NCHC Chamber Magazine, Fall 2017 by The JMetzger Group

New Castle | Henry County

Chamber Magazine Fall 2017

100+

NEW CASTLE STAINLESS STEEL PLATE EMPLOYEES

Growth HENRY COUNTY

A NEW PRIMARY CARE CAMPUS A SKATE PARK FOR ALL AGES

A JOB-READY PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS

Our Passion Is Your Health PROVIDER OFFICES

HOSPITAL & OUTPATIENT SERVICES

Antolin & Benninger Obstetrics and Gynecology

Advanced Wound Center

Physical, Occupational, Speech & Aquatic Therapy

Cambridge City Family Health Partners

Anticoagulation Clinic

Safe Solutions Home Monitoring

HealthLink

BirthCare Center - Baby Friendly Accredited

Sleep Center

Henry Community Health Pain Management

Cardiopulmonary Rehab

Sports Medicine Performance Enhancement

Henry County Cardiology

Diabetes Education

Surgery Center

Henry County Center for Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine

Emergency Department including Chest Pain Center Accreditation

Henry County Infectious Disease & Allergy/Immunology

HealthRidge Wellness Center

Integrative Well-Being

Imaging Center

New Castle Family & Internal Medicine

Intensive Care Unit

New Castle Immediate Care & Family Health (formerly New Castle Walk-In Care)

Joint Replacement Center

New Castle Pediatrics

Neighborhood Pharmacy - Three Convenient Locations

Physical Medicine of East Central Indiana Strong, Brunck & Barrett Surgical Specialists

Lab Services - Three Convenient Locations Pacemaker Clinic

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If you’re looking for a bank that offers the level of personal service and the technology that makes banking easier, you may want to reintroduce yourself to Citizens State Bank – a local bank headquartered in Henry County for over 140 years. We understand the importance of relationship banking. That’s why you can call your lender on their cell phone, sit down to review your accounts with a personal banker, and talk to a local person when you dial our call center. Or, you can utilize our online and mobile banking services to access your accounts anytime, anywhere – because having a local banker shouldn’t come at the cost of convenience. From improving cash flow to financing future growth, Citizens State Bank is your connection to a world of resources. Contact us today to learn more about the ways we can help you reach your financial goals.

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Roadway work and maintenance makes community stronger

once had a realtor friend who said the true measure of a community is in how well they care for their roadways and neighborhood streets. It’s the one thing you notice no matter whether you’re a local or a visitor. And no doubt you’ve noticed the EXECUTIVE roadwork going on throughout our DIRECTOR wonderful community all summer long. If you’re like me, you’re ready for it to be over. But we must be patient. It’s going to be worth it. While the process may be painful, if not annoying at times, it is necessary maintenance and the work makes us better and stronger. It also reminds me that I take some of the conveniences of my life for granted. Missy Modesitt As you know SR 38 or Broad Street is the benefactor of an INDOT project and the work goes all the way through our downtown. Work started a few months ago and likely will continue at least until November. On the city’s east end, work crews have taken the road down to the bedrock and replaced the asphalt. A final coat of asphalt will wait until spring so there’s plenty of time for it to cure. Once complete, it will be smooth and shiny and beautiful, a perfect Signs of entry into our business district. New progress sidewalks have even been added – they look so nice. surround us. Those of us who choose to live ... Join me in in a small community are a little spoiled by the simple things in life, appreciating like parking in front of our favorite what we downtown retailer and walking have and inside. Just remember, when you have to walk a few more steps that appreciating we still have it comparatively easy even more and the updating will give needed access to those who don’t have it what we’re now. about to get. The work underway downtown includes remade curbs and handicapped accessibility at every intersection. Meanwhile, work on SR 3 continues north of town toward Muncie, as does roadwork on I-70. It’s been a particularly challenging time for Henry County drivers, who are in the thick of all the reconstruction. Signs of progress surround us. But progress can be painful. Join me in appreciating what we have and appreciating even more what we’re about to get – a refreshed look throughout our community that will make us more appealing to those of us who’ve been here all our life, to those passing through and to those who are visiting or looking for a place to locate their start-up business. Remember, a community’s pride shines through in its sidewalks and streets. And we’re going to have plenty to be proud of. Missy Modesitt is Executive Director of the New CastleHenry County Chamber of Commerce. 4 | CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2017

New Castle | Henry County

Chamber Magazine Volume 7, Issue 2 PUBLISHER Missy Modesitt, Executive Director, New Castle-Henry County Chamber of Commerce info@nchcchamber.com DESIGN AND EDITORIAL DIRECTION The JMetzger Group Juli Metzger | juli@thejmetzgergroup.com John Metzger | john@thejmetzgergroup.com www.thejmetzgergroup.com 765.744.4303 CONTRIBUTORS Writing: Doug Gruse, Michelle Kinsey, Tammy Pearson Photography: Grace Hollars, Kurt Hostetler, Design: Tammy Pearson To advertise, contact The JMetzger Group: 765.744.4303 | john@thejmetzgergroup.com For subscription information, contact Missy Modesitt at 765.529.5210.

