Converse Economic Development News, Fall 2011

Planning Grant. The Town of Converse was recently awarded a Commmunity Development Block Grant through the Office of Community and Rural Affairs for downtown revitalization. A selection committee representing the Town Board, Converse EDC, and local citizenry had a large field of 8 well-qualified firms to choose from. The team of Strategic Development Group, Inc., Hannnum Wagle & Cline Engineering, and ARCHitecture trio, Inc. was selected to do the study. SDG comes highly recommended from work done in French Lick, Akron, and Rising Sun. This planning grant will address 3 major concerns: 1) building preservation/ deterioration 2) marketing Converse, and 3) the town landscape from parking and signage to curb appeal. When asked, “Why do you want the project?”, Scott Burgin of SDG quickly responded by saying, “It’s obvious that Converse has a number of positives- entrepreneurship is alive and well in Converse. This town is not dying, we want to help take it to the next level and beyond.”

Vita-Vet Laboratories. Within the past year another Converse business has made the leap from domestic to global sales. Vita-Vet Laboratories of 218 E. First St. continues to broaden its sales of nutritional and vitamin supplements to the agricultural industry in Egypt. The latest shipment went to the poultry industry in Egypt, after supplying supplements to a Cairo fish farm in January. The horse industry may not be far behind, as Bill Clevenger notes that sales are approaching the 20 metric ton mark. Bill recently told Marion Chronicle-Tribune reporter, Matt Troutman, “This just came out of the blue- I did not solicit him (Egyptian Vet. Contact) at all.” For Vita-Vet, this deal has also opened up ventures in Mexico and Central America.

Cahoots Soap Co. One of Converse’s newest businesses at 103 N. Jefferson St. or www.cahootssoap.com is the Cahoots Soap Co. This small boutique shop and studio already has a distinctive presence on the Jefferson St. landscape with its attractive and inviting entrance and logo. Lindsay Dingman Baker is the young entrepreneur behind Cahoots, an all-natural soap product with a difference. Cahoots soap comes in some thirteen different varieties, made with a combination of oils and butters. The line of products include natural sugar scrubs and bath bombs. Lindsay has been taking her product to area farmers’ markets and festivals. Packaged as a unique gift or for immediate use, Cahoots products are filling a need that commercially prepared soaps cannot.

Pizza Den. The recent opening of the Pizza Den in the former NAPA building brought the number of eateries or carry-outs in Converse to eight. That may sound surprising for a small town like Converse with a population of some 1,100. However, Converse restaurants have the ability to draw from a larger area and can be described as destination dining establishments. Since opening in May, the Pizza Den has maintained a 4 PM – to late night run for customers and even delivers. The Pizza Den not only serves pizza but specializes in a variety of sandwiches, hot dogs, and salads. Their Italian Roast Beef sandwich comes highly recommended.

Jerky Junction. Jon Hudson, proprietor, is firmly anchored in the former Pennsylvania Railroad Depot on Railroad St. in Converse. Jerky Junction has an incredible selection of barbecue sauces, beef and various other jerkies from around the world. Recently added is an equally varied selection of vintage soda pops. Don’t pass this up! Jon also takes his food and beverage wares on the festival circuit and to farmer’s markets but the selection is at Jerky Junction.