Great turnout for Meet the Candidates Night!

More than a hundred people crowded into The Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce's Anthony Wayne Room to meet and mingle with local political candidates.

After refreshments, moderator Craig Yoder introduced the speakers for the evening:

• U.S. Representative District 3 candidates Tom Hayhurst and Marlin Stutzman.
• State Representative District 84 candidate Evan Smith
• County Council District 2 candidate Mike Conley
• County Council District 1 candidate Maye Johnson
• State Senator Tom Wyss
• State Representative District 1 candidate Mike Obergfell
• County Council District 2 candidate Tom Harris

Besides the Chamber, the event was sponsored by:

• Associated Builders & Contractors of Indiana
• Building Contractors Association of Northeast Indiana
• Fort Wayne Area Association of Realtors
• Home Builders Association of Fort Wayne

Thanks to all who attended and participated.

Precise Manufacturing brings new operations, jobs to Fort Wayne

Precise Manufacturing is consolidating its manufacturing operations to 4323 Merchant Road in Fort Wayne. The move will result in 24 additional jobs for Allen County. Precise Manufacturing will retain 19 employees and invest $1.33 million in the expansion.

“This move will allow us full integration and give us the capabilities to broaden our customer outreach, while strengthening operations for our current customer base,” said John Whitcraft, president and owner of Precise Manufacturing. “Consolidating operations under one roof will increase efficiency, provide better stability for both our customers and employees as well as enable greater opportunity for continued growth in Fort Wayne.”

Precise Manufacturing is a supplier of OEM precision machined products and services, which includes multiaxis CNC lathes, CNC horizontal and CNC vertical machining centers and automatic screw machines. The company has experience with a broad variety of materials, including castings, carbon and stainless steels, brass and aluminum.

“Precise Manufacturing's continued development in Fort Wayne is a testament to the strength and vitality of our business community. This expansion reflects Fort Wayne's commitment to help good manufacturing jobs grow,” said Mayor Tom Henry.

The company will invest $200,000 in real estate improvements, including a new air system and air conditioning, office remodeling, repairing and resealing the parking lot and various building and landscaping upgrades. The majority of the investment, $1.1 million, will go toward machining equipment, which will include CNC Lathes.

The jobs to be added as a result of the expansion will be in engineering, quality control and CNC/Screw machine operation.

For additional information on Precise Manufacturing, visit www.precisemfginc.com.

Meet new Chamber members at free expo

On Wednesday, November 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the historic Chamber building will be filled with more than 30 new Chamber members featuring their products and services. Sample some food while learning about our newest Chamber members.

This event is free, open to the public, and will be a great networking opportunity. Thirty plus members are expected to participate.

Some of the participating members are:

• Beach Bums Burgers
• Landmark Conference Centre
• Calhoun Street Soup Salad and Spirits
• Andy Miller Marketing
• Pella Windows & Doors
• Radio Unica 102.3 FM
• New Vision Jewelers
• Pearl Logic
• Premiere Heating & Air Conditioning
• Totally Inclusive Travel
• Big Brothers, Big Sisters
• Fort Wayne Youth for Christ
• Ness Brothers
• Kaleidoscope Floors
• Encounter Life Center
• Arbor Mortage

If you have questions about the Expo or if you're interested in participating, please contact Laureen Voirol.

Greetings from the new director of communications

Hello! I'm Jon Swerens, the new director of communications for the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce.

Among my duties here at The Chamber will be to keep you informed about all the events and happenings that we're sponsoring, plus the great things being planned by our members.

I've lived in Fort Wayne for 12 years and had worked at The News-Sentinel since moving here. Besides my work as news and presentation editor at The News-Sentinel, I was also editor and designer of the popular "Allen County Photo Album" books of historic photos.

I'm looking forward to serving the Fort Wayne business community! I can be contacted via email at jswerens@fwchamber.org.

More details on the FREE business services showcase

Yesterday, we announced the free Business Services Showcase sponsored by the city of Fort Wayne and the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce. It will be October 20 from 8 a.m.-noon at the Public Safety Academy behind Southtown Centre.

Below are details on the offerings planned for the event:

Introducing the City of Fort Wayne
An overview that includes the city budget, the 311 Service, boards and commissions, and city contracts and city financial reports through the SmartGov website.

City Biz Resources
Business assistance programs and services from the Community Development Division, including loans, bonds, grants, tax abatement, tax credits, brownfield and international trade assistance.