Chamber Magazine: The voice of New Castle-Henry County Chamber businesses. It is a product of the New Castle-Henry County Chamber of Commerce and The JMetzger Group. These materials are the sole and exclusive property of the New Castle-Henry County Chamber of Commerce and The JMetzger Group, and may not be used without written consent. Copyright 2017: The New Castle-Henry County Chamber of Commerce and The JMetzger Group.

The JMetzger Group specializes in branded content, custom publishing and social media solutions. Learn more: www.thejmetzgergroup.com

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New Castle | Henry County

Chamber Magazine TABLE OF CONTENTS

and long-term 8 Shortcommunity strategies

MEN OF STEEL

HCH’s new Primary Care Campus

Work ethic program

New Castle Skate Park

Harvest Market

Cash Bonanza 2017 ON THE COVER:

Sean Stevens tries out the skate park at New Castle’s Baker Park. Sean is the son of Seth and Amy Stevens.

Cover Photo

Kurt Hostetler.

6 | CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2017

7 ways shopping local will pay off for everyone this holiday season

t’s easy these days to shop online. We’ve all done it. But doing so means we’re moving our purchasing power out of our local markets and away from local retailers. The New CastleHenry County Chamber of Commerce has about 300 members. Of those, 80 percent employ 15 or fewer employees. Small businesses — locally owned businesses — represent the essence of who we are. Can you imagine our community without the local businesses like Every Good Thing: Marilyn’s Flowers? It’s located in the Rural King Plaza on Ind. 3 and is a flower shop that also offers specialty BOARD gifts for any occasion, including jewelry PRESIDENT and home decor. Or what about Moment in Time Bridal? They have a huge inventory of formal wear. They can order just about anything and they’re right in our backyard. Or there is Greensfork Alignment and Tire, a full service automobile shop. Whether you need an oil change or new tires, these are local experts. David Nantz As we move into the holiday season, here are a few more reasons to shop local: Your money stays here: When you shop at locally owned, independent businesses more money is kept in the community because local businesses often purchase from other local businesses, service providers and farms. Some research shows that $68 out of every $100 spent stays in the local economy. Non-profits receive more support. Non-profits often receive greater support from local business owners than they do from non-locally owned businesses. Preserves our character: Our locally owned businesses embrace the character of our town, from showing the colors of our high school teams and bands or sponsoring the drama club. Some even design their stores to reflect our heritage. Local decision-making: Local ownership ensures local decisions are made here. Local owners are more invested in their communities, more philanthropic and more involved. Their commitment to us deserves our commitment to them. Most new jobs come from local businesses: Small local businesses are the largest employers nationally. Great customer service: When you live in a place where everyone knows your name, customer service is better. Local businesses tend to hire people with more specific product expertise and they invest in their employees, resulting in better customer service. Local business owners invest locally: They are people who live here, are less likely to leave and are more invested in the community’s future. Join me in celebrating our local merchants and local business owners by shopping local. David Nantz is president of the New Castle-Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He owns a local business — Nantz Photography — and lives downtown.

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CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2017 | 7

Lasting strategies to support a thriving Henry County

quality workforce and talent strategy remains critical for both communities and businesses. The state and local unemployment rate is below 5% and by 2025 (less than 10 years) there will be 1 million job openings statewide. What can we do as a community to support a thriving Henry County? Please consider the following approaches:

SHORT-TERM STRATEGY:

EDC DIRECTOR

Learn new skills, earn certifications, or finish your degree. Please check out the following resources. Indiana Governor Holcomb has created new funding for training, called Next Level Jobs, (www.nextleveljobs.org). The Workforce Ready Grant is for individuals and the Employer Training Grant serves employers. Learn More Indiana (www. learnmoreindiana.org) is a well-organized resource for people of all ages considering Corey Murphy additional education. The National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC), a nationally recognized credential, can be earned by successfully completing three Work Keys Assessments. These assessments are given at no charge through the local Work One office located at 3011 S. 14th Street New Castle. For additional information, please call Work One at 765- 529-3010. Demonstrate that you are “work ready” by earning the NCRC.

MID-TERM STRATEGY:

Thank you to Susan Falck-Neal, real estate professional and community leader, for highlighting the power of internships to keep more of Henry County’s young talent home. A conversation with her and others led me to www.indianaintern.net. The program’s mission is to be “the catalyst for expanding the creation and use of experiential learning opportunities as a key strategy in retaining Indiana’s top talent.” Managed by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, with funding support from the Lilly Endowment, it is a free web platform designed to match students with employers and also assist educators.

INTERNSHIP BENEFITS FOR EMPLOYERS

FOR STUDENTS

Source: Indiana Intern.Net

The benefit to the community is talent retention. The benefit to parents of interns that find local full time employment is future family (i.e. grandkids) is much closer. Intern: Be one. Host one. Encourage one. The New Castle Career Center helps their students seek internships. If you are a parent or have influence with a student, please consider this program. It is not Plan B for students; it is Plan A. Learn more by visiting http://www.ncacp.k12.in.us/ or call (765) 593-6680.

