Client News
WASHINGTON, IN – To provide rent or mortgage assistance during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, eligible small businesses in Daviess County can receive up to $500 through a relief program funded by the Duke Energy Foundation and administered by the Daviess County Economic Development Foundation. DCEDF recently received $5,000 in funding from the Duke Energy Foundation as part of their $200,000 grant program to assist Indiana economic development organizations offering crisis relief to small Indiana businesses. The funds can be used by eligible small businesses towards their next rent or mortgage payment.
To be eligible to apply, businesses must be Duke Energy customers in Daviess County and classified as a small business. The $5,000 in funding will be allocated evenly between businesses in Daviess County, given that a sufficient number of businesses apply and qualify to do so.
ELLETTSVILLE, Indiana – To help small businesses recover from COVID-19 economic impact, Smithville offers a number of complimentary or discounted services in its “Smithville Helps” initiative. Local businesses can tap Smithville professionals in media production, creative development, social media and more for advice and direction to help their business or service recover.
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“As a locally owned and operated business, we appreciate and understand the serious impact that this pandemic has had on small businesses in Indiana,” said Paul Quick, president of Smithville. “Through our “Smithville Helps” initiative we hope to help small business accelerate their recovery.”
Companies can receive complimentary consulting or direction (typically one-hour equivalent of service) from Smithville Media for video production, creative production services for design, and other support, including advice on social media development. Other special discounts for new customers in small business internet and security services are also available.
PAOLI, Indiana – Long-time medical provider Southern Indiana Community Health Care (SICHC) formally launched its new obstetrics services in Crawford and Martin counties in early August. The new OB service will now provide a full spectrum of services, including well-woman visits, female health, birth control, pregnancy care (pre-natal and post-partum), well-baby care, tobacco cessation and other OB-related services.
“We are very pleased to introduce these new services locally in what has sometimes been described as a medical desert for critical OB services for pregnant mothers and babies,” said Dr. Yolanda Yoder, MD, SICHC Medical Director. “We are excited that our medical professionals will begin seeing obstetrics and gynecology patients this month in Crawford and Martin counties.” SICHC is also planning to bring OB services to the Salem area in Washington county later in August.
Smithville joins AT&T, Calix, Comcast, Verizon, Corning, and other national companies for the Top 100 honor; Smithville was selected in part for introducing “innovative technologies with game-changing potential”
ELLETTSVILLE, Indiana – Recognized for its innovation and focus on partnerships, Smithville Communications, Inc. has again been named a national Top 100 U.S. broadband technology industry leader by Broadband Communities magazine. Smithville’s innovative work in expanding its middle-mile fiber network, building a 100 Gbps core network node in rural Dubois County, Indiana, for enterprise-level capacity, and joint project with a local REMC helped secure the recognition.
TERRE HAUTE, Indiana – Completing an intense process, including an extensive search involving more than 50 candidates, the Board of Directors of the Indiana Rural Health Association (IRHA) has selected and named Cara A. Veale as the association’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Veale, currently the vice president of provider services at Daviess Community Hospital in Washington, Indiana, “hit all of the marks we were looking for in a new executive leader,” said Mark Vonderheit, IRHA Board President. “We wanted a collaborative, knowledgeable and experienced leader who could effectively build on the positive foundation that current CEO Don Kelso has laid over the past decade, and we believe we have found that in Cara.”
The Board President added that Veale, who holds a master’s degree in occupational therapy and a doctorate in health sciences from the University of Indianapolis, has deep experience in directly working for rural hospitals. “We were looking for a leader who could work with all partners and levels of rural health professionals in Indiana, and Cara’s career reflects that,” he continued.
“This represents a tremendous opportunity and I’m excited for this new role of service,” Veale said. “A great team is already in place at IRHA and I look forward to working with Don as I transition into the position.”
WASHINGTON (Indiana) – Is your small business impacted by the COVID-19 situation? The new Daviess County Small Business Relief Program is now taking applications through June 12, according to Bryant Niehoff, executive director of the Daviess County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC). Qualified grant recipients do not have to pay back the grant if conditions are met.
“This new grant can make available up to $5,000 per small business in Daviess County, but small business owners need to act quickly to complete the application and supporting forms,” said Niehoff. “Assistance is available if those applying for the grant have questions.”
ELLETTSVILLE and MARTINSVILLE (Indiana) – Initial construction began May 27 for a unique fiber project to eventually serve 3,400 rural residents and businesses in Monroe and Owen Counties and help close the rural digital divide.
Smithville Communications, a top 100 national broadband company, and SCI REMC, Indiana’s largest rural electric cooperative, began physical construction of fiber service to 350 residents and businesses located in a rural area between Spencer and Gosport. Customers in this first area are expected to have services turned up before the end of the year.
The first phase of this joint fiber project, which has attracted national industry attention, is part of a unique partnership expected to accelerate the delivery of high-speed fiber broadband internet to residents and businesses in the common service areas between the two companies.
FRENCH LICK (Indiana) —As part of its continuing focus to serve people impacted by the COVID-19 crisis (particularly in rural areas), Ellettsville-based Smithville Communications, Inc. has opened a free WiFi hotspot at Springs Valley Community School in French Lick, Indiana, located at 498 S Larry Bird Boulevard. Hotspots can be used by individuals that need to connect to networks for work, school, or telehealth reasons.
“We must continue to all do our part to help our neighbors in this time of need,” said Darby McCarty, chairman and CEO of Smithville. “We believe that Smithville has an obligation to keep our customers, businesses, and fellow Hoosiers connected, and we take it very seriously. Our team is working every day, ensuring Smithville’s network is up and running to keep our customers connected to what matters most.”
The new hotspot is expected to help area students of the Springs Valley Community Schools who are involved in e-learning activities while the school systems physical facilities are closed.
“We are grateful for Smithville’s donation of accessible internet services, as it helps families and students who need high-speed internet,” said Zach Brown, executive director of the Orange County Economic Development Partnership. “This access is a useful bridge to help our area residents get through these challenging times.”