#1 – Industrial investments set new CapEx record in Noble

Over $170,000,000 in real estate and industrial equipment investments were announced by industrial employers in Noble County during 2023, setting a new one-year record. Companies who announced projects include:

• B&J Medical
• Hendrickson
• Hollingshead Mixer Company
• Parker Hannifin
• Reliable
• Solar Land LLC
• Star of the West
• Unlimited Mfg
• Wick-Fab

In addition, one new industrial company, Terra Supreme Battery, moved well down the path towards ramping up production in 2024 and anticipates adding about 65 new jobs in the community. The company, co-owned by Nick Busche, will manufacture Group 31 batteries at the industrial complex at SR 8 and 150 E, just east of Albion where Busche founded Busche Performance Group. That company grew to encompass seven locations and employ 450 people by the time it was sold in 2014.

#2 A uniquely Noble leadership academy launched

Thrive Noble County, the banner under which Be Noble Inc. and many local leaders promote the 5 Pillars of a thriving community, welcomed the first cohort of Engage Noble Leadership Academy at a Kickoff Reception on September 21, 2023. Since then, a diverse class of 24 adults have been engaged in a series of eight learning seminars, preparing to graduate in April 2024. The Engage Noble curriculum offers a unique mix of core Servant Leadership training modules, Noble-centric quality of life discussions, and guest presenters. More than 50 local leaders serve as topic experts to help the cohort discover and learn about the many opportunities to engage and lead in Noble County. The next Engage Noble cohort will begin in Fall 2024. Individuals interested in learning more when applications open are encouraged to sign up to receive updates by email.

#3 Investments to enhance Main Streets grow

Historic Downtown Kendallville (HDK) and the City of Kendallville continued to collaborate over the past year to transform the city’s Main Street corridor. Over $1.4 million in local and private investments have been leveraged to repair and enhance building facades, acquire properties, launch humanities projects, and open a new co-working space. Eight historic properties are being transformed as a direct result of the $2 million PreservINg Main Street award the city received in 2021, a gift that helped catalyze the opening of 11 new businesses, with four more anticipated to open. Vacancies in the downtown corridor are down nearly 18% since the transformation began. HDK raised the bar to attain National Main Street accreditation in 2023, joining just 15 other Indiana communities that have done so.

Motivated citizens in Ligonier came together over the past year to give new life to an organization previously known as Future Ligonier Alliance, transforming it into Main Street Ligonier. Volunteers reorganized and are in the process of seeking recognition under Indiana’s Office of Community and Rural Affairs Downtown Affiliate Network (ODAN), with aspirations to revitalize Ligonier’s historical commercial district.

Noble County’s historic Courthouse Square District serves as Albion’s “Main Street.” Anchored by one of the state’s most beautiful courthouses (as voted in 2016), Albion was recognized twice in 2023 by WorldAtlas, billed as one of the largest publishing resources in geography and other topics it covers. In May, the town was recognized in an article titled “These 8 Towns in Indiana Have the Best Main Streets.” Then, in October, WorldAtlas, included Albion as one of the “9 Prettiest Towns in Indiana.” In late October, the Albion Chamber of Commerce and Albion STAR Team (a Main Street affiliate organization) collaborated to coordinate the town’s first Small Business Saturday, giving some merchants their best sales day ever.

Noble County Government leaders proved they care about historic preservation, too, by moving forward with a commitment of $11.2 million to complete significant repairs, renovations, and remodeling of the grand courthouse. The Richardsonian Romanesque-style, red brick building, constructed in 1887, will serve the courts for generations to come as a result. Work is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.

#4 The entrepreneurial ecosystem takes shape

Working alongside like-minded efforts backed by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) and Northeast Indiana Innovation Collective (NIIC), Noble County leaders have been working to identify and develop resources to support individuals who have an entrepreneurial spirit, from idea to growth stage. Historic Downtown Kendallville announced the opening of the county’s first, dedicated co-working space, 231 Main, slated to open sometime in early 2024 following significant renovations.

Meanwhile, ConnectIND, an initiative of the IEDC, and Venture Hub NEI, launched by NIIC, are up and running. These virtual “portals” provide a place for entrepreneurs to meet, network, discover, and grow by tapping into resources, spaces, and mentors located in their community.

#5 Striving to meet child care needs

Investments to improve the quality and accessibility of child care in Noble County continued to grow through the efforts of Thrive by 5, the early childhood coalition serving Noble and LaGrange counties. Jenna Anderson, program coordinator, established a Tri-Share program and began enrolling local employers willing to invest one-third of the costs of childcare in support of working parents they employ. Boosted by buy-in from the Noble County Commissioners, the Tri-Share program stands to impact many families. New family child care home providers were also established in 2023. Working in the City of Ligonier, Thrive by 5 expects to announce major advancements in efforts to build capacity for more local child care seats in the months ahead.

#6 Smart investments in talent development

Since Be Noble Inc. introduced the topic of “Industry 4.0” to stakeholders at an annual meeting in 2021, efforts to understand employer needs – and how to meet them – continued to dominate local conversations in education, talent attraction, and development circles. Construction work got underway at the Community Learning Center, where renovations to the 1915 section of the former school will enable Phase II of the iSMART Lab to be completed. Phase II will enable learners to continue upskilling by engaging with smart factory simulations. Equipment was funded by an Indiana READI award made near the end of the year.