LONG-TERM STRATEGY:

Our community must continue the quest for greater access to high quality early childhood education and childcare facilities. Pre-k offers a strong return on investment (ROI) of $4 for every $1 invested. The ROI is realized through reduced high-school dropout rates, improved health behaviors, reduced burden on the criminal justice system and higher individual earning potential. Another aspect of early childhood education is ensuring communities have high quality childcare providers as measured by the state’s Paths to Quality Initiative. Could the business community partner with schools and child care facilities to increase access? Is adequate childcare available for 2nd and 3rd shifts? Is the lack of childcare impacting employee attendance? In conclusion, please remember the four public libraries serving Henry County. Do you have your library card? Have you visited your local public library? Please access their tremendous resources and educational programming for life-long learning. Sidney Sheldon said, “Libraries store the energy that fuels the imagination. They open up windows to the world and inspire us to explore and achieve, and contribute to improving our quality of life.” Corey L. Murphy, CEcD, serves as President of the New Castle Henry County Economic Development Corporation.

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Each office is independently owned and operated.

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Members of the leadership team of New Castle Stainless Steel Plate, from left: Tim Linegar, Andy Personett,

John Glaister and Kevin Keeley.

Meet New Castle’s

MEN OF STEEL STORY BY DOUG GRUSE

PHOTOS BY KURT HOSTETLER

Plant’s name change reflects local community

or generations of Henry County residents, one of the top employers in the region was known simply as “the New Castle plant.”

Despite being a major manufacturer since 1900, the premier international producer of stainless steel had a local identity crisis as it switched owners multiple times through the years, most recently operating under the Finland-based Outokumpu moniker. A new chapter in the plant’s history unfolded in January when a group of the plant’s senior managers, along with investors from D’Orazio Capital Partners in Chicago, secured ownership and rebranded the company as New Castle Stainless Steel Plate, finally giving the factory a decidedly local name. “The community has been excited about the transition. After

years of name changes, the name finally reflects the community,” said Tim Linegar, vice president operations. The purchase by American investors, including six local plant managers, also generated positive buzz. “We’ve been under Nordic ownership for the past 45 years in CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2017 | 9

New Castle Stainless Plate strives to provide a high quality product in dimensions customers cannot get elsewhere. FROM PAGE 9

some shape and form. The employees were excited that we are American-owned again,” Linegar said. In addition to Linegar, the plant managers who spearheaded the purchase and became minority owners include Mike Stateczny, president; Kevin Keeley, chief financial officer; Andy Personett, vice president technical; John Glaister, vice president business planning; and Frank Alvin, vice president commercial. Corey Murphy, chief executive officer of the New CastleHenry County Economic Development Corporation, is glad to see local investors re-energizing the operation. “There’s a long history of that mill being active and being a stable employer in the community,” Murphy said. “I think this is an excellent opportunity, and it’s exciting that several members of local management are involved in the transition. Now that the plant has moved from international to more local ownership, it opens up opportunities to become more entrepreneurial in spirit.” Purchase talks originally began in April 2016, as the local managers learned about internal changes in the Outokumpu corporation.

10 | CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2017

The New Castle plant, which employs more than 100 people, is known for producing the widest, thickest, longest and heaviest single stainless steel plates in the Western Hemisphere. “There were organization changes at our parent company that were in the process, and the senior management team here had concerns that it could make this facility vulnerable. We thought it was in the best interest of our employees, our customers and our community to take a look at making it private,” Glaister said. Although a local takeover of a corporately owned plant might seem counterintuitive, the management team was confident that the purchase was the right decision. “The more we researched the possibility, the more we saw that other people had done the same thing,” Glaister said. The purchase enables the plant to continue its established

relationship with businesses around the world while making decisions that directly benefit the local team. “I think it allows us more control of our destiny,” Glaister said. The New Castle plant, which employs more than 100 people, is known for producing the widest, thickest, longest and heaviest single stainless steel plates in the Western Hemisphere. Despite the ownership change, the company’s operations will see little change. “I will continue to work more online with the people I’ve been See more images from this story by visiting the photo gallery working with for the last 20 on our website: years,” Personett said. “It’s an exciting new opportunity www.nchcchamber.com for us. We are in control of our own future. It’s not in the hands of someone miles away looking at us from 50,000 feet. It opens up new challenges.” Customer focus remains a top priority. “All of the people who work here are extremely driven to supply the highest-quality product on time in dimensions you can’t get anywhere else,” Linegar said. “We are committed to being a boutique producer that provides excellent technical support, quality and service. We want to be the easiest company to do business with.” The company’s new structure has encouraged greater focus from the management team. “We want to optimize our value and what we are able to do with the people who work here,” Personett said. The change also will enable the company to pursue some new business opportunities. “Our goal is to grow the business as much as we can,” Linegar said. “When we were owned by Outokumpu, we were only allowed to make stainless steel. We would like to branch out and utilize the equipment we have and our people to do new things. We want to try to do some things we haven’t done before.” n

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12 | CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2017

Primary Care Campus H

delivers convenience from Henry Community Health team STORY BY DOUG GRUSE

PHOTOS BY KURT HOSTETLER

enry Community Health is redefining the way people think about medicine.

