MUNCIE — Businesses negatively affected by COVID-19 located in the east-central Indiana region may be eligible to receive no-cost services through a program established by the East Central Indiana Small Business Development Center.
The Business Recovery Program, funded with resources from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act and support from Ball State University, is designed to help businesses improve their digital marketing and business management efforts.
Affected businesses are encouraged to send an email to [email protected] or call Judy Porter at 765-282-9950 to set up an assessment to determine qualification for assistance.
Apprenticeship office creates advisory board
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana’s Office of Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship has created an advisory board to review the past successes and future plans of the office, as well as provide expertise and support within the developing work-based learning system.
Since 2018 when the Office of Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship was created through executive order by Gov. Eric Holcomb, the office has experienced growth within its staff and program offerings. Indiana’s Department of Workforce Development Commissioner Fred Payne made the decision then to have the office become the third pillar of the department of workforce development due, in part, to the impact that work-based learning has on Indiana’s education and workforce systems.
Fifteen volunteers will comprise the board, one from each of the 12 workforce development boards’ regions throughout the state, and one each from Indiana’s Commission for Higher Education, Vincennes University, and Ivy Tech Community College.
USDA issuing $1.6 billion to producers
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is issuing $1.68 billion in payments to agricultural producers and landowners for the 21.9 million acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, which provides annual rental payment for land devoted to conservation purposes.
Through the program, farmers and ranchers establish long-term, resource-conserving plant species, such as approved grasses or trees, to control soil erosion, improve water quality, and enhance wildlife habitat on cropland. Farmers and ranchers who participate in the program help provide numerous benefits to the nation’s environment and economy.
For more information on the program, visit fsa.usda.go.
