wanted to speak into and develop me. Find those around you who need someone to do the same, and then do it for them! Take them for a walk, have them over for dinner, or sit on the porch with them. Invest your time into another. I will miss my friend. But what I will remember is how he encouraged, and he was willing to stop what he was doing to say hello and check in. When I left a conversation with this old farmer friend of mine, I felt empowered to take on the task at hand. Who can we give the gift of encouragement and development to today? Be like our farmers, and be willing to sow today for a harvest of next-generation workers and community members tomorrow.

Coffee with the County - The Lamb and the Lift

By Sara Patrick • March 11, 2026
My kids go to school in Shipshewana, so I get the advantage of a 15-minute drive of solitude every morning. This time is a great space for me to prepare my mind for the work laid out for the day, and I do a lot of my thinking during that drive into the office. One day a couple weeks ago, I was driving on the old Mishler’s Packing road–because if you’re a local, you know we name our roads by establishments, not by numbers–and I drove by a sight to see. The weather was one of those first spring-like days we experienced. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, and you could tell in the local livestock that it just felt different. It felt fresh and uplifting. As I drove by a flock of sheep, I caught a peculiar glimpse of the smallest lamb I’d ever seen. The lamb wasn’t what was comical. No, it was where the lamb was. The babe had to have been no more than a few days old, and it was confidently standing on new legs–on top of its mom lying in the sun! I chuckled to myself, because that mama sheep cultivated some validation within me. I said out loud in a quiet car, “Yep, I’ve been there too, mama.” You know the feeling? Kids pulling on your arm, jumping on your back, at your side. It’s a blessed feeling like none other, but sometimes, the mom just wants a moment without the lamb on its back! It was a pure picture of motherhood on my way to work. My brain translated this into a metaphor real quick. I thought, “Boy, what a great glimpse into the work we do in workforce development.” Because sometimes, getting involved in this work–even if it's for the greater good–feels like a heavy lift. Let’s be real…volunteering your business or your team takes time, it costs money, and it sometimes can take precedence over your own company’s productivity and performance. And it’d be really easy for me to sit here and tell you just how great it is to get involved, but ultimately–you're a business owner or a leader or someone with other responsibilities. Right? I’ve heard it all–the reasons why businesses hesitate to get involved. These include: ● It’s expensive. “You mean I have to pay a kid to come into my workplace?” (Answer: No, you don’t have to pay, but sure, it does have the possibility of additional cost.) ● It’s a time-sucker. “You mean I have to pay one of my employees to babysit a student in my workplace?” (Answer: It’s not babysitting. It’s not even supervising. It’s mentoring and investing in a possible future worker who will stay for the long-haul. And who might even bring better ideas or processes to your business you hadn’t previously considered.) ● It’s a liability. “I can’t afford the possibility of what this added liability will bring.” (Answer: Yep. I can empathize with this one too. It’s actually something our state legislature is working on actively. More to come on this.) Listen, I get it. You should always keep your business at the front of mind and make decisions that better your operations. It’s good business! It takes me back to that mama sheep. Sometimes, we just want our space. We just want to stay in our lane. We don’t have time or energy to add to our already-heavy lift we’re trying to manage every single day. Yet…that mama sheep still did it. And moms everywhere still do it. How? Because while the days are long, the years are short, and our work today isn’t about today. It’s about tomorrow. It’s about the next generation. We’ve had the privilege to work alongside some highly-qualified organizations recently who are leading the charge in identifying easy “on-ramps” for businesses and employers to get involved in workforce development, especially with today’s youth. Those organizations, including our LaGrange County Chamber of Commerce, include the Horizon Education Alliance, the Northern Indiana Educational Service Center, the Region 8 Education Service Center, the Indiana School Counselor Association, and the South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce. The output of that work is a Northern Indiana Work-Based Learning Toolkit. What is the Northern Indiana WBL Toolkit? It is a regional resource which makes the case for financial and strategic business advantages found in WBL partnerships, while also providing actionable opportunities for businesses to get involved. Consider some very easy steps that take minimal time, money, or energy which support local workforce development and future employability that come directly from that Toolkit: ● Volunteer to speak in a local classroom. (Translation: Tell kids about your business, how you started, what you do every day, and answer questions. Talk about yourself!) ● Offer to help with mock interviews. Students need the skills to interview well, and land the job that fits. You want better, more-prepared workers, and this is an easy way to grease that pipeline. ● Register for our Field of Dreams Career Expo happening on March 25 at the Michiana Event Center in Shipshewana. Students need to know about the careers available here locally, or they’ll go elsewhere. They don’t know what they don’t know. Your involvement in this type of event ensures that they know they can find work here. ● Open your doors to a job shadow, a workplace tour, or a teacher externship. (Teacher externship = allow a local teacher to “intern” at your place of employment for a couple weeks this summer to learn more about local industry and employment opportunities.) ● Want to dive deep? Consider hosting an intern, an apprentice, or partnering with schools to establish long-term programs and career pathways. (Reach out to us to learn more.) Workforce development in rural LaGrange County is a work in progress, and it’s a big lift. But, the hope in the hustle is that, if all of us get involved, the lift doesn’t seem quite so heavy. So, you sheep out doing your thing, day in and day out…consider the lamb. Let’s lift together and get those legs confidently under our future workforce, today.