our primary care group.” To find the right location away from the main hospital, the development team looked for a piece of property that was more convenient to people’s daily routines. “The property is in more of a common traffic area of our community, Health care rarely gets associated which is why we decided to move with the word “convenience,” but New Castle Pediatrics and New Castle Henry Community Health continues to Immediate Care & Family Health innovate the field by providing worldoffices to the new building,” Ring said. class medical service with a focus on Ring credits a large team of hospital patient satisfaction. personnel involved in making the The provider’s commitment to New growth possible. Castle is at the heart of its recently “It takes an army to do a project like opened Primary Care Campus, located this — from our medical staff and staff on Wittenbraker Avenue at Northfield members to the architects, contractors The new 50,000-squarePark. The new, 50,000-square-foot and subcontractors,” Ring said. “It’s foot building focuses on building focuses on making health been a fun and intense project all at services more convenient for the making health services once.” community, with three physician The new space also will give the more convenient for the offices, a lab-draw area, pharmacy health care provider room to add 16 and classrooms for health education community. new providers. programs. The north side project is just part “It’s been about a 14-month of the construction going on at Henry project, and we opened one office in August and the other two Community Health. The Main Campus at the hospital also has in October,” said Brian Ring, Henry Community Heath chief been undergoing an expansion and renovation of its surgery operating officer. “It’s only about two miles from the hospital, center. but the hospital is really off the beaten path. This new facility is a “Surgery has changed in the roughly 20 years since we little bit closer to the main traffic patterns.” renovated it the last time,” Ring said. The decision to develop the new campus stemmed from The construction was designed to facilitate the future of analyzing the community’s evolving medical needs. surgery, with an emphasis on outpatient care. “The new building makes sense from a care perspective. In Executed in four phases to prevent a disruption to services, assessing what our health provider needs are for our population the construction involves two extensions on the building, and assessing the real estate we had for adding providers, we totaling around 5,000-square feet, and a renovation of the needed to grow,” Ring said. “We didn’t have enough business current space. The area for same-day surgery expanded from 12 space for a primary care office, and we really needed to expand CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2017 | 13

The new primary care campus means more patients can be scheduled sooner for care.

Surgical center expansion and new primary care campus mean improved patient services from Henry Community Health. FROM PAGE 13

to 20 rooms and the post-anesthesia recovery from eight to 12 beds. Because the work was divided into phases, the project was complicated to coordinate. “There are a lot of things to keep track of at the same time. It’s more complex than going on a clean site and building a new building,” Ring said. Mickie Hoy, director of surgical services, is grateful for the expansion, which includes additional storage space and an endoscopy room. “We can schedule patients sooner and, with an additional anesthesia provider, we can hopefully schedule more cases in a day. It should allow surgeons to have more

14 | CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2017

access to the operating room,” Hoy said. Patients also will have a better experience both before and after surgical procedures. “The way the area has changed is amazing. I can’t even compare it to the way it looked before,” Hoy said. Ring is excited about what the surgical center expansion and the new primary care campus mean for the future of Henry Community Health. “Now we can continue to grow and focus on those things we need to do well to provide for our community,” he said. n

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WCERTIFIED ORK ETHIC & JOB READY STORY BY TAMMY PEARSON

PHOTOS BY KURT HOSTETLER

Todd York will visit hundreds of students this year. He is concentrating on one. At a time. Just like the Starfish story.

Todd York, Work Ethic / Work Ready Coordinator addresses students at the New Castle Career Center.

16 | CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2017

New Castle Career Center launches Governor’s Work Ethic Certificate program designed to prepare students for local jobs One by one, a girl throws stranded starfish back into the ocean. A man walks by and asks: “What good will that do?” As she throws one, she says: “It changed that one’s life.” York says the story has become a mantra for him. It’s what inspires him every day in his job as the Work Ethic / Work Ready Coordinator at the New Castle Career Center. York’s mission: to sign up elementary, middle and high school students into the Governor’s Work Ethic Certificate initiative. The goal: to get students ready for the workforce. “Basically, we don’t have a shortage of jobs,” York says. “We have a shortage of people committed to the workforce.” To combat that, the career center applied for and was awarded a two-year, $39,000 grant from the Department of Workforce Development to bring the Governor’s Work Ethic Certificate program to the region and the eight school corporations that the career center serves. The program works like this: Students are recruited during the last year of elementary school (5th/6th grade), last year of middle school (8th grade) and last year of high school (12th grade). Students meet the following criteria: l 2.0 GPA minimum or a C average. l 98% attendance, which equates to only 3.5 days missed per year. l No more than one minor discipline referral each year. l Community service. At the end of the school year, the 5th/6th- grade and 8th-grade students receive a certificate signed locally by the mayor and other community leaders. High school seniors who successfully complete the requirements receive a signed certificate by the governor.

