The Economic Strength of the South Bend - Elkhart Region is Supported in 2021 Wages and Benefits Report

SOUTH BEND - ELKHART REGION (Sept. 15, 2021) -- In a survey of employers in the South Bend – Elkhart region, the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership found more than 60 percent of participants added workers in the last six months, with 80 percent already planning further employment growth yet this year. The average annual wage of many occupations in the region’s specialized industry clusters exceeded the average private sector wages, and the South Bend – Elkhart region is catching up in those specialized industries compared to the national average.

The workforce outlook was informed by a voluntary survey of compensation practices and policies of 143 employers representing over 40,000 employees in eight counties across northern Indiana and southwest Michigan. Survey participants include some of the area's leading employers engaged in manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, financial, education, and other industries, some with annual sales of hundreds of millions of dollars and others with only a few employees.

“The diversity of participants and regional focus make the report a valuable tool for supporting the growth of existing employers and attracting new investment to the region,” said South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership President and CEO, Regina Emberton. "The report demonstrates the competitive workforce practices of employers in the South Bend – Elkhart region."

The survey collected data about benefits packages and policies including health care costs paid by employers and employees, retirement benefits, training, vacation, and other employment perks. The report includes regional wage data collected by Emsi Burning Glass based on the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics and compiled state data from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth, and the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiative. Annual average wage data for the region's specialized and emerging industry clusters is also featured, offering a comprehensive 2021 Wages and Benefits Report for the South Bend – Elkhart region.

Emberton explained that the report serves two main purposes. The collection of data helps the South Bend - Elkhart Regional Partnership and participating economic development organizations recruit investment in the area by providing an accurate picture of workforce costs in the region. In addition, participating employers learn how their compensation practices compare with other employers in the region.

To view the 2021 Wages and Benefits Report please, click here. For more information, contact info@southbendelkhart.org or 574.344.4686.

About South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership

The South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership is a collaboration of the economic development partners from 47 smart connected communities in Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan. The Regional Partnership focuses on a long-term systemic approach to advance the region’s economy by aligning the efforts of various stakeholders around five key areas: Educating a world-class WORKFORCE, Recruiting and retaining great TALENT, Attracting and growing new economy companies in complement to our remarkably strong manufacturing INDUSTRIES, Promoting INCLUSION and sparking opportunities for minorities and Helping ENTREPRENEURS thrive. The Regional Partnership seeks to unify and collaborate so that together, the communities across the region to work together to achieve what cannot be done individually. For more information about the Regional Partnership, visit SouthBendElkhart.org.

Media Contact

Jill Scicchitano

South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership

574.344.4686 ext.4806

jscicchitano@southbendelkhart.org

Fulton County, Rochester, and FEDCO Officials Announce Second Round of Small Business COVID-19 Relief Funding Applications Now Available

Thanks to a second grant from the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) and some matching funds from Fulton County and the City of Rochester, Small businesses located in Fulton County may now apply for grants to offset business losses from COVID-19. Businesses in high-risk categories such as hospitality/tourism, food and beverage, personal care, professional services, and retail sectors are encouraged to apply. Independent contractors and sole proprietors are eligible. The goal of this program, per federal requirements, is to retain jobs and 51% of the jobs retained must be held by LMI (Low to Moderate Income) persons. FEDCO is managing the grant application process for Fulton County, and OCRA staff will also review all applications. The eligibility requirements include the following:

•  Businesses with less than $1 million in gross annual sales and fewer than 20 employees. 51% of jobs retained must meet the LMI (Low-to-Moderate Income) federal guidelines.

• Businesses who have been denied benefits from other federal or state programs or have been declared ineligible may receive priority

• First time applicants for the COVID relief funds from OCRA grants will receive priority

• Business must have incurred a business/financial loss due to COVID-19

• Business must be based in Fulton County

• Nonprofits are not eligible per HUD Rules

Applications are available online through this link and include the LMI forms for employee income verification:    http://fultondevelopment.org/covid19-immediate-response-grant-application

All forms are due by Wednesday, July 21st, 2021, 12:00 noon.  Applications will not be accepted after this time.  The approximate date for funds release is the end of August. Each business may apply for a maximum of $10,000.  As the county tries to assist as many businesses as possible, funds may be limited, and awards could be less than your request. 

Businesses who wish to apply will need to include their Profit/Loss Statement for the period January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 OR Schedule C from their 2020 income tax return. Business owners must complete the Income Verification Form that is included in the application link, so that LMI income status can be verified. 

For more information related to the application process, please contact Amy Beechy, Manager of Small Business Initiatives for FEDCO at amy@projectmatttersllc.com or telephone 574.709.7955. 

Fulton County and FEDCO Officials Announce Small Business Relief Funding Awarded

Fulton County officials and FEDCO are pleased to announce that 29 local businesses were awarded a total of $248,500 in grant funding from Indiana’s Office of Rural and Community Affair’s (OCRA) Small Business Relief Funds.  Applicants had to apply by June 1 and meet eligibility requirements as set out by OCRA and stated on the application form.  The eligible applications were reviewed by the local grant team and then approved by OCRA officials. 

