FRENCH LICK – The Orange County Economic Development Partnership (OCEDP) has released its 2025 impact report, highlighting a year of expansion and investment across the county. The organization awarded $50,000 in its second year of small-business grants, supporting eight local businesses with projects ranging from facility upgrades to new equipment purchases. Recipients included Orange County Chiropractic, Elevate Recreation & Gymnastics, West Baden Mall, Lost River Holdings LLC, Paoli Pizza Kitchen, Direct Current Auto Center, Amazing Laser Designs, and Elliott Manufacturing & Fabrication.
The grant awarded to Elliott Manufacturing & Fabrication will specifically facilitate the purchase of new equipment to support business expansion. Other community-focused projects included the construction of a handicap-accessible entrance for Court Street Commons and a new customer waiting room at Direct Current Auto Center. These awards were chosen from 20 applications totaling more than $170,000 in requests, reflecting a competitive selection process based on potential community impact and alignment with local growth goals.
Beyond grant funding, the OCEDP participated in 45 business expansion or attraction meetings and assisted local businesses in securing $11,000 in revolving loans. The organization also hosted 14 networking and community events throughout the year to foster local partnerships. Executive Director Skylar Whiteman noted that the strength and dedication of the small-business community continue to be a primary driver of the local economy.
