Lilly Endowment Inc., through the eighth phase of its Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT VIII) initiative, has awarded a $7,834,000 Community Leadership Implementation Grant to the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County (CFBMC) on behalf of the Indiana Uplands region. GIFT VIII is a statewide Lilly Endowment initiative designed to support the efforts of community foundations and their partners to strengthen quality of life for the people in the towns, cities, counties, and regions they serve.

This implementation grant, one of two that CFBMC received through the GIFT VIII initiative, will strengthen the quality and capacity of early childhood education programs in 10 counties of the Indiana Uplands region. Counties served by this grant include Brown, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Orange, and Owen.

In 2021, Indiana Uplands counties began examining how they might improve their child care landscape and early learning outcomes in collaboration with Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI) and Monroe Smart Start (an early learning leadership initiative of CFBMC). In the years since, each Indiana Uplands county has established or expanded early learning coalitions comprised of local community foundations, early education providers, school systems, community economic and development organizations, employers, and other organizations. These county coalitions have conducted research, identified best practices, and developed locally specific early care and education strategic plans in collaboration with ROI, defining proposed activities to increase access to high quality early care and education opportunities. ​

Most of us don’t realize we have just two minutes to escape a home fire — which is the nation’s most frequent disaster. That’s why the American Red Cross is preparing families to act quickly through our Home Fire Campaign. Since launching the campaign in 2014, we’ve helped save at least 2,212 lives across the country by installing free smoke alarms and helping families create escape plans. As part of our Home Fire campaign, we are rallying volunteers and community partners to “Sound the Alarm” and install free smoke alarms in Bloomington on Saturday, May 3rd. We invite you to partner with the Southeast Chapter of the Indiana Red Cross to make homes safer. Together, we’ll meet with local families to install free smoke alarms, help them create a two-minute fire escape plan and share safety information on home fires and other local disaster risks. If you want to help please contact Jim Griffith at [email protected].

​Hurlow Wealth Management Group, Inc., a registered investment advisor, announces that Matthew Pegg, has joined the firm as an Associate.

“Our mission is to bring clarity, confidence, and comfort to our clients’ complex financial situations,” said John Hurlow, CPWA®, C(K)P®, AIF® Chief Executive Officer of Hurlow Wealth Management Group. “Matthew will be an integral part of supporting our mission.”
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Before joining Hurlow Wealth Management Group, Matthew gained extensive experience working with a couple of Indianapolis-based Registered Investment Advisor firms and as a member of the Charles Schwab Financial Consultant Academy. During this time, he effectively served individual investors, families, high-net-worth clients, and small businesses with an array of financial needs. Matthew earned a degree in Financial Counseling and Planning with a minor in Management from Purdue University.

​“I decided to join the Hurlow Wealth Management Group because this firm provides clear guidance as a fiduciary and strives to ensure clients feel confident and comfortable with the advice and service they receive.” said Matthew. “The team is incredibly supportive, and the comprehensive financial planning process perfectly reflects the high standards and expectations I developed during my education at Purdue University, consistently prioritizing client needs and upholding a commitment to fiduciary responsibility. I feel as though the collaborative environment here will greatly enhance my professional growth, allowing me to best serve our clients.”

Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington, in collaboration with Silicon Crossroads Microelectronics Commons Hub (SCMC) led by ARI, announce the completion of the first year of the microelectronics initiative aimed at addressing the workforce gap in semiconductor manufacturing. The campus celebrated with a ribbon-cutting of the new advanced training lab on Dec. 12, 2024, featuring remarks from college leadership, industry, and representatives from the Office of U.S Senator Todd Young.
 
With a $2.5 million grant from ARI, funded through the federal CHIPS and Science Act, Ivy Tech Bloomington is building a pipeline of skilled technicians to meet Indiana’s workforce needs in this growing field.
 
"Opening the Smart Manufacturing and Digital Integration advanced training lab is a major milestone for this initiative,” said Brett Hamilton, Senior Vice President of Microelectronics and Advanced Technology Strategy at ARI. “Every indicator from industry, academia, and government in the microelectronics ecosystem points to the critical demand for highly skilled technicians, and this lab will give local students and workers a chance to gain the skills and knowledge to fill those roles right here in Indiana." ​

Often Solar Customers assume their Solar System will supply their needed power during a power outage. This is not always the case. Learn more about harnessing Solar Power During Power Outages in this blog.

Power outages can be frustrating, often leaving us without essential services and causing disruptions to our daily lives. However, for those equipped with solar panels, there’s a silver lining: the ability to harness the sun’s energy even when the grid goes down. In this blog post, we will explore how solar panels can be utilized during power outages and what you need to know to make the most of this sustainable energy source.
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Understanding Solar Panels and Power Outages Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity, making them a valuable asset for both energy independence and environmental sustainability. During a power outage, your solar panels can continue to generate electricity, but there are a few important factors to consider for optimal use.