News and Events

A new locally produced TV show has hit the Wabash Valley.  Valley Business Weekly recently began airing on FOX 38 with a focus on the Wabash Valley business community. 

The program is a thirty minute long show filled with local business news from the past week, a business events calendar, a small business spotlight and guest interview segments.  Each week an area Chamber of Commerce is featured and the show takes viewers behind the scenes of a local business in the “Working in the Valley” segment.

Valley Business Weekly is hosted by Doug Edge.  Edge is a recent addition to Nexstar Broadcasting’s WTWO and WFXW TV stations.  He joined the stations in January and began hosting duties for Valley Showcase on Friday’s at 11am on WTWO.  He also serves as the stations Local Sales Manager. “Being a part of launching a new show focused on local businesses has been very exciting. It is something I have always wanted to do.” stated Edge.

Long time news veteran Tom McClanahan covers the local business news for Valley Business Weekly.  Heather Penney the Regional Director for the West Central Indiana Small Business Development Center at the ISU Scott College of Business hosts the small business spotlight feature.  

The program can be seen following FOX News Sunday at 10am EST and it is re-aired at 10pm EST on Sunday.  Guest segments are also available online at www.mywabashvalley.com after the show airs. Businesses that want to have their news or events featured on the show can email valleybusinessweekly@wfxw.tv.

Terre Haute, IN -- A first of it’s kind Business Incubator and Educational Center is being planned for the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds located South of U.S. 41 in Terre Haute. The Wabash Valley Business Incubator and Educational Center is aimed at attracting and supporting new businesses focused on agriculture.

The former ISU Drivers Education building will be transformed into the business incubator.  The Wabash Valley Fair Association board has approved a planned developed by Edge Marketing Inc. to market and manage the property. 

The building was constructed in 1969 on the fairgrounds property.  In recent years the building has been empty.  “We approached the fair board with a business plan to develop a business incubator and educational center that would help spur economic growth and business development,” stated Doug Edge with Edge Marketing Inc.  “We have already secured support for the project from the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce, West Central Indiana Small Business Development Center and the Indiana Department of Agriculture, so we are excited that this project can get off the ground and play a viable roll in growing the local economy,” Edge commented.       

The Wabash Valley Business Incubator and Educational Center will not have any direct ties to higher education research institutions that are usually associated with business incubators.  Instead, the incubator will focus on helping early stage companies that are beyond the research and development stage and that are ready to “go to market” and begin promoting their products and services.  “The fairgrounds facility offers many unique possibilities for promoting a companies product or service.  We have a lot of buildings and land that can be used for demonstrations, expos and other events that could enhance a company’s chance of making it,” said Dave Hartmann Fair Board President.

Companies accepted into the incubator will be offered office and shared work space at a bundled rate.   Five office suites and shared conferencing, training and informal meeting space will be available.   The remodeled facility will provide a professional setting for start-up companies and includes office furniture and access to communications technologies. The services of professional mentors, SBDC advisors and Chamber Membership will also be available to participating companies.  All early stage companies will be able to purchase an incubator membership to utilize the shared meeting spaces and access services without locating a physical office at the facility.  The actual business suites will be dedicated to agribusiness start-ups.  The Educational Training Center will be available to rent by any business or group for conducting meetings, sales training, and seminars. 

RCI Designs has been selected to lead the remodeling project.  The design plans call for an emphasis on going green.  RCI Designs is investigating pursuing a “Green Awareness” approach to the remodeling and may seek “Green Certification” from the federal government.  The Wabash Valley Business Incubator and Educational Center will operate under the Wabash Valley Fair Association’s nonprofit status and will begin a fundraising campaign to raise $200,000 in capital to fund the project.  Edge Marketing will lead the fundraising efforts seeking support from private businesses that could reap the benefits of local economic growth.  Grant funds and other funding options are also being pursued.  Construction on the project is anticipated to begin by this fall.  Businesses interested in the supporting or locating at the incubator should call 812-201-3058.

www.wabashvalleyincubator.com 

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Edge Marketing to take over in May

TERRE HAUTE, IN – Effective May 1, 2009, Edge Marketing in conjunction with the Wabash Valley Fair Association will take over the marketing and management of the Vigo County Fairgrounds in Terre Haute.  The Wabash Valley Fair Association approved the agreement at their regular board meeting April 23^rd.  The contract expands a relationship the fair board has had with Edge Marketing.  The past two years the firm has handled the marketing and sponsorship sales for the Vigo County Fair in July. 

