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NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (WISH) — Early voting will continue Friday, Saturday and Monday in Hamilton County at multiple locations.

The Hamilton County Government and Judicial Center at 1 Hamilton Square, and the Hamilton County Fairgrounds at 2003 E. Pleasant St. will be the initial sites for early voting. Later, early voting will be extended to sites in Carmel, Fishers and Westfield.

The Hamilton County Government and Judicial Center at 1 Hamilton Square will be open these hours:

The County Fairgrounds will be open these hours:

Six additional locations opened Oct. 26 for early voting in Hamilton County: Billericay Park, 12690 Promise Road, Fishers; Cool Creek Nature Center, 2000-1 E. 151st St., Westfield; Holland Memorial Park, 1 Park Drive, Fishers; Jill Perelman Pavilion, 3000 W. 116th St., Carmel; Mercy Road Church-Carmel, 2381 Pointe Parkway; and Westfield City Hall, 130 Penn St. Here are the hours for all locations:

The deadline to register to vote was Oct. 11.

Hoosiers can check their voter registration statuses at indianavoters.in.gov.

In Hamilton County, residents can call the voter registration office at  317-776-9632.

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (WISH) — Early voting will begin Wednesday in Hamilton County at two locations in Noblesville.

The Hamilton County Government and Judicial Center at 1 Hamilton Square, and the Hamilton County Fairgrounds at 2003 E. Pleasant St. will be the initial sites for early voting. Later, early voting will be extended to sites in Carmel, Fishers and Westfield.

The Judicial Center will be open these hours:

The County Fairgrounds will be open these hours:

Here are six additional locations that will open Oct. 26 for early voting in Hamilton County: Billericay Park, 12690 Promise Road, Fishers; Cool Creek Nature Center, 2000-1 E. 151st St., Westfield; Holland Memorial Park, 1 Park Drive, Fishers; Jill Perelman Pavilion, 3000 W. 116th St., Carmel; Mercy Road Church-Carmel, 2381 Pointe Parkway; and Westfield City Hall, 130 Penn St. Here are the hours for all locations:

The deadline to register to vote was Oct. 11. Hoosiers can check their voter registration statuses at indianavoters.in.gov. In Hamilton County, residents can call the voter registration office at  317-776-9632.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — Two Indiana-based businesses are among more than 330 from throughout the country chosen to sell their products on Walmart store shelves. Turf Titan Brands in Fort Wayne and BeeFree Gluten-Free Bakery in Noblesville each received a “golden ticket” after pitching their products last week during Walmart’s ninth annual Open Call event. This year’s Open Call had more than 13,000 products registered with 1,110 businesses chosen as finalists to make pitches.

In an interview with Inside INdiana Business, Turf Titan Brands President Andrew Saal said being chosen will help brand recognition for the young company.

“From a brand standpoint, I mean we’re so new; people just don’t even know who we are,” said Saal. “So, when you’re on a Walmart shelf – and we’re not sure how many stores we’re going to be in yet – that’s some pretty solid brand exposure for us.”

Turf Titan Brands was created from Biodyne USA and its premier distributor, BW Fusion, both of which are also based in Fort Wayne.

The company produces a line of lawn care products. Saal says the idea for Turf Titan came from the use of microbials, or beneficial bacterial, to clean up brownfields and other sites that need bioremediation.

Since its inception, Turf Titan has relied heavily on influencer marketing to get the word out about its products. Saal says the company’s pitch during the Open Call checked a lot of boxes for Walmart.

“They want to know that your products are made in the U.S., and with us, pretty much every component that we use in our products is made in the U.S.,” he said. “The other thing is they’re very big on sustainability, and a lot of our microbials actually help the soil, and if your isn’t doing good, it kind of brings life back to your soil. So, they liked that as well.”

He says the efforts by Turf Titan, BW Fusion and Biodyne to support local farmers also appealed to Walmart.

