Grow Wabash County

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Grow Wabash County and Veryable — Rethinking Workforce Flexibility and Strengthening Local Manufacturing

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Grow Wabash County serves as both the economic development organization and Chamber of Commerce for Wabash County, Indiana. Since its formation in 2017, this unique combined entity has positioned itself as a one-stop hub for supporting local business development, entrepreneurship, livability, workforce development, and investor services. Its mission is clear: to deliver vibrant and sustainable economic development for the towns and cities across the county.

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At the heart of Wabash County’s economy lies manufacturing — the biggest private sector employer and wage generator in the region. Manufacturing not only drives the local economy but also provides some of the highest wages in the area, spanning industries from food production to agricultural goods, water systems, medical equipment, and even every bottle of 5 Hour Energy consumed worldwide.

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The Workforce Challenge: A Critical Barrier to Growth

While local manufacturers enjoy robust demand and strong sales, their greatest challenge remains workforce availability. As Keith Gillenwater, President and CEO of Grow Wabash County, explains: “From a business standpoint, the biggest concern that every business has is workforce. It’s not selling their product — the markets are there. The problem is getting enough people to build the products and get them out the door.”

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This workforce shortage threatens to slow production, increase lead times, and potentially push customers to competitors — consequences that ripple through the local economy, affecting community prosperity.

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Wabash County also faces a demographic hurdle: an aging workforce rich in institutional knowledge but retiring due to pension, Social Security, or retirement rules that make full-time work less appealing. Meanwhile, younger workers often seek more flexible job opportunities that can fit around schooling, family, or other commitments.

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Introducing Flexibility: The Veryable Solution

In partnership with Veryable, Grow Wabash County is pioneering a new approach to workforce development — one that rethinks traditional hiring and meets workers where they are. Veryable’s platform offers flexible, on-demand labor that allows individuals to work shifts when it suits their schedule. This flexibility is especially attractive to retirees who want to stay engaged but without the demands of a full-time schedule, as well as to younger workers looking to earn extra income.

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Gillenwater highlights this flexibility as a game changer: “This is an opportunity for young people, for retirees, and for anyone who can’t commit to a traditional 40-hour workweek. They can work a shift on a Tuesday from two to four or from six to midnight and earn spending money on the side. That’s the way the gig economy works now, and we think that’s great.”

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Building Bridges Between Business and Workforce

Grow Wabash County’s role extends beyond simply promoting workforce flexibility; it acts as a vital connector in the community. The organization links local manufacturers and businesses to each other and to innovative labor solutions like Veryable. This connection helps businesses tap into a pool of flexible, skilled workers ready to fill shifts and maintain production levels.

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The Veryable platform not only offers workforce flexibility but also supports upskilling and certification opportunities, further strengthening the quality of labor available to Wabash County businesses.

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Impact and Future Outlook

Through the partnership with Veryable, Grow Wabash County is helping local manufacturers and other businesses rethink human resources and hiring practices to better align with today’s workforce realities. This progressive approach supports sustaining the county’s critical manufacturing sector and ensures Wabash County remains competitive and productive in a changing economic landscape.

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As Gillenwater states: “We make things better than anybody else does here in Wabash County. Manufacturing is such a critical part of our economy that it should be celebrated. Veryable helps us rethink how we hire and engage people — keeping our industry strong, and our community thriving.”

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