Local companies take the lead in environmental responsibility Every business, municipality and school corporation in Northwest Indiana plays a part in the tremendous use of natural resources, and each has the potential to decrease the environmental impact and dependence on products that can have a negative effect on the planet in ways both large and small. …
NWI host to multiple resources designed to help entrepreneurs Cultivating communication skills, mentoring, giving sound advice and offering a collaborative environment are among the ways region organizations are fostering the young entrepreneurial community. “Starting a business isn’t easy. There’s a lot of risk associated with it,” says Lorri Feldt, regional director of the Northwest Indiana …
Small business provides a sense of place Small business is the lifeblood of every city or town, regardless of size. A 2012 study by Civic Economics, a company that analyzes the impact of buying local, found that local businesses are known to have a “multiplier effect” on their communities; for every dollar spent at a …
How marketing firms help businesses rise to the top In our increasingly digital world, the role of marketing looks drastically different than it did a decade ago. It’s never been easier for a company to market itself, but at the same time, the number of options to do so can be overwhelming. This is why …
How to make the most of an intern Hiring an intern can be an easy decision but, as any manager knows, how to best utilize one can be tricky business. “Planning is key when embarking on an internship program in order for it to be successful for the employer and the intern,” says Janet Boston, …
Winners of the annual Northwest Indiana E-Day Awards It’s a daunting task to select the special individuals who receive Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards. Each year, the Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center (NW-ISBDC) asks a 10-member steering committee to sift through countless nominees and identify the best of the best. The process has been going on …
Many factors are causing small hospitals to join big health-care systems It has happened in everything from banking to beer, restaurants to retail chains, media conglomerates to medical device manufacturers. Why would health care be immune from the kind of industry consolidation that is rocking practically every other major industry? When the accounting and consulting …
Retiring workers and a wealth of projects create excellent opportunities Industry leaders are striving to pound home the reality and benefits of a career in construction while riding the wave of change to ensure a trained and knowledgeable workforce is available for Northern Indiana projects. Kevin Comerford, director of professional development at the Construction Advancement …
Communities bank on economic impact of tourism Indiana is known for Hoosier hospitality. And hospitality is paying off big time for local communities, where visitor spending has a huge economic impact. The multibillion-dollar hospitality industry is one of the fastest growing business sectors worldwide. It encompasses a range of businesses centered on customer service. Indianapolis …
Healthy investments flow from Port of Indiana’s water connections. Rick Heimann chuckled to himself while pointing to a mountainous pile of scrap metal near the entrance of his massive workplace, the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor. He recalled a snide comment from a visitor who suggested that piles of scrap metal “junk” are not the best …