Elementary students are encouraged to exhibit PRIDE: Persistence. Respectfulness. Initiative. Dependability. Efficiency. “Sadly, somewhere along the line in society, we’re not learning these soft skills we’ve taken for granted and we’re trying to get those back,” York says. “If we wait until they’re 11th or 12th graders, it’s too late to change that.” The program is designed to motivate students to work for their reward. “This isn’t a program where you’re passing out a bunch of blue ribbons and trophies,” York says. “It’s something you have to earn.” The potential payoff for students: guaranteed job interviews, bonuses, 90-day probation waivers, scholarships. “This is building a foundation,” York says. Not having a program like this to address soft skills and work ethic is “like building a house with no foundation,” he adds. “It’s going to collapse.” BUILDING A WORK ETHICS ‘HOUSE’ New Castle Career Center Director Chris Lamb stands in a quiet corner of a classroom of seniors in the advanced manufacturing and machine trade programs and watches York, the man he hired and trained, address the students about the work ethic certificate program. “To apply for the grant, we were in a great location,” he says. Of the 19 grants given, three were to career centers, such as New Castle, which is a cooperative partnering with eight school corporations. Lamb pauses in his explanation of the program as York engages a group of students, singling out one student to share about his working experience in the fast food industry. “If a customer wants something and they can’t get it, they’re going to stop going there,” York says. He knows from experience. CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

don’t have a shortage of jobs. ‘WeWehave a shortage of people committed to the workforce. ’

— Todd York, Work Ethic / Work Ready Coordinator at the New Castle Career Center

CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2017 | 17

GOALS OF THE WORK ETHIC CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

Connect employers to schools through an advisory council designed to create collaboraitive partnership that benefits the community.

Provide students wtih an understanding of employability skills for today’s in-demand jobs and allow them an opportunity to demonstrate these skills while in high school.

Provide employers with potential workers who understand the values and importance of responsibility and perseverance in the workplace.

Source: Indiana Department of Workforce Development

FROM PAGE 17

Prior to taking on his new assignment, York spent two decades working in logistics at a distribution center. “I’ve hired people and fired people for 20 years,” he says. “This is something I can speak to. “It’s not a staffing problem,” he says to the students, “but a problem with the people who are calling in and not coming to work. We have to figure out why.” Attendance is a major criteria and building stone of the work ethic certificate program. York drives home the importance of making good decisions. “Have you ever stayed up to 2, 3 o’clock in the morning on a weeknight?” he asks the class. “Every night,” responds one student. “When you hit the snooze and don’t come into school, whose fault is that?” York asks and answers his own question. “Yours.” Lamb watches the exchange between presenter and students, reflecting on the importance of starting early with students. “The reason we start at the elementary level is we’re targeting negative behaviors,” he says. “Starting now is too late.” Lamb anticipates that only 30% of the students who sign up for the program will earn a certificate and that the largest disqualifier will be attendance. He doesn’t find that number discouraging initially. “If we only get 30% to qualify, that’s a boost for employers,” he says. “We will see a positive for companies.” York’s voice fills with enthusiasm and a little bit of pride in his community as he shares with the students: “Every business person we’ve talked to in the last two months is on board with this.” In the corner, Lamb quietly explains: “Businesses offer incentives, professional mentoring, hiring preferences, 60- to 90-day probation waivers and bonuses to students who receive this certificate.” Lamb and York are working to build a community committee that they are adding to every month. “They will govern it because they are the organizations hiring our kids,” Lamb says. “The goal is to have 80 organizations.” He pauses in his story to point to one specific company, Keihin, who hired two students “on the spot,” Lamb says, at $11.55 an hour for 20 hours minimum per week during the school year. The students will stay working in the company though May when they will receive a $2,600 bonus in scholarships for their persistence. 18 | CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Spring 2017

Students sign a work ethic certificate program form while in class at the New Castle Career Center. Students strive to meet criteria in the areas of GPA, attendance, discipline and community service.

THE NEED FOR STRAIGHT TALK “We live in a society where no one is talking to the kids straight,” Lamb says. “There are no consequences. I give them real life circumstances and make them think a little bit.” Students who struggle to come to school on time and are already in that rut will have those same struggles in the workforce, he says. He offers those students a simple piece of advice: “Leave 10 minutes earlier.” Lamb hired York last year to work with special needs kids. He saw him as a natural choice for the work ethic certificate initiative. “He has the work experience. He’s been a girls’ basketball coach and has the motivational piece. He’s not afraid to talk 1-1 or in groups. And he’s from New Castle.” As Lamb talks, York is engaging students in the classroom again. “Not a morning person?” he asks a student. “We live in a society where everyone is making excuses.” He works to keep the ‘talks’ positive, but constructive, stressing to students the need to be productive, to show up, be respectful, present themselves well in interviews, make eye contact. York is good with direct talk. “Employers don’t want someone coming in with a grouchy attitude,” he reminds students. The work ethic certificate program applications are distributed to the students with a straightforward instruction: “We need everybody who’s 18 years old to sign.” All students do.

