Beyond the Factory Floor: Manufacturing Companies Making a Difference in Wabash County

By: INPUT

From sponsoring events to riding in nonprofit cycling events, manufacturing companies have given back to Wabash County, Indiana, for decades. Adam Stakeman, board president of Destination Wabash County, says it’s a consequence of the small-town mentality.

“You always hear about Paperworks Industries Inc. and Ford Meter Box always stepping up and filling in the need,” Stakeman says. “It goes back to the size of the community, where employers realize that they have a huge impact on the livelihood of our individual citizens and as a community as a whole.”

In 2022, Wabash County leaders turned their attention toward community retention and growth through Imagine One85, a plan made in response to decades of population decline. Destination Wabash County, Visit Wabash County’s new nonprofit, is one part of that plan, focused on investing in “public art and health initiatives that inspire and unite”, according to their mission statement.

That’s a cause Chris Wetherford, PaperWorks Industries Inc senior vice president of operations, can get behind. Healthier, happier employees create safer, happier work environments.

Workplaces that encourage volunteer work yield higher worker satisfaction and employee retention, according to a study by the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. These results are strengthened when workplace leaders volunteer alongside their employees.

“If you want to have high morale, if you want to have low injury rates and a more productive work environment, not only is morale very important, but so is being physically healthy,” Wetherford says. “So any kind of program we can support that helps promote remaining physically healthy and helps the community at the same time, we’re going to want to be a part of.”

Wetherford reflects those company values in his own life by serving on the board for the local YMCA and participating in several of Destination Wabash County’s events. He’s a regular in the yearly cycling event, Dam to Dam Century Ride. He says besides offering self-fulfillment, attending the programs helps “set the standard” as a leader.

“Not only are you asking people to be healthy, to work and give back, but you’re also showing them how to do it. and it means something to you by doing it yourself,” says Wetherford.

Ford Meter Box Company, another major manufacturing employer in the area, shares the same philanthropic spirit as PaperWorks. The Ford Meter Box Foundation has donated generously across Wabash, including to the Community Foundation of Wabash, the Honeywell Center, and most recently, Destination Wabash County. Similarly, they’ve encouraged employees and leadership to seek out volunteer opportunities.

“Multiple employees from the Ford Meter Box Foundation have volunteered to help support and be at our events, whether it’s working at one of the rest stops, picking up trash, or working check-in registration,” Christine Flohr, executive director of Visit Wabash County, says. “They’re not only putting their financial investment to work, they’re rolling up their sleeves and joining the programs.”

The investment goes both ways, as programs from Destination Wabash County give back to the companies by bringing in new residents, which then brings new employees. In partnership with the Community Foundation of Wabash County, their Wabash County Fellowship Program brings college juniors and seniors in for the summer to live, learn, and earn from local businesses, to hopefully return post-graduation and their Wabash County Weekends encourage young professionals who already live in Wabash to bring friends from surrounding areas to Wabash County to experience the area and all it has to offer.

“When we bring in potential candidates, not only are we teaching them about the company and what we do, but we’re also teaching them about the community that the company sits in and all the other great programs they can be a part of,” Wetherford says. “So when we’re able to talk about the programs like Visit Wabash County and Destination Wabash County, it’s a huge selling point for us.”

The Midwestern Governors Association highlights manufacturing as one of the Midwest’s top employment opportunities, making companies like PaperWorks and Ford Meter Box Company backbones to their communities. According to Flohr, their support impacts the entire county.

“It’s easy to see how these manufacturing companies play a critical role in the economic and social fabric of our community,” Flohr explains. “Their support for local organizations like Destination Wabash County can make the community transformative.”

Destination Wabash County is continuing to come up with new ideas to put Wabash County on the map, including an upcoming podcast, ThriveIN Wabash County, which will highlight Wabash County’s success stories. It’s through companies like Ford Meter Box and PaperWorks’ continued support that they will be able to bring these ideas to fruition.

“We’re committed to making our community shine all across the entire county,” Stakeman says.  “Thanks to generous partners like Ford Meter Box and PaperWorks by our side, our vision and our efforts to develop and execute health, wellness, and educational programming focused on preserving the natural and cultural heritage are becoming a reality.”

This story was created in partnership with Visit Wabash County.