Saal says the company only pitched its Thatch Buster product, which is designed to convert organic waste into a food source that returns nutrients to the soil and grass. But now, the retail giant is looking at more.

“We presented that and mentioned a couple other products as we were going through that, and I think that tweaked their interest,” he said. “So, on Tuesday, they sent us an email and said, ‘Hey, we would like you to quote your entire line.’ So, right now, [we’re] getting all of that prepared so we can hopefully pick up more products in the full line.”

BeeFree Gluten-Free Bakery was founded in 2010 by Jennifer Wiese, who was looking for gluten-free and dairy-free treats for her autistic son. The company’s products, including the Warrior Mix that was selected by Walmart in the Open Call, is currently sold in more than 2,000 stores throughout the county, including Kroger, Target and Whole Foods locations.

In an interview on Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick last July, Wiese attributed the company’s growth to individuals paying more attention to their diet.

“COVID was really a big instigator in that as well, too,” she said. “People were looking at how they were treating their body, what can they do to treat their body better with better foods they can eat, as well as how they’re caring for other people in their families.”

BeeFree is also focused on creating jobs in Noblesville for people on the autism spectrum.

(Pictured above, left to right) Morgan Gramlich, associate merchant for lawn and garden at Walmart; Josh Pawlak, vice president of marketing for BW Fusion; Andrew Saal, president of Turf Titan Brands; and Chelsea Vargas, senior merchant for lawn and garden at Walmart

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — The city of Noblesville says $1 billion in private capital investment has been committed to the city since the beginning of 2020. Mayor Chris Jensen says the investment has been strategic for the city to keep up with market demand while maintaining its authenticity.

The majority of the investment comes from four areas. The first is a series of downtown projects totaling more than $145 million, including the Nexus apartment complex, as well as the Village at Federal Hill and the Lofts on Tenth developments, which were announced during Jensen’s 2020 State of the City address.

The other major investment projects include Hyde Park ($142 million), Washington Business Park ($135 million), and River West ($118 million).

“We had big plans coming into this administration and we didn’t let the pandemic slow us down,” Jensen said in written remarks. “We knew we needed to accommodate the growing need for housing and businesses looking to construct new buildings or relocate, at the same time preserving and enhancing our historic downtown.”

The city also cites companies such as Curium Pharma, BlueSky Commerce and Noble Industries, which have elected to expand operations in Noblesville. In total, businesses in the city have committed more than $78 million in investment through expansions.

The $1 billion total does not include infrastructure investments being made throughout the city, as well as an extension of sanitary sewer lines.

Sarah Reed, director of community development for the city, says the investments will make Noblesville more attractive to companies and individuals looking to relocate and grow.

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — After a long stint in real estate, Lacy Clark decided to quit corporate America and pursue her 10-year dream: owning a food truck. Clark launched The Wine Trough last spring and since that time has traveled to virtually every corner of Indiana, quickly becoming a hit at venues throughout the state. The self-professed “mamapreneur” says she wanted to put an emphasis on local sourcing, including everything from wine, meats and even the wood used to build out the interior of the trailer that serves as the bar.

Clark talked about her venture with Around INdiana Reporter Mary-Rachel Redman. Click here to view video.

“My family is full of entrepreneurs. I am not shy to start something that I think will do well or will flourish or help people out,” said Clark. “So, I was definitely very spirited about it. My husband will tell you that I bought [the trailer] and within three and a half weeks, we had our first event.”

In addition to wines from Country Moon Winery in Noblesville, The Wine Trough also provides beer from a variety of local craft breweries and charcuterie boards in varying sizes.

Clark says the focus on local products was key to her business.

“We like local a lot. We like to support local in everything that we can,” she said. “We carry local wines. We have everything from the local wood that was used in our bar to my son and I actually putting this flooring in ourselves. We have a local guy that came in that does the carpentry to cut out our shelves.”

The young company is already growing with plans for a second traveling food and wine truck that will hit the road this summer.