EYE OPENERS Blue River Valley high school senior Kristin Lotz is studying machine trades at the New Castle Career Center. Kristin’s is one of 15 signatures collected during the class to enroll in the work ethic certificate program. “I think it’s a good idea,” she says. At 18, she already has some experience to back that up. Kristen’s is a full schedule. In addition to finishing her senior year in high school, she holds down two jobs – an internship at Magna Tool & Die during the week and a job at The Orchard on weekends. “I work every day,” she says. “I see a lot of people who call in or who won’t come in on their first day.” The struggle with workplace attendance, she says, is most prevalent among the younger employees. “The people who show up every day are 60 and close to retirement,” she says. “The younger people aren’t showing up.” “It’s a big eye opener when you go to work and you’re trying to decide which one do you want to be?” AWAITING OUTCOMES “Two out of 10 new hires don’t work out,” Lamb says of the workforce. “We’re trying to get kids college and career ready.” He anticipates that the work ethic certificate will produce a positive ripple during the school year. “This program will boost attendance at schools and graduation Work ethic rates,” he predicts. certificate Signup is 100% of students so far, York says, because program students understand it’s not signup is costing them to sign up for a program that will benefit them 100% so far. greatly. Because the program launched this year, it is too early for outcomes. Lamb predicts those will come in four years. Between now and then, they will track small changes, Lamb says, through data collection every semester. One day, he explains, they will be able to take students who’ve earned certificates and pair them with a Department of Workforce database

Todd York, left, and New Castle Career Center Director Chris Lamb, right, lead work ethic certificate efforts with students in the region.

to help identify where students are in five years. Lamb likes that the certificate offers opportunities to a group of students who can be overlooked in the educational system. “We have middle-of-the-road ‘C’ students who are here and don’t cause problems. This is the target. We want to help them be productive, graduate and go right into the workforce.” IT MATTERS TO ‘THAT’ ONE The class presentation is over. York contemplates how it went. “It’s harder to read students than what is used to be,” he says. “I made eye contact, which is a rarity today.” “They were engaged.” He is not surprised. The students at the career center are often more responsive to the program than other students who have plans to go to a four-year college. York stresses that the work ethic certificate offers important lessons for all pathways after high school. “Are we going to change everybody? No. Will everybody participate? No. But throwing your hands up? I refuse to accept that defeat.” “We have to invest and give back,” York adds. His thoughts circle back to the starfish. “If you look at the overall problem, it’s overwhelming.” So he looks at it one life at a time. “It gives me chills thinking about it,” he says. n

CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Spring 2017 | 19

SK8, RIDE, ROLL New Castle skate park grows from wish to reality

STORY BY TAMMY PEARSON

PHOTOS BY KURT HOSTETLER

Patty Broyles stands at the top of an 11,000square-feet concrete world she helped create but has never used. The retiree and City of New Castle Park Board Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s smile is as bright as the Friday afternoon sun that beats down on the polished concrete world that the City of New Castle has cultivated in Baker Park. CONTINUED ON PAGE 22 20 | CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2017

SKATE READY. Visitors try out New Castleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new skate park on opening day.

CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2017 | 21

FROM PAGE 21

It is a skate park, thoughtfully and expertly designed by a Hoosier who specializes in it and creatively funded by a group of community leaders committed it. “We’re go-getters,” says Patty as she stands at the top platform of the smooth vertical section of the skate park and remembers what it was just months ago – a sand volleyball court about half the size. Her memories go back further to 16 years ago when a group of young kids had a dream to have a skate park. At the time, the administration didn’t know how to go about it, she says. With the passing years came a new administration. “Mayor York took me by here and said, ‘I want a skate park here. I’ve always heard that if your community doesn’t have a skate park, your community is the skate park.” Patty asked a question: “Are you sure?” His answer as she recalls: “Yep.” A five-year plan was developed that outlined not only the park needs but also its wishes. “The skate park was a wish,” she says. Overall park restroom upgrades and security were needs. Patty helped craft the grant application, which concentrated on economic development and tourism, to access funds from the Henry County food and beverage tax and was successful in obtaining $275,000 of the $400,000 request. The city, she says, has had to work to find the remainder of the funds through in-kind donations and other methods that include endowment and pass-through funds at the Henry County Community Foundation. Donations continue to be needed and accepted for the park renovations.

Leaders open the skate park with a ribbon cutting.

BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME Retiree and volunteer Mike Broyles, husband to Patty, methodically paints the metal fence rails at the top of the skate park in preparation for the installation of a Robert Indiana mosaic style message: Sk8, Ride & Roll. He pauses from his painting project to connect with a visitor, which is quickly becoming a habit he enjoys. The visitor is Chet Childress, who is on his way from Wilmington, N.C., to Chicago, Ill. He’d heard about the park from a friend and decided it was a good place to take a 15-minute break to exercise during his road trip. In between talking with Mike, the veteran skateboarder with 25 years experience handles the vertical challenges of the park with ease, working his way up to a smooth glide up and around the worm hole. “It’s great. Everybody needs to step up their game and provide something like this,” he says, coming up fast on his skateboard to rest on the top of the concrete before taking another deep dive down into the bowl, calling out his praise over his shoulder. “Awesome, guys. Good job.” On the other side of the skate park, New Castle native Josh Marlow eyes a skate rail about one foot high, feeling a little rusty and a lot determined. “This is the first time I’ve been on the board in three years,” he said. “It feels like I’m relearning everything again. 22 | CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2017

