Every year since 1963, U.S. presidents have issued a Small Business Week proclamation to recognize the contributions of entrepreneurs and small business owners.

The theme of Small Business Week 2024, which runs from April 28 – May 4, is “Building on the Small Business Boom.”

A small business is one with fewer than 500 employees, according to the Small Business Administration. The Census Bureau’s Business Dynamics Statistics indicate there were 5,358,600 such firms in 2021, up from 5,322,155 in 2020.

According to County Business Patterns, 56.6% of all U.S. employer establishments in 2021 (the latest year for which these statistics are available) had fewer than five employees, up from 55% in 2020.

Local resident John Hawkins was named an American Institute of Architects (AIA) fellow in 2024. This is one of the highest honors that an architect can receive, and he was the only fellow named from Indiana in 2024. Very few architects receive this honor.

John resides in Fredericksburg, Ind., from Salem, and is a graduate of Salem High School. He has worked on many notable projects in Washington County including Salem Middle and High School FEMA safe rooms, Washington County Family YMCA, Salem Library additions & renovations, John Jones Auto Group and many more.

John has also completed architectural design work in many other south-central Indiana communities with projects that include the Bedford Library renovations, the Palmyra Fire Station, Scott County Heritage Center and Museum, Springs Valley Schools and more.  

Indiana needs broadband to the last acre

By: Randy Kron, president of Indiana Farm Bureau

Rural broadband access is essential to the farms that grow our food, farm families and the quality of life for rural Hoosiers.

According to the 2022 Ag Census, 28% of farms in Indiana don’t have reliable broadband. Technology and connectivity are more important today than ever before in precision agriculture, for remote work, telehealth and education.

We wanted broadband for years in rural Vanderburgh County where my family farms. Remote work was challenging, and even hindered my ability to do my job as the president of Indiana Farm Bureau, the largest general ag organization in the state. I tried to get a few different companies on board to expand access in our area, but no one would commit.

Finally, our county council and county commissioners decided to set aside some of the American Rescue Plan Act money for broadband. The council received several proposals, but ultimately AT&T said they could provide fiber to the whole county in two years.

Since the project’s completion in November 2023, our broadband connection in Vanderburgh County has improved dramatically and changed the way we work. Now that we’ve seen success in our county, I know it can be replicated in the rest of the 91 counties in the state.

In 2021, INFB partnered with the Indiana Broadband Strategic Partnership to sponsor the Indiana Speed Test. Many of our members took the test and the data collected was used by local groups to plan projects and to advise the Office of Community and Rural Affairs about potential grants for areas most in need.

Now, the Indiana Broadband Office has $868 million in federal funding to distribute to eligible projects in Indiana with the goal of reaching every unserved or underserved address. Those locations need to be identified with new speed tests. That’s a huge amount of money that could help us get broadband closer to the last acre. But we need people to take this new speed test on www.connectingIndiana.com by April 17, 2024.

If you live in an area that could use better internet access, review your address on www.connectingindiana.com. If your address is labeled as “served” and you don’t believe you have access to 100/20 Mbps service, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so they can connect you with a local group to submit a challenge on your behalf. The Purdue Center for Regional Development also has a new tool on their website that provides step-by-step instructions on submitting documentation.

Once the challenge process is over and the addresses are finalized, providers can begin submitting bids for specific projects.

It’s incredible how broadband access can impact a community. I’m so grateful for what we now have in Vanderburgh County because I’ve been on the other side when I couldn’t connect to anything. We have an opportunity here to make our rural communities throughout Indiana more viable. We just have to seize the moment and take advantage of it. That moment is now!

The Washington County Farmers’ Market will open with local goods raised and produced within Washington and adjacent counties on Saturday, May 11, 2024.  The market will continue on Saturdays from 8:30 am – 12:00 pm at the Washington County Justice Center parking lot at 801 Jackson St. in Salem through October.  When produce is more plentiful later in the growing season, the market will also open on Tuesday evenings from 4:00-6:00 pm.    

New vendors are encouraged to participate in the market.  Items for prospective vendors to consider are: fruits, vegetables, dried/fresh herbs, plants, cut flowers, honey, eggs, unpopped popcorn, meats, etc.  Some minimally processed food items can also be sold and include: maple syrup, jellies/jams/preserves/butters, sorghum, frozen persimmon pulp, dried fruits/vegetables, cider, etc.  Baked goods such as breads, cakes, and cookies as well as wood, natural and homemade crafts can also be sold at the Farmers’ Market.  All products must meet state and local regulations.  If a prospective vendor has questions about product requirements, contact the Washington County Health Department at 812-883-5603.

Vendors are required to sign a Washington County Farmers’ Market contract.  The contract is available on the Purdue Extension – Washington County website at https://extension.purdue.edu/Washington or by contacting the Extension office at 812-883-4601.