“I think we’ve had a very, very receptive community. Everyone has loved what we’ve done. We’ve heard nothing but good feedback. And, again we’re supporting the local wineries to keep them open during COVID. So, it’s not just about us; it’s really about who we’re supporting and keeping our money where we’re working.”

Small businesses are the backbone to the local economy. News 8’s Aleah Hordges gives the INside Story of how women-owned businesses are evolving and driving change in entrepreneurship, despite economic uncertainty.

This is the second of a five-part series on women-owned businesses in central Indiana.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (WISH) – It’s typical for artists to never be confined to rules. Kiln Creations is redefining creativity by encouraging customers to color outside the lines.

Owner Louise Blazucki wants people to go against the grain when making art.

Blazucki said she’s not afraid to get her hands dirty and neither should customers, adding Kiln Creations is a safe space to unleash creativity.

“We honor every single artist when they walk through the door and we truly believe that everyone who comes to see us is an artist before they ever make anything,” said Blazucki.

Kiln Creations was established in 2001. Blazucki said she was a customer for 12 years before she purchased the business from the previous owner.

“I came to visit and I made some artwork with my kids and the owner happened to mention, ‘Oh, it’s great that you came in this weekend, it’s the last weekend to paint’ and it was close to Christmas time. I was like ‘Oh, before Christmas?’ and she said ‘No, ever, I’m closing’ and I was like, ‘Well, that’s a terrible idea, we shouldn’t do that!’ so I purchased and had the keys in hand before December 31 of 2018,” the owner explained.

Louise hopes to connect with customers every step of the way and help provide a personal experience.

“You can do themed projects or get your hands a little bit more dirty with some make-your-own pottery.”

Customers at Kiln Creations can have a birthday party or other group celebrations. There are also how-to classes. The art studio owner mentioned the boundaries are endless.

“We get everything from someone whose never touched a paint brush or maybe who hasn’t painted since second grade to people who come in weekly to see what’s new on the shelves.”

Blazucki also calls some people “legacy customers” who choose to make Kiln Creations their tradition.

“Someone who came in when they were five or six for a birthday party and now they’re bringing their five or six-year-old in to paint,” mentioned Blazucki. “Those are my absolute favorite because it means that we are making an impact on the community.”

The entreprenuer shared advise to the next woman who is contemplating on owning their local pottery studio, or someone who just needs encouragement to create something beautiful.

“If you feel that you can’t do it push through, learn how to do it, ask other people, get the feedback and just do it. you’re never going to grow you’re never going to change unless you make that leap and it’s so worth it.”

Kiln Creations also hopes to stir community involvement. It’s hosting Unicorn Day at Forest Park from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on April 23.

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — Noblesville-based Lifeboost Coffee has seen major growth over the past few years. In fact, the company was last month named the No. 1 fastest-growing company in the Midwest by Inc. magazine, and last year, ranked No. 80 on the publication’s annual Inc. 5000 list, which ranks the fastest-growing companies in the country. Founder Dr. Charles Livingston, a chiropractor by trade, says the company’s coffee is produced from the healthiest beans on the planet and fills a gap in the market for healthy coffee.

Livingston discussed the company’s growth and health benefits in an interview with Business of Health Reporter Kylie Veleta. Click here to watch interview.

The Midwest list ranks companies based on percentage of revenue growth between 2018 and 2020. Lifeboost reported more than 9,100% growth during that period.

Livingston says the growth came down to focus.

“We focused on [direct-to-consumer] only from our website. We didn’t focus on retail and at that time, we did not focus on Amazon either, and we were only focusing on our signature roast,” he said. “We also focused on customer first; that’s honestly our secret sauce is just putting customers first.”

Livingston says the discovery of the health benefits of the coffee came almost by accident.

“As people age, coffee, since it’s acidic by nature, starts to give people acid reflux or bloat them or hurts their stomach; they have digestive issues,” he said. “I noticed that when I drank it, I wouldn’t have the stomach issues that normal coffee would give me, and then I would get tons of testimonials from other customers that would tell us that.”