“Six years ago that stuff was comfortable,” he says, gesturing toward the vertical and more advanced part of the park. “Hopefully in three weeks I’ll be comfortable.” Josh’s girlfriend, Niki Meyer, calls out encouragement as she watches. It is her first time to the park, too. “I’ve been here 30 minutes, and I’m ready to bring our kids here,” she says about their 6- and 7-year-olds. “He used to be pretty good in high school,” she says as she watches Josh ease his board down the street side of the park. “He was one of the people who petitioned to get the skate park a long time ago.” Niki is quick to applaud the city for giving skaters this place. “The city was super cool,” she says. more online “People are always See more images from this story by visiting the photo gallery going out of town to skate on our website: at parks that are not as www.nchcchamber.com good. Now people can drive to New Castle. It’s a positive thing for kids who don’t do sports.” The skate park’s opening day arrived in August, about 18 months after the grant was submitted. The community held a picnic. “We had 750 people here during the day from newborn to 90-something years old,” says Patty who has observed visitor license plates from as far away as Alaska. GETTING IT RIGHT A trip to California to see a skate park firsthand and to learn from park administrators was part of the process for building New Castle’s skate park. Patty learned the three different styles of skate parks – spot, neighborhood and professional. The New Castle park is neighborhood style bordering on professional, she says, as she gestures down into the bowl that includes a worm hole skaters can pass through and around. There is one visitor in particular Patty remembers when the project was just beginning. “This was flatland,” she says. Patty was standing on that dirt land with her husband and their grandchildren, when a young man approached them. “He said, ‘I heard there’s a skate park going in here,’” Patty recalls. The young man was excited. “I can’t wait. Who’s doing it?” he asked. Patty’s response: “The community is doing it.” “I heard it was a lady,” he said. Then came the recognition. “You’re the lady,” he said. The story makes Patty smile and shake her head in humility. “I told him if it wasn’t for the community and for Mayor York, it wouldn’t be happening.” One specific detail in the mayor’s speech shared with a soaring crowd during opening day is particularly memorable for Patty. ‘He said, ‘I think we need to add on,’” Patty says. And then she smiles. n

Dennis Hamilton. Harvest Market supports the community by buying animals at the annual 4-H Beef Sale.

Market Makeover STORY BY MICHELLE KINSEY

Harvest Market’s meat department is big draw

t wasn’t a new product on the shelves that had people buzzing about Harvest Market this year. It was the actual shelves. And the walls. And the lights. Even the signs out front.

Harvest Market, a long-time fixture on Broad Street, unveiled its remodeled interior and exterior in February. “The customers were ecstatic about it,” recalled store manager Doug Cooney. “They couldn’t wait to see how we brightened everything up.” Literally. The renovation included new lighting inside and out. Cooney has been manager here for two years. The New Castle store is one of 8 in the Harvest Market family. Larry Vores opened the first store in Elwood in 1976. The New Castle store followed soon after. Other stores are located in Anderson (the home base), Alexandria, Chesterfield, Greensburg, Frankton and Middletown. The markets remain family-owned, with daughters Allison Vores, Chief Operating Officer, and Sherry L. Cox, Chief Financial Officer, leading the way. Cooney said the markets, all of them, definitely have a “family feel.” There are people who have been employed at his store for more than 35 years.

PHOTOS BY GRACE HOLLARS

And it’s undoubtedly that family atmosphere that makes customers feel so, well, at home when they come to pick up their weekly groceries. “We know most of our customers,” Cooney said. “When they come in, we are saying ‘Hello’ by name.” And when they walk up to the meat counter, butcher Roy McCroble Jr. knows exactly what they want when they say “the usual.” “The big draw here is definitely our meat department,” Cooney said. Why? “Pricing and quality,” he said without hesitation. Customers don’t mind waiting patiently for 15 The New Castle minutes so they can select store is one of 8 in exactly what they want, the Harvest Market Cooney said. The big seller, he family and remains added, is beef, followed by family-owned. pork and chicken. Many customers choose to order “bundle packs,” which can be ready within 24 hours after placing the order. The meat is ground on site. “Nothing is vacuum packed here,” Cooney said. The store receives two shipments of meat and other items a week from Nashville, which Cooney said provides “stuff you cannot find anywhere else around here.” Like the little coconut candies that were popular “back in my day,” Cooney joked. Something else you aren’t going to find anywhere else in CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2017 | 23

