Lagrange County Economic Development

What Lagrange County Economic Development does

LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation (LCEDC) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization headquartered at 513 W. Central Ave., LaGrange, Indiana, designated as the central point of contact for economic development efforts across LaGrange County in Northeast Indiana. The organization serves the county's roughly 995 businesses and resident workforce with a service portfolio spanning site selection assistance, business incentives navigation (tax abatements, investment funds, grants), Business Retention & Expansion (BR&E) visits, entrepreneurship support routed through regional partners (ConnectIND, FUSE NEI, NIIC, Elevate Ventures, the Northeast Indiana SBDC), workforce development programs (Leadership LaGrange County, Workplace Preparedness Grants), housing development coordination, and childcare capacity-building via the Thrive by 5 coalition.

LCEDC operates without fee-for-service revenue; all core services are provided free to businesses and residents as a public service, with operating support drawn from county appropriations, state grants (Major Moves, READI), private foundation grants (Lilly Endowment, Olive B. Cole Foundation, Don Wood Foundation, LaGrange County Community Foundation), corporate partners (NIPSCO), and LCEDC Investors. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors representing utilities, healthcare, manufacturing, banking, real estate, agriculture, and local government, with day-to-day leadership provided by President & CEO Sherri Johnston and VP of Community Development & Engagement Emilee Buller from a staff of 1-10.

In 2025, LCEDC is executing its most significant capital project to date: the LaGrange County Innovation Center, a $4.6 million renovation of a 13,000-square-foot former surgery center at 2500 N. Ventura Way (acquired May 2025) that will co-locate LCEDC offices, the LaGrange County Chamber of Commerce, GO Explore Childcare & Preschool (72 seats), co-working space, and a 60-person community meeting room, with a target opening in Fall 2026. The organization was appointed in September 2024 by the County Commissioners and Council to lead implementation of LaGrange County Together, a 75-recommendation comprehensive plan covering land use, economy, environment, infrastructure, and quality of life.

Name

Lagrange County Economic Development

Legal name

LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation

Website

https://lagrangecountyedc.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving as the central point of contact for economic development in LaGrange County, Indiana, providing free site selection, business incentives, BR&E, entrepreneurship, workforce, housing, and childcare programs to local businesses and residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Site selection assistance
• Business retention expansion
• Workforce development programs
• Community development planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Lagrange

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Nonprofit Funding and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, LCEDC operates through funding from LCEDC Investors, partnerships, and grant programs including Major Moves funds, READI funding, Lilly Early Learning Indiana grants, and community foundation contributions.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

LCEDC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves as the central point of contact for economic development in LaGrange County, Indiana. It provides site selection assistance, business incentives navigation (tax abatements, grants, investment funds), business retention and expansion visits, entrepreneurship support, leadership/workforce development, housing and childcare initiatives, and is developing the LaGrange County Innovation Center as a multi-purpose hub combining economic development, childcare, and co-working under one roof.

Product overview

LaGrange County EDC is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization providing economic development services to LaGrange County, Indiana. The organization offers a portfolio of programs and services including site selection assistance, business incentives guidance, entrepreneurship support through multiple resource partners (ConnectIND, FUSE NEI, NIIC, Elevate Ventures), Business Retention & Expansion programs, Leadership LaGrange County workforce development, Workplace Preparedness Grants, housing development initiatives, childcare support through Thrive by 5, and comprehensive county planning via Connect LaGrange County. The flagship development is the LaGrange County Innovation Center, a multi-purpose facility combining childcare, entrepreneurship, and economic development services under one roof.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Leadership LaGrange County: A leadership development program designed to cultivate a strong local talent pipeline and support sustained community growth, powered by LCEDC and the LaGrange County Chamber of Commerce.
• LaGrange County Innovation Center
• Workplace Preparedness Grant

Products and services

• Site Selection Services Assistance with location selection, available properties, demographics, and proximity analysis for businesses looking to locate or expand in LaGrange County, Indiana.
• Business Incentives Program Guidance on tax abatements, investment funds, grant opportunities, and other local and state business incentives for new and expanding businesses in LaGrange County.
• Business Retention & Expansion (BR&E) Program Proactive one-on-one outreach and visits with local business leaders to identify and address business issues, surface community concerns, and support retention and expansion of existing LaGrange County businesses.
• Entrepreneurship Support Resources and connections for entrepreneurs at every stage, including a Starting a Business information packet and referrals to regional partners such as the Northeast Indiana Small Business Development Center, ConnectIND portal, FUSE NEI, NIIC, and Elevate Ventures.
• Leadership LaGrange County Annual cohort-based leadership development program (May–December) providing workforce training, professional networking, and personal growth opportunities for emerging and seasoned professionals in LaGrange County. Accepts up to 20 participants per year.
• Workplace Preparedness Grant Grant program providing up to $1,000 per eligible worker for essential workplace supplies, targeted at LaGrange County workers who are actively seeking a workforce certification, have completed a certification program, or have earned a college degree.
• LaGrange County Innovation Center A 13,000-square-foot multi-purpose hub under development at 2500 N. Ventura Way, LaGrange, that will house LCEDC offices, the LaGrange County Chamber of Commerce, GO Explore Childcare & Preschool (72 seats), co-working space, and a 60-person community meeting room. Total capital investment of $4,608,614.20.

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• DeKalb County Economic Development Partnership: Northeast Indiana county EDC serving DeKalb County. Comparable as a peer Indiana EDC pursuing similar business retention, expansion, and entrepreneurship support programs in a rural-adjacent geography.
• Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership: Regional economic development organization covering Northeast Indiana, including LaGrange County. Directly comparable as a multi-county economic development body serving overlapping geographies with similar site selection, business attraction, and workforce development mandates.
• Noble County Economic Development: Adjacent Northeast Indiana county EDC that LCEDC partners with on the Thrive by 5 childcare initiative. Closely comparable as a peer rural Indiana EDC addressing similar workforce, childcare, and business attraction challenges.
• Elkhart County Economic Development: Neighbor county EDC in Northern Indiana offering similar site selection, business incentives, and workforce development services. Comparable as a peer Indiana county EDC with overlapping target industries (manufacturing, RV, logistics) and customer base.
• Steuben County Economic Development Corporation: Northeast Indiana county EDC serving Steuben County. Comparable as a peer rural Indiana EDC pursuing similar manufacturing attraction, workforce development, and quality-of-place initiatives.

Direct peers

• LaGrange County Chamber of Commerce: Local Chamber of Commerce co-locating with LCEDC in the Innovation Center. Closely comparable as a peer local business support and community development organization serving overlapping members and jointly running Leadership LaGrange County.
• Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (NIIC): Northeast Indiana entrepreneurship and innovation hub that LCEDC connects founders with. Comparable as a peer entrepreneurship-support organization operating in LCEDC's service region with overlapping client base.
• Elevate Ventures: Indiana-based venture development organization that LCEDC refers entrepreneurs to. Comparable as a peer entrepreneurship-support partner serving overlapping startups and small businesses in Northeast Indiana.

Others

• International Economic Development Council (IEDC): National professional association for economic developers. Comparable as the broader industry body that defines best practices, training, and certifications for EDC professionals like LCEDC's leadership.

Broad incumbents

• Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC): Indiana's state-level economic development agency that partners with LCEDC and provides READI state funding. Comparable as the broader economic development entity that LCEDC interfaces with for state incentives and regional coordination.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LaGrange_Co_EDC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lagrange-county-economic-development-corporation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lagrange County Economic Development