Client News
ELLETTSVILLE (Indiana) — Today a nationally recognized Top 100 Broadband Company, Smithville is celebrating its 100th year in business in 2022. “We have come a long way from the days when Indiana quarries who were cutting limestone for the Empire State Building and Washington, D.C. federal offices required then-state-of-the art telephone connectivity,” said Darby A. McCarty, Smithville chairman and CEO. “Today we have gone from connecting quarries to connecting $100 million technology parks, large hospitals, government facilities, manufacturing plants, and more, including many small businesses who need fast and reliable broadband.”
“State Champion” for rural broadband
“Smithville for many years has been a state champion for rural-based fiber broadband, serving Hoosier residents and businesses alike across Indiana,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch. “Smithville’s history is a history of innovation, and we look forward to further achievements and service in the years to come.”
Initially begun as a rural telephone exchange, family-owned Smithville expanded over the years to become the first commercial telecommunications company to offer innovative fiber-based connectivity to schools and commercial companies.
Town Council supporting new 47 acres Commerce Park at Brownsburg Raceway development to promote R&D, manufacturing for the autosports industry.
BROWNSBURG, Indiana – In what is described as an “exciting signature project,” Garmong Development has launched the development of “The Commerce Park at Brownsburg Raceway,” anticipating more than $100 million in new economic development and capital investments to occur within the development, according to Dan Zuerner, Vice President of Garmong.
The 47-acre project, located adjacent to both the Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park and the Ronald Reagan Parkway, is “virtually shovel ready” and enjoys the enthusiastic formal support of the Brownsburg Town Council, said Deb Cook, Town Manager of the Town of Brownsburg.
“The time is right to build this,” she continued, noting that the project reflects and supports the town’s formal comprehensive and economic development plans. “This powerfully advances Brownsburg’s high-profile commitment to growing and supporting the autosports industry and will help attract new companies.”
Coverage links:
(Top Story) https://www.insideindianabusiness.com/articles/100m-project-planned-for-brownsburg
http://www.prweb.com/releases/garmong_development_brownsburg_raceway_project_expected_to_create_100_million_in_economic_development_capital_investments_in_central_indiana/prweb18503718.htm
WASHINGTON – A two-phase $14.5 million housing project entered into the final stages of planning Feb. 7 and is now expected to bring 144 new market rate apartment units to the east side of the city Washington, according to Bryant Niehoff, executive director of the Daviess County Economic Development Corporation. Details of the project, which has been a year in planning, were recommended by the Washington Redevelopment Commission and will now go to the City Council for final consideration of key elements.
“This is a very positive development for Daviess County, as it will create capacity for our local workforce to grow and step into jobs that are both available and being created in the community,” said Niehoff. “The ROI Indiana Uplands housing study conducted two years ago noted that more market rate housing was needed to promote economic growth and job creation here, so this represents an important step forward.”
The $14.5 million project will build six apartment buildings offering 1,000-1,200 sq. ft. apartments in 1-3 bedroom configurations. “These will be excellent residences for professionals, young families, and individuals of all ages looking for a place to grow,” said Niehoff.
NOTE: Coverage from this press release appeared at https://www.insideindianabusiness.com/articles/washington-seeks-new-housing-options
https://www.washtimesherald.com/news/14-5-million-housing-project-planned-for-daviess-county-market-rate-apartments-expected-to-boost/article_faa054a2-88e2-11ec-ac6b-d7c979c82978.html
INDIANAPOLIS – Reflecting its “relentless commitment” to high-impact creative excellence, Hamilton received national industry recognition as a top 50 fabricator for the event and show industries. “Breakthrough, interest-grabbing attention in cluttered environments represents the ultimate outcome for a company in our industry,” said Jason Weddle, Hamilton CEO. “Inclusion on the current ‘Fab 50’ listing rewards the focus of the outstanding team we have at Hamilton, especially given the competitive nature of our business.”
“We are thrilled, humbled and grateful to receive this caliber of national recognition,” he continued. “We at Hamilton are blessed with amazing team members, creative and committed clients, and together we’re doing whatever it takes to produce amazing and impactful results for our clients.”
Exhibit fabricators and builders are so defined because of the complexity of researching, designing and executing a high-impact exhibit or event environment for clients.
Editors of the international Event Marketer magazine, who select and publishes the Fab 50 recognition, noted that the list exists “to shine a well-deserved spotlight on the event architects that help power some of the world’s most impactful experiential builds.”
The editors also pointed out that 2021 represented an unusual challenge on a number of fronts: “with a global pandemic to contend with, the fabrication community has had to navigate a host of challenges over the last two years.”
IRHA celebrates a quarter century of advocating for rural healthcare advancements and addressing critical issues.
TERRE HAUTE, Indiana – Telehealth advocates, rural obstetrics supporters, rural broadband funding, substance use disorder activists and much more. Rising from a small group of concerned rural healthcare administrators to a statewide professional association providing a broad spectrum of high-impact services, the Indiana Rural Health Association (IRHA) marks a quarter century of service in 2022.
“Critical partnerships”
“IRHA has proven itself to be an effective partner in many critical areas of supporting rural healthcare in Indiana and throughout the United States, including promoting and establishing telehealth, helping deal with COVID-19 issues, reducing rates of infant mortality, serving as advocates for rural healthcare in many sectors, and much more,” said Dr. Kris Box, Indiana State Health Commissioner. “We at the Indiana Department of Health appreciate the important work that IRHA provides, and we look forward to continuing critical partnerships and collaborative support to serve rural residents and healthcare operations throughout Indiana.”
