State Approves $30 Million for Northeast Indiana Strategic Development

Budget Committee Vote Confirms Funding to Catalyze Regional Growth   Fort Wayne, IN., Apr. 23, 2024- The State of Indiana Budget Committee approved the $30 million grant for programs designed to grow population, wages, and credential attainment in the 11-county region of Northeast Indiana. The State Budget Committee voted Friday to approve the $30 million […]

NEI Hires Chase Gibson to the Business Development Team

FORT WAYNE – The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership (NEI) has hired Chase Gibson to be its Director of Business Development. Gibson will be responsible for sourcing and nurturing new business expansions and relocations to increase business investment in Northeast Indiana. “I am very eager for the opportunity to join the NEI team as Director of […]

Ashley Savieo and the Pursuit of Knowledge

Ask Ashley Savieo a question. She’ll think it over, formulate an answer and give you her thoughts. That patient mindset is a learned skill for Savieo, the Director of Economic and Business Development at American Electric Power (AEP). It was something she developed over time, and it was necessary because she wanted to move at […]

Ellen Cutter helps Greater Fort Wayne thrive

In the world of economic development, someone rarely seeks it out as a lane when they start their professional career. Ellen Cutter, the Chief Economic Development Officer at Greater Fort Wayne Inc. (GFW), didn’t necessarily seek it out but was always headed down that path. “My background is in urban planning. And I didn’t know […]

Melanie Kellogg, outsider turned insider in Noble County

Melanie Kellogg isn’t new to Noble County, but that didn’t mean she felt like an insider when she became the Executive Director at Be Noble Inc., Noble County’s local economic development organization.   Kellogg worked previously in Noble County, but it wasn’t the experience she thought she would have coming out of college. After graduating […]

Sherri Johnston, a LaGrange County Lifer

Sherri Johnston is LaGrange County through and through.   She has spent nearly her entire life in LaGrange County, and currently, is the President and CEO of the LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation (LCEDC).   Johnston has been in her position for five years. However, she didn’t jump right into the field of economic development […]

Vanessa Hurtig, the Go-To Person at NEI

If you need to know anything, and I mean anything, about the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership (NEI), Vanessa Hurtig is your go-to person. Hurtig is the Vice President of Administration at NEI and has been with the organization since 2007. She started with NEI as an intern during her last semester at the University of Saint Francis. […]

Introducing the NEI Pioneer Podcast!

It’s no longer coming soon. It’s here. The NEI Pioneer Podcast. We’ve spent the last year brainstorming, strategizing and spending way too many hours in conference rooms. Now, it’s time to pull the curtain on this new show! “As you may know, we recently completed our rebrand and repositioning with the Pioneer Starts Here (PSH) platform. […]

Black History Month: Q&A with Local Entrepreneurs

From left to right: Virginia Richardson, Javon Bell, Paris McFarthing. Black History Month ends this week, but before it does, let’s highlight a few of the Black business owners in Northeast Indiana. Additionally, it’s a good opportunity to shed light on the challenges they have faced during the process of building their business. Contributing to […]

Coming Home to Indiana: California-Based Companies Expand in NEI

We’re excited to announce two companies based in California have decided to expand their business in Northeast Indiana as both of their leaders wanted to return home.    All Better Together, a healthcare provider specializing in autism-based therapies, and Popsalot, a gourmet popcorn manufacturer, are both expanding their operations to our region. All Better Together […]