Of the thirty-eight business funding applicants, 32 met the eligibility requirements which included:

• Businesses with less than $1 million in gross annual sales and fewer than 20 employees.  Reminder: There is a requirement that 51% of jobs retained must meet the LMI (Low-to-Moderate Income) federal guidelines.

• Businesses who have been denied benefits from other federal or state programs or have been declared ineligible may receive priority

• Businesses must have incurred a business/financial loss due to COVID-19

• Businesses must be based in Fulton County

• Nonprofits are not eligible per HUD Rules

Fulton County businesses who were approved by OCRA and received awards include: Affordable Hearing Store of Rochester, Akron Liquor Store, DeBruler Imaging, Destinations by Donna, Dockside Bar and Grill in Macy, LLC, El Machete Restaurant, LLC, Evergreen Eatery, Ferro26, LLC, Fulton County Massage Therapy Clinic, Fulton Tavern, Inc., Gast Heating & Cooling, Inc., JRS County Lanes, Inc, Just Coast Customs, dba Custom Concrete Leveling, Kline Performance Equine, Kristy's Hometown Bar & Grill, L.N.C. Corp., Lighthouse Kitchen, Mikey's Pizza Pit Stop, MMW and Family, NAJO LLC, Rochester Dental Center, Rochester Hotel LLC, dba Quality Inn Rochester, Rochester Hotel LLC, dba Super 8 Rochester, Rochester Meat and Deli, TEH Enterprises, LLC dba Oil Change Express, The Record Farm, Tweedle D's, West Ninth, and WROI.

The goal of these funds, per federal requirements, is to retain jobs and 51% of the jobs retained must be held by LMI (Low to Moderate Income) persons.  The North Central Regional Plan Council serves as administrator of the grant, FEDCO manages the grant application process for Fulton County, and OCRA staff provide oversight.   

For  more information related to the application process, please contact Amy Beechy, Manager of Small Business Initiatives for FEDCO at amy@projectmatttersllc.com or telephone 574.709.7955. 

Ruth Gunter of ever-green received funds from Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs COVID Immediate Response Grant for small businesses. Ruth was making us hungry as she described the some of the great menu items at Evergeen. Yum! Congratulations Ruth!

Covid-19 Recovery and Resiliency Workshop Series

FEDCO and North Central Indiana Small Business Development Center presents Workshop Series

July 22: 11AM – Noon

What Do the Numbers Mean? Record Keeping and Accounting Basics for the Small Business Entrepreneur

Nelson Mlotshwa, CPA, Accounting Professor, Indiana University South Bend

Registration:  https://iu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMrf-itpjotH9DybGnVg-XZUgsLl952bY50

Too many businesses missed out on pandemic relief funds due to insufficient financial record keeping. This session will address the importance of record keeping for successfully managing your business, avoiding fraud against your business, compiling and understanding financial reports, aiding your accountant and tax preparer, and satisfying needs of regulators, lenders, and investors.

July 29: 11AM – Noon

Aligning Your Business and People to the Future

Sandy Dunbar, PHR, CEO/Founder, HR Collaboration Group LLC

Registration:  https://iu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYtc-uvrz0iG9yPez0g1PlfUF2ZhL5SZZtq

This session provides a high-level overview on understanding the current market and your business priorities and how to analyze and align your people resources for greater overall business success. The workshop will address best practice solutions in remote recruiting, managing and measuring productivity of an onsite or remote workforce, setting performance metrics with aligned compensation solutions focused on business goals and budgets, as well as how to effectively communicate and manage change in an environment that is constantly evolving.

August 5: 11 AM – Noon

Working Securely and Effectively from Anywhere

Tim Poyner, President, Creative Technology Solutions Inc.

Registration: https://iu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcvf-ipqj4pGtyBi5pez_yWpvxtCKLuRysL

The pandemic has amplified the importance of being able to flexibly work from any location. With a 3.5 – 4x jump in cybersecurity threats since the pandemic related work from home mandate, security outside the four walls of the main office is now center stage. Akin to security is how to keep workers productive when working from a remote environment. This session addresses where these trends are going and what small business owners must consider in our new reality where we must be increasingly nimble and extremely smart.

August 12: 11AM – Noon

How to Stand Out in a Crowd: Effective Ways to Tell Your Story and Sell Your Brand

Jessica Koscher, MPA + CFRE, CEO, Write Connections Strategy + Design

Registration: https://iu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0pd-qtrD0jGNy4kSXe8f2gkZQTd-O-6E9f

Marketing has changed in the post pandemic marketplace, and developing and maintaining a strong digital presence is more important than ever. Think of marketing like online dating. You have only 7 seconds to make a strong first impression. Will that new customer see what you have to offer and want to connect? Will it be love at first sight or will you be ghosted? This session provides effective and practical tips to help you stand out in a crowd. Put these skills to use and you’ll have new customers “swiping right” on your business in no time.

For further questions, www.isbdc.org or 574-520-4126.

OCRA APPROVES SELECTION OF LOCAL BUSINESSES TO RECEIVE FUNDS

The Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) has approved the selection of twenty-nine local businesses to receive funding from COVID-19 Immediate Response Grant.

