North Judson-based Lewellen Blooms Wins Starke Tank

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Photo by Mark Ridley/Starke Tank 2022 Runner-Up Dalton Tunis, Mary Perren and Lisa Dan from the Starke County Economic Development Foundation, Lewellen Blooms owners Lewis and Joellen Matzat, and Knox Mayor Dennis Estok.
                                                                                   

KNOX, Ind. – A growing family business emerged victorious from a crowded field contestants to win the 2023 Starke Tank Countywide Small Business Pitch Competition presented by the Starke County Economic Development Foundation and the City of Knox. Lewis and Joellen Matzat own Lewellen Blooms, LLC, in North Judson. Their cut flower farm offers fresh flowers directly to customers as well as to florists. They also provide wedding and event arrangements and a flower subscription service.

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Surf Internet Breaks Ground in Knox to Become City’s First Fiber-Optic Internet Provider

Photo provided by Mary Perren/Representatives from Surf, the City of Knox, and Starke County Economic Development Foundation pose for a photo at the groundbreaking event held on July 20 to mark the start of Surf’s construction project that will deliver fiber-optic internet services to the City of Knox

A groundbreaking ceremony was held Thursday, July 20 to celebrate the start of a construction project that will deliver fiber optic internet to the City of Knox.  Representatives from Surf Internet SM, the City of Knox, and the Starke County Economic Development Foundation were present for the occasion. 

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Starke County Economic Development Foundation Awarded $60,000 Grant

Early Learning Indiana awarded a $60,000 grant to the Starke County Economic Development Foundation (SCEDF) as part of the $1 million Closing the Gap grant fund to address local child care access issues, increase capacity and quality, and ensure affordability and choice for families.

Read more: Starke County Economic Development Foundation Awarded $60,000 Grant

The grant fund was established alongside Early Learning Indiana’s inaugural release of “Closing the Gap: An Assessment of Indiana’s Early Learning Opportunities”. The 2022 report update and insights demonstrate that Indiana has experienced slight improvement in both overall capacity and high-quality early care and education capacity but these gains are threatened by workforce shortages and the rising cost of child care.

Grant recipients submitted applications outlining how they would address their community’s biggest child care access issues. SCEDF will use its $60,000 grant in partnership with Seeds Early Learning to increase capacity by 10 new toddler seats in one new classroom and Loving Laughter Child Care, Inc. to increase infant and toddler seats by 16.

This partnership will support families in finding available, affordable child care for the infants and toddlers, which is a crucial need in Starke County.

Executive Director, Lisa Dan stated, “SCEDF recognizes that Starke County is currently a child care desert, with a huge lack of affordable infant-toddler child care available.” She went on to say “the lack of available, affordable child care is a huge barrier to consistent employment in Starke County.”

SCEDF to host Manufacturer’s Day for Middle School Students, Honor Industry of the Year at Luncheon

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Knox, Ind. – The Starke County Economic Development Foundation will celebrate manufacturing with a few upcoming events. The first is a job fair, cosponsored with WorkOne. It will take place Wednesday, October 5 from 4 until 7 p.m. CDT at the Knox High School All-Purpose Room. Several local manufacturers will be on hand to discuss career opportunities in Starke and surrounding counties. Job seekers can enter through door 12H on the east side of the high school, which is located at #1 Redskin Trail in Knox.

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SCEDF Executive Assistant Honored by Northwest Indiana Influential Women’s Association

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Knox, Ind. – Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Assistant Mary Perren is in prestigious company as part of the 2022 Northwest Indiana Influential Women’s Association (NWIIWA) Class of 2022. She was recognized as the Up & Coming Woman of the Year in Economic Development and Government at the NWIIWA awards banquet on Thursday, Sept. 29.

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