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this area is the store’s annual 4-H Beef Sale. They buy several animals at the Henry County 4-H Fair each year, butcher them, then sell them at the store. Don Murphy, the Chief Administrative Officer for Harvest Market, is the man who attends the auctions each summer. He’s been with Harvest for two decades. “I grew up on a farm and was involved in 4-H as a kid, raising cattle and hogs,” he said. “So it always brings back a lot of memories for me.” Murphy, who also attends the auctions at the Decatur and Madison fairs, said the best part of the auction each year isn’t the animals he wins with the highest bids. “It’s seeing all of these great kids who have put in so much work,” he said. “It’s tough on these kids, very emotional.” Cooney said Harvest doesn’t do it for the money. “We really don’t make any money on it,” he said. “It’s just something we like to do for the community.” And the community, Harvest Market in turn, remains loyal to the market, even buys, butchers and in the midst of road sells Henry County construction. “There has been a lot 4-H animals every of construction around year to support the us and people find a community. way to get here,” he said with a laugh. “Thank goodness for that.” Before coming to Harvest, Cooney worked for more than 40 years for Marsh all over the state. He’s happy to be back home at the Harvest Market – he went to school less than a block away from the store. “I like seeing people I grew up with, went to school with, come through those doors,” he said. He doesn’t see that changing anytime soon. “I do think a lot of people appreciate the smaller grocery stores,” he said. “It’s a shame to see so many big stores running the little guys out of business. But this place is just different. So I don’t see us going anywhere.” Murphy agreed. “Harvest is just like New Castle, really,” he said. “It’s small, but has everything you need. And, of course, everybody knows everybody.” n

Participating in the Henry County 4-H Fair is an annual tradition at Harvest Market. Don Murphy, right, has been with Harvest Market for 20 years.

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24 | CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2017

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CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2017 | 25

Cash Bonanza

2017

ttendees to Cash Bonanza 2017 were whisked away to the islands upon entering the historic Armory in Downtown New Castle in mid-August. The luau-inspired theme helped boost the event to the highest-grossing Cash Bonanza in recorded history. And for the first time in many years, the main cash prize went down to a final winner! Keith and Lori Prichett (owners of Prichettâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Point) took home a whopping $10,000 and the second prize of $1,000 went to Jason Armstrong. Keith Prichett Congratulations to all the winners, and many thanks to our sponsors for their generous support!

Photos by Kurt Hostetler

See more images from Cash Bonanza 2017! Photo gallery on our website: www.nchcchamber.com

26 | CHAMBER MAGAZINE, Fall 2017

Northfield Park Primary Care Campus Offers Expanded Hours and Patient Convenience

Wilbur Wright Trail

Henry County YMCA

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Henry Community Health Primary Care Campus

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Henry Community Health’s new Primary Care Campus at Northfield Park is designed for patient convenience with three physician offices, lab services, Neighborhood Pharmacy and Education Center for health education programs.

n Ave

Wittenbraker Ave 152 Wittenbraker Avenue

New York Ave

Where is Northfield Park Located? We’re easy to find. Our Primary Care Campus at Northfield Park is located off Indiana 3 at 152 Wittenbraker just west of the Henry County YMCA.

Hours For Patient Visits NOW OPEN New Castle Family & Internal Medicine phone: 599.3100 7:30 am - 5 pm Monday-Friday

NOW OPEN New Castle Family & Internal Medicine’s second office in addition to their Forest Ridge office. Lab Services provide added convenience for patients. The Education Center offers a variety of health education programs and support groups. New Castle Pediatrics New Castle Immediate Care & Family Health (formerly New Castle Walk-In Care) Neighborhood Pharmacy

Lab Services phone: 599.3722 7 am - 5 pm Monday-Friday New Castle Immediate Care & Family Health (formerly New Castle Walk-In Care) phone: 599.2754 8 am - 7 pm Monday-Friday 8am - Noon Saturday New Castle Pediatrics phone: 521.0901 8 am - 7 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 7 am - 7 pm Wednesday 7 am - 5 pm Friday Neighborhood Pharmacy phone: 521.1483 8 am - 6 pm Monday-Friday

1000 North 16th Street, New Castle, IN hchcares.org

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID MUNCIE, IN PERMIT NO. 860

100 South Main Street, Ste. 108 New Castle, IN 47362

Why Henry County?

Location, Location, Location

Education

Henry County offers great schools and excellent career centers offering hands-on, real-world experience to students.

Easy access to interstates and major airports make travel and business logistics a breeze. And residents have the best of both worlds: Easy, small-town living within about an hour’s drive to major shopping and entertainment destinations like Indianapolis, Dayton and Cincinnati.

About 30 colleges and universities lie within 50 miles of Henry County, including IU East, Ball State University, IVY TECH Community College, Purdue Polytecnic University, Earlham, Butler and IUPUI.

Health Care

Henry Community Health consistently garners top ratings for quality of care, and the area boasts a wide range of home-health options and excellent seniorliving communities.

Recreation With its ever-growing trail system, family-focused parks, the aquatic center, a new skate park, and a wide range of youth sports opportunities, Henry County is the perfect place for play. Natural resources abound with numerous community parks and Summit Lake State Park.

Basketball! The heart of basketball beats in Henry County: • New Castle Fieldhouse is the largest high school basketball gym in the United States

Vibrant Arts Community The recently established Robert Indiana Arts and Cultural District and the Arts Park and Pavilion in New Castle are visible examples of the community’s arts commitment.

• Knightstown’s Hoosier Gym was the filming location for the iconic movie “Hoosiers” •The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame resides in New Castle • Native basketball stars include Kent Benson and Steve Alford