He says because of that feedback, the company tested the pH levels of the coffee and found it was less acidic than other types of coffee.

The company faced a potential shutdown in 2018 after losing its original supplier of beans in Nicaragua, but Livingston says demand forced him to press on.

“Luckily, we had so many customers that just kept begging for the coffee that it pushed us forward to keep going, and we worked it out. We found some other suppliers. We created a checklist called Trust Pure that allows us to go to any country and find the cleanest beans.”

Livingston says plans are in place to begin selling Lifeboost Coffee in retail locations soon.

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — Officials in Noblesville will Thursday break ground on a $48 million mixed-use project. The city says the East Bank development will include 219 apartments, nearly 5,300 square feet of commercial space and nearly 300-space parking garage.

The project is being built along the east side of the White River on a 3.4-acre site that currently houses the Hamilton County Employee Parking Lot and McMillan’s Auto Care.

The city says the development will be four stories tall with the ground floor dedicated to retail space. In addition to the parking garage, the project will include 32 on-street parking spaces.

The project is being developed as a public-private partnership among the city of Noblesville, J.C. Hart and Republic Development. A timeline for completion was not provided.

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — A medical tech group has announced plans to expand its Midwest operations. Innovation One LLC, which is comprised of Certus Medical and Radiological Care Services, says it will invest nearly $13 million to establish its new headquarters in the Innovation Mile business district in Noblesville and create more than 80 full-time jobs.

RCS, currently based in Indianapolis, bills itself as the world’s first comprehensive x-ray garment solutions provider. The company provides a cleaning and compliance program for hospital lead garment inventories, as well as repair, scanning, and recycling services for x-ray garments.

Certus Medical is a medical sales company with more than 20 full-time employees. The city says the company represents 10 unique companies that distribute throughout Indiana.

“Life science and medical technology has been a focused industry in our city and we are excited to welcome Innovation One to that family,” Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen said in written remarks. “We realize that advanced technology companies are looking to relocate here – companies that focus on growth and invention. We want to make sure we are fostering that innovative spirit and Innovation One fits perfectly into that vision.”

The project will be the first for Innovation Mile since details of the master-planned business district were announced last September. The district, located along 141st Street from Olio Road to Prairie Baptist Road, will include more than 200 acres of commercial space designed to attract companies in the life sciences, med-tech, advanced manufacturing, and professional and technical services industries.

Innovation One will build a 90,000-square-foot facility on an 8.5-acre lot in the district that will feature manufacturing and flex space. A timeline for construction was not provided.

The city says the Noblesville Common Council has approved tax incentives for the project.

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — Indy Premier Soccer Club has announced plans for a more than 52,000-square-foot facility in the Washington Business Park in Noblesville. Business Director Matt Quinn tells our partners at the Indianapolis Business Journal the new location will triple the amount of turf space it currently has at its Crosspoint facility in Fishers.

The facility will feature two large indoor fields, as well as a small specialist training area. It will also include offices, classroom areas, and meeting space.

“It will be our home base, our offices and we will operate indoor programming year-round,” Quinn told the IBJ. “It’s actually in a very strategic location. This location [near] the corner of 146th Street and [State Road] 37 makes it very, very accessible for Fishers, Noblesville and other surrounding cities.”

Indy Premier serves about 3,000 youth soccer players and bills itself as the largest travel and rec-plus program in the state. Quinn says the organization plans to grow its adult rec league options and seek a beer and wine license for the facility.

“Once they play, they can kind of continue their socialization and have a beer, too, while they’re watching the next game because that’s pretty important for adults, also,” Quinn said. “We felt there was a void in the adult soccer market, primarily the adult indoor soccer market in Fishers and Noblesville.”

The new facility will be located inside a 162,000-square-foot building currently under construction. Indy Premier plans to open the new location in late fall.

Indy Premier was formed in 2014 through the merger of Fishers Soccer Club, Indianapolis Premier Soccer Club and the travel component of Noblesville United Soccer Club.