Wells County Economic Development

09/03/2026

Wells County EDC is proud to spotlight our partner, The Literacy Alliance, and their Project Connect program. Free English language classes are open to adults of all levels, every Monday and Tuesday from 5–8 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Bluffton, no cost, no judgment, just support every step of the way.

When our students succeed, our local businesses thrive. Volunteers are also needed to provide encouragement and academic support to learners working toward their goals.

Learn more or sign up to volunteer at literacyalliance.org.

08/27/2026

Purdue University's Advanced Manufacturing (Lean) Practitioner I series starts Sept. 9, delivered online. Five workshop days cover Lean principles and culture, the 5S System, value stream mapping, quick changeover, and total productive maintenance. Complete all five and you'll earn a Purdue University Advanced Manufacturing Lean Practitioner I Certificate, built on NIST's prescribed tools and methods and offered in Indiana only through Purdue.

Take the full series ($1,625) or just the workshop you need ($325/day). Registration for the entire series closes Wednesday, Sept. 2.

Interested in Lean Practitioner II? That series starts Oct. 21.

08/27/2026

Employers — mark your calendar. Northeast Indiana Works and WorkOne Northeast are hosting the 2026 Employer Seminar on Thursday, October 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Sweetwater in Fort Wayne.

Four sessions built for the people who run your workplace: recognizing and preventing professional burnout, HR law and FLSA compliance, the Tri-Share Plus child care program, and managing multiple generations on your team.

Wells County employers, this is a morning well spent. Details and registration at https://form.jotform.com/WorkOne/employer-seminar-2026

08/26/2026

Wells County is featured in Business in Focus magazine. Check out the article here:
https://mags.businessinfocusmagazine.com/e_mag/BIFAug2026/ /26

The article covers what's happening across Bluffton, Ossian, and Markle — shovel-ready industrial sites with major transportation access, dollar-for-dollar state tax credits paired with county abatement, and housing that's keeping pace with demand. Markle, the state's fastest-growing town, has phase one of its new residential development fully occupied and phase two underway.

Low taxes, a lower cost of living, quality schools, and 29,800 people building their own prosperity. Swipe through for the highlights, and read the full feature to see why Wells County is a future-forward location for your business.

08/21/2026

Great things happen when we listen, collaborate and turn conversations into action.

Through the Wells County Post-Secondary Training Exploratory Group, we have been meeting with employers and workforce partners to better understand the immediate training needs of our local businesses.

Out of those conversations, and through a strong partnership between Wells County Chamber of Commerce, our organizations are excited to offer Operational Excellence: Practical Strategies for Manufacturing Managers! Apply ⬇ Space is limited!
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sv/zVBtwyv

This new 6-session program is designed for current and emerging manufacturing leaders and focuses on leadership, communication, delegation, conflict resolution and building high-performing teams.

This is exactly what workforce development should look like, listening to our businesses, identifying needs and working together to create solutions.

How can we help your business grow? What workforce challenges are you facing? Let’s keep the conversation going.

Registration Form for Manufacturing Managers

08/21/2026

What does the future of Bluffton look like?

Growth, investment, community and a continued focus on making Bluffton and Wells County a place people are proud to call home.

Thank you to Bluffton Mayor Scott Mentzer for taking the time to share his perspective and talk about the work happening in our community. It takes collaboration between our local leaders, businesses, organizations and residents to keep moving our community forward.

Economic development is about more than projects and numbers. It’s about creating a community where businesses can grow, families want to live and young people can see a future.

Take a few minutes to watch the conversation and hear more about what is happening in Bluffton and the vision for the future!

▶️ Watch the full video: Bluffton Mayor Interview on YouTube

We’re building momentum and we’re just getting started.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

08/21/2026

This weekend, Wells County comes together for Recover on the River...a reminder of what community is truly about.

Economic development is often measured in jobs, investments, buildings and growth. But there is another side of building a strong community: people reaching for one another, supporting each other and making sure no one is left behind.

When a community comes together to lift each other up, support those in recovery and remind people that they matter, we are building something just as important as any new development or investment.

Wells County was built by people who care about one another.

WCEDC is proud to support events like Recover on the River and the people who work every day to create hope, connection and a stronger Wells County.

Because loving where you live also means loving the people who live there.

❤️ Love Where You Live. Support One Another. Build Each Other Up.

08/21/2026

Great businesses. Great leaders. Stronger communities.

The Bluffton Rotary Club was pleased to welcome Meyer Building to share more about their business, their work and their impact on our community.

One of the things that makes Rotary special is the opportunity to bring together community leaders, local businesses and people who care about making a difference right here in Wells County.

We are fortunate to have businesses like Meyer Building that continue to invest in our community, create opportunities and contribute to the growth of Wells County.

Thank you for taking the time to join us and share your story!

At Bluffton Rotary, our focus is simple: serving our community locally while building connections with the people and businesses helping move it forward.

If you're interested in learning more about Bluffton Rotary or joining us for a meeting, we'd love to have you.

Bluffton Rotary Club brings local leaders together to learn from one another and strengthen the community. Thank you for inviting Meyer Building to share what we build, highlight local projects, and explain how serving people first guides the way we work.

08/19/2026

We're proud to spotlight the Wells County Foundation: a Wells County EDC partner that has connected generous donors with the causes that strengthen our community since 1957.

Last fall, the Foundation's LiGHT giving circle (Ladies Initiating Giving) awarded more than $11,500 in grants to local nonprofits, supporting organizations like Camp Watcha Wanna Do, Hope's Harbor, and Helping Hands. When our community invests in itself, all of Wells County thrives.