The Starke County Economic Development Foundation hosted the annual Manufacturer’s Day on Thursday, October 12. Additionally, the foundation orchestrated a Prospectus and Achievement Luncheon.
This is the 12th year of the event. Lisa Dan, executive director of the Starke County Economic Development Foundation, discusses the monumental effort that comes with preparing for Manufacturers Day.
“There’s a lot of work that goes into this event,” Dan said. “We think this is a great way to understand what’s going on out there through a variety of successful programs.”
During the luncheon, the Starke County Economic Development Foundation gave a presentation of its Robert E. Hamilton Award. Dan describes how the foundation came together to honor Carla Musial as the award winner this year.
“She’s a local banker and a hometown girl,” Dan said. “Carla played such an important part on our board of directors for many years. She’s somebody who was very accountable and carried a lot of responsibilities, so she’s very deserving of this recognition.”
Musial became a member of the foundation’s board of directors in 1998 and served until her retirement in 2022. Receiving this award meant a lot to her. She recognized Robert E. Hamilton himself for how much this award meant to her.
“He was one of the founders of the Starke County Economic Development Foundation,” Musial said. “He would come in at 8:30 a.m. every day, get a cup of coffee, and head for the door. It’s an honor to receive an award that spotlights someone who was very dedicated to this county.”
The luncheon also contained a presentation by David Terrell, executive director of the Indiana Communities Institute at Ball State University. The presentation focused on how communities can work together and consider making changes that coincide with economic development.
“We have done a lot of work in communities where policies to attract jobs often reduce the resources available to attract people,” Terrell said. “Recently, we’ve seen them shifting their resources. The biggest thing people should get into that we have control over is the way we invest in our communities to help grow the population and attract prosperity.”
Mary Perren, executive assistant of Starke County Economic Development Foundation, concluded the luncheon at 12:30 p.m. She gave praise to the Community Services of Starke County, as well as their senior centers in Knox and North Judson, for their assistance with this event.
Following the luncheon, Manufacturer’s Day continued by showcasing different businesses with activities The morning sessions consisted of middle school students Culver Academies, and North Judson. At 1 p.m., the students from Knox Community Middle School were invited to the display.
“We’re bringing seventh graders together from various school corporations to meet with local manufacturers and learn about what these companies do,” Dan said. “We also understand what’s happening in their communities and consider staying local.”
Dan also mentions that the foundation’s goal is about attracting industry. This includes working with small businesses and governmental entities to satisfy the big picture of encouraging economic development.
For more information on the Starke County Economic Development Foundation, you can visit its website.