Looking to ensure learners at every age level in Noble County have the opportunity to gain the skills in high demand in advanced manufacturing, many transferable to occupations across multiple industries, local education and development partners collaborated to host the second Manufacturing Experience in October for middle-school aged youth.

The iSMART Lab again served as the host location for a day-long, multi-session workshop and tech demonstrations. Freedom Academy, an 11-county adult educator, hosted an Industry 4.0 Lunch ‘n’ Learn for employers from across the region, providing an opportunity to share the workforce certification trainings they currently offer and learn what additional training programs are needed to meet today’s workplace demands.

#7 Moving the needle on housing growth

The Noble County Housing Symposium, presented by The Housing Resource Hub, marked a key milestone in the process of building a countywide housing strategy. About 50 local leaders gathered for the presentation in April, and soon after individual communities began exploring catalyst projects in earnest. The City of Ligonier acquired 27.59 acres along US 33 south of the city for residential development. Soon after, the Ligonier Redevelopment Commission invested in a contract with the Hub to provide site design, consulting services, access to market data and developers, soil tests, fees for real estate and attorney services, and the exploration of financial tools available. The Hub has helped bring similar projects to market in Topeka and Wabash, among others.

In Kendallville, the Hub has also been at the table for discussions around catalyst sites for housing development, including upper-floor housing along Main Street. Though no announcements have been made, conversations are promising.

Countywide, Noble County’s building departments issued 92 new housing permits for single-family and modular homes. Additional developments are under consideration in multiple areas of the county.

#8 The Cookery just getting warmed up

A collaboration of Be Noble Inc. and the Community Learning Center brought about the official launch of The Cookery, a shared kitchen and incubator for small food and beverage businesses looking to innovate and launch. The space, once a cafeteria kitchen that served hundreds of local public school students, supports a mission to help start-ups that ultimately hope to land in one of Noble County’s downtown corridors, thereby enhancing an existing commercial district. The Cookery was introduced to the world, freshly branded, on a new website that offers membership options for hobbyists and short-term users, as well as small businesses that are “incubating” in anticipation of their brick-and-mortar launch.

Two such businesses, Mad Cat Baked Goods and Pixie Pies, have been embraced in the space and by the community. The Cookery is also home to a variety of cooking and nutrition classes for all ages and abilities, some of which help individuals learn how to prepare some of the foods grown in the community garden on the CLC’s property.

#9 Be Noble-led projects help fill the gaps

It was Noble County’s turn, in 2023, to host the annual 5-County ED Forum, a gathering of stakeholders from Dekalb, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, and Whitley counties in Northeast Indiana to hear presentations on a variety of topics that fall under the umbrella of “Economic Development.” Event emcee Melanie Kellogg, executive director of Be Noble, helped listeners at Sylvan Cellars Event Center transition from one presenter to another. An audience of more than 130 attendees learned what economic development in NE Indiana is like in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as how to tap into resources and opportunities available to support and sustain continued growth in the region.

Also notable among projects that Be Noble staff members support and sometimes lead was the return of a holiday season small business promotion. Staff from Be Noble and Visit Noble County, the tourism bureau, joined forces to curate, assemble, and manage the sales of “Made in Noble” gift baskets. Sales far exceeded expectations, thanks in large part to one of Noble County’s largest employers, Dexter, choosing the gifts for employees. A total of 80 gift baskets were ordered, bringing in more than $4,000 in gross sales that directly supported 17 local artisans and small businesses by highlighting locally-made and unique items.

The SHOPNoble website, host to the county’s exclusive small business directory, helps individuals and other businesses buy and hire local, keeping their dollars within the community. The directory currently includes 283 locally-owned businesses offering products and services in Noble County. Eligible businesses can be listed at no charge, as well as interact and promote through SHOPNoble’s Facebook profiles, including a consumer-facing page and a business owner/manager networking group.

Be Noble’s team is also at the helm of NoblePalooza, an Expo to Thrive, showcasing and celebrating individuals and organizations that exemplify the 5 Pillars of Thrive: Entrepreneurial Growth, Youth Engagement, Leadership Development, Community Investment, and Cultural Enhancement.

NoblePalooza is set to return for the third consecutive year on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at the CLC in Kendallville. The event, free and open to the public offering something for everyone, is a unique and informative event aimed at helping everyone in Noble County engage in their community by discovering and connecting to the things they care about most. Exhibitor and vendor registrations are due by February 16, 2024.

#10 Getting ready for READI 2.0

Local leaders were undoubtedly excited to hear confirmation that another round of Indiana READI funding would be coming, to the tune of up to $75 million per development region, which includes Northeast Indiana (NEI), of which Noble County is a member.

Town and city leaders, and Be Noble, have already held multiple meetings with members of the Regional Development Authority to identify possible projects to include in NEI’s “pitch” for READI 2.0 in 2024. This continued, significant investment by the State of Indiana (this round will not include any federal funding) exhibits a strong commitment to keep innovating and allocating in support of groundbreaking projects that transform communities and bolster the Hoosier state’s economy, from the smallest village to the largest city. Be Noble is excited to see what lies ahead for Noble County and NEI and remains committed to providing support and leadership where it’s needed to leverage every opportunity.

Meetings are scheduled to occur through February 2024, at which the IEDC will visit participating regions to discuss future vision and strategy. Formal regional proposals are due in late February with approvals anticipated in the second quarter of the year. Once regions learn of the funding awarded, they will begin identifying specific capital and infrastructure projects for investment within their geographic region.