Since beginning as a non-profit in 1997 with help from the National Rural Health Association and the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH), IRHA has grown to become the largest state rural health association in the country, according to Cara Veale, who became IRHA’s fourth top executive in 2020. In addition to leading IRHA, Veale also serves on the Governor’s Public Health Commission that was created by Gov. Eric Holcomb in 2021.
Indiana Rural Health Association, in collaboration with AgrIInstitute, to offer critical community training to raise awareness and reduce stigma about mental health, mental illness, and suicide prevention. Registration is now open for workshops of 35 people each.
TERRE HAUTE, Indiana – Untreated or ignored stress and mental health issues in rural areas impact quality of life, economic development and lives of farmers, agriculture workforce and rural families. Unfounded stigma around seeking help with mental health and/or mental illness issues can compound farming, agricultural and life issues of stress and rural life. To raise awareness and help these critical situations, 23 free one-day content-packed workshops with subject matter experts will be conducted in 2022 which will include certification in the lifesaving QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) program. The workshops will begin February 20, 2022, in Mount Vernon, Indiana and expanding to 22 other rural sites around Indiana through July. Registration is now open.
Healthy Minds – Healthy Lives
IRHA Program Director
“The suicide rates among farmers are six times higher than the national average and almost all of them are male,” said Kathy Walker, Indiana Rural Health Association (IRHA) program director for Healthy Minds – Healthy Lives. “Financial stress is always present, pressure to never lose the family farm is great, the work is physically and mentally stressful with long hours, social isolation and lack of confiding relationships.”
“Add to this the onset of mood disorders that go untreated and reluctance to seek help, and you have a formula to set up conditions for suicidal ideation,” she added, noting that the QPR program can help local community people recognize signs of suicidal ideation and/or mental health issues through proven intervention techniques.
Each workshop will open with a presentation by either Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch or Bruce Kettler, Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, followed by short presentations by local leaders and the Future Farmers of America (FFA). Beth Archer, Executive Director of AgrIInstitute, will discuss the mental landscape in Indiana, and Cameron Hilt, Director of the Upper Midwest Telehealth Resource Center (UMTRC), will discuss telehealth options, followed by information about the Purdue Farm Stress Program. After a lunch break, Kathy Walker of the Indiana Rural Health Association (IRHA), a trained instructor in Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR), will present training for QPR. After a brief discussion about strengths, weaknesses and local resources, each workshop will conclude with a short video from the Kicking Stigma campaign of the Indianapolis Colts.
Leveraging its deep experiential expertise, Hamilton pivoted its traditional service offerings and organized numerous outdoor COVID-19 mass vaccination efforts for FEMA, IDOH and DOD across Indiana in 2020-21. “Hamilton has stepped up several times this year in critical ways to help the Indiana Department of Health,” said Kristina Box, MD, Indiana State Commissioner of Health.
INDIANAPOLIS – Drawing numerous accolades from federal and state officials for “doing whatever it takes,” Hamilton’s extensive 2021 pivot earned top recognition from the Experiential Designers and Producers Association (EDPA) with an EDDIE Award, according to Jason Weddle, Hamilton CEO. The award was formally presented at the annual ACCESS Conference on December 1st.
The 2021 EDPA EDDIE award for Best Industry Pivot recognized Hamilton for its internal innovation during a time when traditional external events were largely shut down. Hamilton drew on its corporate culture of stepping in and adapting the skills of its proven professional event staff to create multiple complex mass COVID-19 vaccination events. The 2021 effort created a complex and efficient platform capable of delivering more than 200,000 vaccines. (Note: Hamilton continues to support vaccine and testing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway through December 22, 2021 – see details here)
“Being named for this award was most unusual and humbling as Hamilton was privileged to be selected to support a high-intensity statewide effort that helped save thousands of lives and helped keep people out of emergency rooms and hospitals,” explained Weddle. “Given the wide array of weather, logistical and supply issues that we faced, we received several positive comments from federal and state officials for doing whatever it takes to deliver these life-saving vaccines.”
UPDATE: IMS vaccine and testing operations supported by Hamilton have been extended through JANUARY 22, 2022. COVID-19 tests, vaccinations, flu shots administered in Hamilton’s second Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) engagement at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, following prior events at Notre Dame, Ivy Tech in Sellersburg, mobile sites, and FEMA operations near Chicago.
INDIANAPOLIS – Leveraging the company’s innovative event development and extensive management experience in providing a strategic capability for more than 200,000 vaccine administrations, Hamilton’s second major engagement at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) has been extended to support the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) operations in providing free COVID-19 vaccines, tests and flu shots through December 22 (2021). (Details of IDOH operations at IMS can be accessed here)
This includes supporting FDA/CDC-approved vaccines for children aged 5-15.
In addition to Hamilton’s large-scale IMS vaccine operations, the company previously served IDOH in creating and operating similar large-scale administrations at the University of Notre Dame, Ivy Tech in Sellersburg, the FEMA vaccination site in Gary, and multiple mobile vaccine sites across Indiana.
“Hamilton has stepped up several times this year in critical ways to help the Indiana Department of Health bring multiple thousands of vaccines and other services to the people of Indiana,” said State Health Commissioner Kris Box, MD. “Their valuable expertise works seamlessly with our staff in planning and executing these important operations.”
“We’ve provided support for these outdoor operations during 2021 in the snow, freezing cold, and rain, but we count it a major privilege to play a role in helping end this pandemic,” said Jason Weddle, Hamilton CEO, whose company is known nationally for its award-winning immersive brand experiences, interactive/experiential solutions, and exemplary customer service supporting face-to-face marketing programs. “We’re committed to doing whatever it takes, especially for serving life-saving operations like this.”