Based on criteria presented in the grant application, FEDCO and the Grant Oversight Team selected twenty-nine businesses to receive grant funding, with awards ranging from $4,000 - $10,000.

Thirty-eight businesses applied for the funds; of that number, three were over the income limit per grant guidelines, and six did not meet HUD low to moderate income requirements.  Six businesses submitted incomplete applications and could not be considered. 

All awardees for the COVID-19 Immediate Response Grant funding have been contacted. The funds have been requested from the state (OCRA) and will hopefully be in Fulton County within 2 weeks. At that time, agreements with awardees will be signed and checks will be distributed.

FEDCO will release the names of the recipients after agreements are signed and checks have been distributed. 

FEDCO and the Grant Oversight Team thank you for your patience as we continue working with the County, OCRA and other officials to complete this process and be ready to receive and disperse the COVID-19 Grant Funding.  For questions, please contact FEDCO at 574-223-3326.     

Fulton County and FEDCO Officials Announce Small Business Relief Funding Applications Now Available

Fulton County may now offer grants to Fulton County businesses, including businesses in high-risk categories such as hospitality/tourism, food and beverage, personal care, professional services, and retail sectors.  After meeting with OCRA (Indiana’s Office of Community and Rural Affairs) officials last week, final grant application details were approved by OCRA for the COVID-19 Immediate Response Grant Funding.  The goal of this program, per federal requirements, is to retain jobs and 51% of the jobs retained must be held by LMI (Low to Moderate Income) persons.  FEDCO is managing the grant application process for Fulton County, and OCRA staff will also review all applications.   The eligibility requirements include the following:

• Nonprofits are not eligible per HUD Rules

• Businesses with less than $1 million in gross annual sales and fewer than 20 employees.  Reminder: There is a requirement that 51% of jobs retained must meet the LMI (Low-to-Moderate Income) federal guidelines.

• Businesses who have been denied benefits from other federal or state programs or have been declared ineligible may receive priority

• Businesses must have incurred a business/financial loss due to COVID-19

• Businesses must be based in Fulton County

Applications are available online through this link and include the LMI forms for employee income verification:    http://fultondevelopment.org/covid19-immediate-response-grant-application

All forms are due by Monday, June 1st, 2020, 12:00 noon.  Applications will not be accepted after this time.  The approximate date for funds release is the end of June. Each business may apply for a maximum of $10,000.  As the county tries to assist as many businesses as possible, funds may be limited, and awards could be less than your request. 

Businesses who wish to apply will need to include their Profit/Loss Statement for the period January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019 OR Schedule C from their 2019 income tax return.  Also, within one week of the day the completed application and Profit/Loss statement are submitted, EACH employee (and owners) must complete the Income Verification Form that is included in the application link, so that LMI income status can be verified. 

For  more information related to the application process, please contact Amy Beechy, Manager of Small Business Initiatives for FEDCO at amy@projectmatttersllc.com or telephone 574.709.7955. 

THE PITCH by FEDCO

One start up business and two existing businesses took home the $10,000 prize money during THE PITCH by FEDCO last Thursday evening.

Last month, businesses that met the size standard of less than a million dollars in gross annual sales and fewer than 50 employees were invited to complete an online application to enter the business pitch competition, sponsored by Fulton Economic Development Corporation and it partners.

On Thursday, October 18, the six finalists had five minutes to present their business “pitch” to a panel of judges to compete for $10,000 in prize money that was awarded at the judges’ discretion.

The winners were Crossroad Peppers, a startup business offering dry rubs and hot sauce, who were awarded $2,000.

Existing businesses Uncorked and Brooch Boutique, were awarded $4,000 each. Uncorked will expand to include a rum bar and Brooch will expand online sales by launching a new shopping app.

Winners must execute their business or expansion plan no later than six months after the award is presented. Existing business entries must be in full-time operations with a primary office in Fulton County for at least two years.

“We’re really happy and encouraged about this first time event”, said Amy Beechy, FEDCO’s Entrepreneurship Program Manager, “all of the contestants worked hard to prepare, the public came out to watch, and now we will support these businesses as they move forward and grow.”

Judges for the competition were Susan Sciame-Giesecke, Ph.D, Chancellor, Indiana University Kokomo; Joe McCarter, President, RTC FIber Communications, and Eric Walsh, CPA, partner with H.J. Umbaugh and Associates.

Event sponsors include NIPSCO, Fulton County REMC, RapidView LLC, Smith Sawyer Smith Insurance, North Central Indiana Small Business Development Center and the USDA.

For questions about THE PITCH, contact Amy Beechy at 574-709-7955 or amy@projectmattersllc.com.

Finance Made Simple Workshop

Breaking News!  The #1 topic our business clients ask to learn about is Finances. Darrell Mullis, Author of the popular book, The Accounting Game is coming to Fulton County for a one day workshop,  where he'll walk small business owners through the basics of "business numbers" in a fun, hands on format. Maximum number of participants is 30, so sign up today. Don't miss this unique opportunity.

Click Here to Register!