•Indiana Economic Development Corp. announces that the following sites have received state certification as being “Shovel Ready”: Adams County, Decatur, Decatur Industrial Park-Phase III (67 acres), Adams County Economic Development Corp.; Noble County, Kendallville, Kendallville East Industrial Park (111 acres), Noble County Economic Development Corp.; Huntington County, Markle, Markle Industrial Park (55 acres); Huntington County Economic Development Corp.; Whitley County, Columbia City, Rail Connect Business Park (118 acres), Whitley County Economic Development Corp.; DeKalb County, Garrett, Garrett Industrial Park-North Site (78 acres); Auburn, Watson Property Site, (70 acres) and Yoder Property Site (59 acres) DeKalb County Economic Development Corp.
•Grabill Bank has been recognized as a Five Star member of the Indiana Bankers Association. The bank earned the award in the areas of political awareness, issues advocacy, lifelong learning, volunteerism and preferred service provider use.
In addition, the bank won two MAXI Awards at the Mega Conference of the Indiana Bankers Association held May 2 in downtown Indianapolis in the categories of campaign advertising for newspaper inserts that broke the proverbial “stuffy banker” philosophy by showing business lenders wealth management specialists not only in business suits but how you'll find them after 5 p.m.; and a special event for assisting 8,500 high school students at the Junior Achievement Finance Park by creating a hands-on initiative for students to start planning for college savings while playing an interactive balancing game of “Give and Take.”
•CBRE Group, Fort Wayne, has been named to the FORTUNE 500 list of the largest U.S.-based companies for the fifth straight year. The company remains the only commercial real estate services firm ever included in the FORTUNE 500.
In addition, CBRE led National Real Estate Investor's Top Brokerage list for the ninth year in a row. For the second straight year, the company was the highest ranked real estate services firm on Fortune's list of the Most Admired Companies.
•Don Ayres Honda, Fort Wayne, dealership has received the 2011 Honda Presidents Award that recognizes the top 15 percent of Honda dealers nationwide.
•Indiana Office of Tourism, Indianapolis, announces that Fort Wayne Children's Zoo and Fort Wayne TinCaps ranked Nos. 1 and 2 as the two top “gotta-dos” in Indiana by Hoosiers. Other area Must-See Indiana Summer Gotta Dos were No. 8. Black Pine Animal Sanctuary, Albion, and No. 9. Shipshewana Flea Market. DeBrand Fine Chocolates ranked No.9 on the Top Ten Ice Cream Shops list. Other area ice-cream shops were No. 1 The Chief, Goshen; No. 3. South Side Soda Shop, Goshen; and No. 6, Rocket Science Ice Cream, Nappanee.
•One Lucky Guitar, Fort Wayne, alongside partners Lutheran Health Network and Indianapolis-based Lodge Design received a Gold Aster Award for TV/Video Advertising, the Orthopedic Hospital of Lutheran Health Network TV spot features Julie Pope, a hip replacement patient. The second Aster Award was a silver for the Billboard Design of the LED QuickER boards that feature the current average ER wait times for three local network hospitals; Dupont, Lutheran and St. Joseph.
•Peerless Cleaners, Fort Wayne, announces that the local Certified Restoration Drycleaning Network of northern Indiana won the 2011 Century Club Silver Level for the Fort Wayne territory and the Sales per Household by Territory Fort Wayne awards.
•Prairie Quest Consulting has been selected by the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City and Fortune Magazine for the 2012 Inner City 100 list of the fastest growing inner city companies in the U.S. The company ranked No. 59.
•Barnes & Thornburg has been awarded the Attorney General's Cup for its efforts to serve local families in need as part of the fourth annual statewide March Against Hunger food drive. The Fort Wayne office gave 202 pounds of food and $3,603 in monetary donations, which will be given to the Community Harvest Food Bank.