"We have had a good relationship with Edge Marketing and they have demonstrated success in helping us increase attendance and revenue during the 4H fair." stated fair board President Dave Hartmann.  The goal of the agreement is to provide the Wabash Valley Fair Association with a full-time effort in promoting and marketing the fairground facilities.  The fairground is already home to several large racing events, dog and horse shows and is utilized by various community organizations throughout the year.  However, the facility sits empty for a majority of the time.

"The fairgrounds is under utilized right now and has great potential to host a variety of large events that will benefit the entire community." says Doug Edge of Edge Marketing.   The fairgrounds are located south of Interstate 70 off U.S. 41 which makes it an attractive location for hosting events.  "We plan to aggressively market the facility to attract more major events that will maximize the use of the buildings, camping facility and grounds." Edge continued. 

The facility offers rental of almost every building and grounds area.  Wedding receptions, corporate events, auctions and a variety of small scaled activities have also benefited from the fairgrounds location and affordable rental rates.  Edge Marketing plans to promote rental information online at www.vigofair.com.  A new local phone number has also been established at 812-201-3058. Lisa Edge will be managing the rental inquiries and can be reached via email at lisa@goedgemarketing.com.  Hannah Farmer is also available for showing the facilities to interested parties and can be reached at Hannah@goedgemarketing.com.      

About the Vigo County Fair:  The Vigo County Fair takes place one week in July each year to support the Vigo County 4-H program and offer carnival rides, grandstand entertainment and commercial exhibit space along with other various events and attractions throughout the week.  2009 will be the 80^th anniversary of the Vigo County Fair.  The Wabash Valley Fair Association, Inc. manages and operates the fairground’s facilities. 

About Edge Marketing Inc.: Edge Marketing works with clients on interactive initiatives, social media, strategic consulting, and customized event promotions and sponsorship sales. www.goedgemarketing.com  

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TERRE HAUTE, IN – Effective April 20, 2009, Doug Edge will resign from his current position as General Manager of the Crossroads Communications LLC family of radio stations 102.7 WBOW (WBOW-FM), THE CROCK 92.7 (WSDM-FM), GOLD 104.9 (WAXI-FM), and ESPN SPORTS RADIO 1130 & 1300 (WBOW-AM, WSDX-AM).  Since accepting the position in 2005, Edge has been credited with leading the launch of Country/Rock hybrid THE CROCK 92.7; increasing local sports coverage throughout the cluster; and most recently, the changes heard on 102.7 WBOW.  In addition, Edge lead the interactive initiative to redesign the station websites and introduce live, online audio streaming for each station, a first in the Terre Haute radio market.  

"It has been great to have served in the leadership role with these stations.  I am proud of what we have accomplished in the last four years, and have been blessed to work with some very talented people.  My family and I look forward to staying in the Terre Haute area and continuing to expand Edge Marketing," says Edge. 

Initially, Crossroads Communications LLC contracted Edge's marketing firm  to conduct research and evaluate the groups formats and brands.  Since then, Edge Marketing has witnessed exponential growth, requiring Edge to dedicate more time and efforts to his own company.  Edge will remain on the Crossroads Communications LLC Board of Directors, serving in a consultative role at the stations.   Moving forward, Account Executive and Board of Directors member Mike Petersen will act as General Manager at Crossroads, a role he held prior to 2005.

About Edge Marketing Inc. - Edge Marketing works with clients on interactive initatives, social media, strategic consulting, and customized event promotions and sponsorship sales. www.goedgemarketing.com  

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