Building Leaders for LaGrange County’s Future
This month, we proudly launched the third year of Leadership LaGrange County—a program that continues to grow in strength, purpose, and impact since the LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation re-imagined it in late 2021. What began as a revitalized vision for cultivating local leadership has now evolved into a dynamic, collaborative experience. This year, we’ve joined forces with the LaGrange Chamber of Commerce to deliver a thoughtfully designed curriculum focused on both personal and professional development. The 2025 cohort, made up of fifteen individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds—business and banking, healthcare, entrepreneurship, [...]
State of LaGrange County Event
An annual State of the County event has been proposed to effectively communicate the progress on the implementation of the LaGrange County Comprehensive Plan. This gathering aims to unite various communities, celebrate accomplishments, showcase success stories, and provide an update on the overall status of the LaGrange County Together initiative. The event is envisioned to feature a diverse range of activities, including local food vendors, entertainment, and opportunities to engage in community celebrations across LaGrange County. During the recent presentation hour, photographs captured a total of forty-two seated guests. Additionally, around 4 to 5 [...]
Leadership LaGrange County 2025 Now Accepting Applications
Applications are now open for Leadership LaGrange County 2025, an initiative led by the LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation (LCEDC) and the LaGrange County Chamber of Commerce. This leadership development program is designed to equip local professionals with the skills, connections, and knowledge needed to strengthen LaGrange County’s workforce and community. Leadership LaGrange County 2025 will run from May through December, with sessions held on the third Friday of each month at rotating locations throughout the county. The program will begin with a full-day summit in May, followed by six focused sessions from June [...]
State of LaGrange County
A lot has been happening in LaGrange County over the past few years, and if you haven’t been keeping up, you might be surprised at just how much progress is in motion. It all started with a big step in 2022 when the county adopted its Comprehensive Plan, laying out a long-term vision for growth, infrastructure, and community development. Since then, that momentum has only picked up speed. In 2024, LaGrange County spent the year pursuing a Stellar Pathways designation—an effort that not only brought the community together but also secured a $50,000 grant [...]
County Council Hears Stellar Pathways Update
Emilee Buller of the LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation updated county council members Monday on the group’s Stellar Pathways progress. LaGrange County is in the running for $7.2 million through the program. A strategic plan was due Nov. 1. In addition, a team of 21 people traveled last Tuesday to Indianapolis to present that plan. “We will be able to find out in January if La- Grange County will be a recipient of those funds,” Buller said. She then shared the matching funds the group has been able to amass, if LaGrange County is [...]
Alpha Building Center Opens New Truss Production Facility
Alpha Building Center welcomed community in the ribbon cutting of their new truss production facility! Community members from The Chamber of Commerce of LaGrange County, Farmers State Bank, Ligtel, LaGwana, Crossroads United Way, the LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation, Alpha Building Center, and DJ Construction came together to celebrate the opening of Alpha Building Center’s new truss manufacturing facility. This brand-new facility is located on the west side of State Road 5, just south of Yoder’s Popcorn, at the corner of the US 20 and SR 5 intersection. Alpha Building Center is a local business [...]
Connect LaGrange County Stellar Pathways Journey Continues
LaGrange County, Indiana – At the start of 2024, the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) unveiled a revamped version of their Stellar Communities Program, now called Stellar Pathways. This was the moment Sherri Johnston, President of the LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation (LCEDC), and Emilee Buller, Vice President of Community Development and Engagement, had been waiting for. After hearing time and time again from granting agencies that LaGrange County had not previously been funded and that interest in our area was growing, they knew it was time to act. Together, they launched Connect LaGrange County, [...]
Forum Meetings Continue with Success in 2024
In December 2022 LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation (LCEDC) started a series of meetings called Founders Forum intended for entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs in the county to come together to discuss issues, ideas, and solutions, and for their office to share resources and connect. The meetings take place on the second Tuesday of every month at 8 a.m. in Topeka at Topeka Pizza, and at 3 p.m. in Shipshewana at the Wolfe Building. Read the rest of the article at LaGrange Standard-News.
LaGrange County has OCRA Certified Grant Administrator
Emilee Buller of LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation has become an OCRA certified Grant Administrator. When there are pressing community needs that require outside financial assistance, that funding is frequently sourced from State and Federal grant programs, such as the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. CDBG is a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funded Federal grant program that is funneled through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. CDBG funding is used for infrastructure projects such as sewer, waste, and drinking water, emergency services such as fire/ EMS stations, downtown revitalization, community facilities, strategic planning and community master [...]
‘Leadership LaGrange County’ Announces Third Year
In 2021, Leadership LaGrange County (LLC) returned with a mission to identify, train, prepare and inspire community engagement and development, and economic growth and development throughout LaGrange County. In its third year, the Lagrange County Economic Development Corporation is setting out to do the same thing with some improvements based on feedback from program alumni and staff. Programming will place a special emphasis on leadership education, local economic development, place-making, and community history as they pertain to the specific skills necessary to be a successful and effective leader. This year’s programming will consist of six sessions held once monthly from [...]
