About Us

Building Better Communities (BBC) is a university-wide initiative which has received $2.5 million in funding from the Indiana Legislature and matches Ball State's extensive expertise and resources with the specific needs and aspirations of Indiana towns and cities as they work to redefine their economic mix and create vital, appealing communities that will attract and retain new investment and educated, energetic workers. The BBC also houses the Center for Economic and Community Development (CECD). Center services include the Indiana Economic Development Course (EDC), and the Toolbox Guide to Development Funds - a searchable database of national, state and local funding sources. The Center also offers customized local and regional education and technical consulting services ranging from community strategic planning to economic impact analysis.

The Center for Business and Economic Research is a premier economic policy and forecasting research center housed within the Miller College of Business at Ball State University. The Center publishes the American Journal of Business — a peer-reviewed scholarly journal — and the Indiana Business Bulletin — a Web site with weekly commentary, analysis and data on economic, business and demographic trends in Indiana. Research in the Center encompasses health care, public finance, regional economics, transportation and energy sector studies. In addition to research, the Center hosts four Forecasting Roundtables in Muncie and provides economic forecasts throughout the state of Indiana.