Business Resources 101
Other local and state business assistance programs and services, including those of the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, the N.E. Indiana Innovation Center and WorkOne Northeast.

Selling to the Government, Part I
Doing business with the city, the county, the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority and Fort Wayne Community Schools.

Selling to the Government, Part II
Doing business with the State and Federal Government, including HUBZone opportunities, Small Business Innovation grants, MBE and WBE certification assistance from Women’s Enterprise, and government contracting assistance from PICC.

Business Permits: When Do I Need a Permit?
Business assistance from the Allen County Department of Planning Services and the City of Fort Wayne Right-of-Way Department, including the improvement location permit process and special permits and inspections for business.

Ready, Set, Go…Local Business Startup Assistance
Business start-up assistance programs and services from the SBDC, SCORE, Women’s Enterprise and other resources.

Easy to Be Green
How to make your business more green and sustainable, including information on city waste reduction, the Green City Business Certification Program, and the Northeast Indiana Sustainable Business Council.

Safeguarding Your Business
Prevention programs of the Fort Wayne Police and Fort Wayne Fire Departments.

Unlocking the Commercial Code
The new commercial code and enforcement of weeds, broken windows and business disrepair.

The event is free, but your RSVP is requested. Make your reservation by e-mailing showcase@CityofFortWayne.org or by calling economic development specialist Elissa McGauley at 427-1127.

For many more details, read and download the brochure here. (PDF)

Sociology Awareness Week

The Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) Sociology Student Association is focusing the fourth annual Sociology Awareness Week on educating the campus community and the public about poverty within the United States and around the world. The student group has planned three events to raise awareness of all aspects of poverty – including topics such as money management, homelessness, and everything in between – with viewpoints from several disciplines beyond sociology. All events are free and open to the public.


* Wednesday, Oct. 13 – Student Money Management Day, with advice for college students; 6:30 to 8 p.m.; Kettler Hall, Room 146; free food and beverages.


* Thursday, Oct. 14 – Kevin Danaher, Ph.D., of Global Exchange will discuss poverty within the United States and around the world; 6:30 to 8 p.m.; Kettler Hall, Room G46.


* Friday, Oct. 15 – Educational displays on poverty; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Science Mall (rain location is Walb Student Union lobby); free food and beverages.


The third annual Sociology Awareness Week at IPFW, which dealt with health and wellness, brought in over 700 people on the Health and Wellness Awareness Day. This year, the IPFW Sociology Student Association hopes to have an even better turnout to raise awareness of poverty within the United States and around the world.


For more information, contact Kara Ritchhart, IPFW Sociology Student Association president, at 260-710-3144 or ritckj01@students.ipfw.edu.

De-mystify business services at a FREE showcase

Are you overwhelmed by the number of resources available to new and small businesses in Fort Wayne? Then this free event is built for you:

Business Services Showcase
Wednesday, Oct. 20, from 8 a.m.-noon
Public Safety Academy of Northeast Indiana
7602 Patriot Crossing, Fort Wayne, Ind. (behind Southtown Centre)

The city of Fort Wayne and The Chamber are sponsoring the morning-long event, which will feature several panel discussions and resources sessions about issues such as:

• Looking for financial resources
• Making your business more green
• Exploring incentive programs such as façade grants and tax abatements
• Unlocking the commercial code

The event is free, but your RSVP is requested. Make your reservation by e-mailing showcase@CityofFortWayne.org or by calling economic development specialist Elissa McGauley at 427-1127.

Get more details here.

Bust A Move

You are invited to the 3rd Annual Bust a Move Auction and Fundraiser to benefit Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana. 

The charity driven Fort Wayne Derby Girls are teaming up with Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana, the Steffan Group, and WMEE to raise funds for services and supplies for women with breast cancer in Fort Wayne. Last year, the event raised $8,300 for Cancer Services and the 2008 event raised over $4,500. This is your chance to be a part of this worthy cause and moving event! 

For Bust a Move, local artists and women volunteered their talents and their bodies to create unique, inspiring cast representations of the female bust and the emotions associated with breast cancer. Each cast will be pained and auctioned off for charity at this event.

For Bust a Move, local artists and women volunteered their talents and their bodies to create unique, inspiring cast representations of the female bust and the emotions associated with breast cancer. Each cast will be pained and auctioned off for charity at this event.

When: Friday, October 15 at The Freemason's Hall Ballroom (216 E. Washington) Doors Open @ 6:00 pm, Auction begins @ 7:30 pm

How: It's not too late! Buy your tickets at Cancer Services or right now by clicking here. $10