Wayne County Networking sets October meet-up in Richmond

Wayne County Networking is inviting business owners, nonprofits and community leaders across the county to a free October 1 meeting in Richmond aimed at building referrals and local visibility. The group says the event is meant to help more people connect across towns like Winchester, Liberty and Hagerstown, with attendance capped at 30.

Why it matters: - Wayne County Networking is trying to turn casual local contacts into ongoing referral and support relationships across Wayne County. - The group says stronger ties between businesses, nonprofits and community leaders can make it easier for residents to find services and resources. - Seating is limited to 30 attendees, which keeps the meeting small and increases the chance of direct conversations.

What happened: - Wayne County Networking invited business owners, nonprofit leaders, community organizations, entrepreneurs and other local leaders to its next meeting on Thursday, October 1, 2026. - The free meeting runs from 8:00 to 9:30 AM at the Best Western Conference Hall, 533 W Eaton Pike, Richmond, Indiana 47374. - Wayne County Networking also says it serves people and organizations across Winchester, Liberty, Cambridge City, Centerville, Hagerstown, Fountain City and Economy, along with surrounding communities.

The details: - Wayne County Networking was built around the idea that local businesses and organizations should know one another, support one another and make it easier for residents to find help. - The group describes its guiding philosophy as: Found. Known. Referred. - Membership is free and open to business owners, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, community organizations and other local leaders. - Members can get a free Wayne County business directory listing. - Members can receive a monthly member spotlight. - Members can get a featured article and backlink for online visibility. - Members can participate in a Diamond Podcast interview to share a business, mission or story. - Members can have selected content distributed through Alejo Press to a press-release network reaching more than 200 media outlets. - Members may also join a weekly support group chat now in development for ideas, resources and encouragement between monthly meetings. - The group normally meets on the fourth Thursday of each month. - Meeting dates can change because of holidays or scheduling conflicts, so attendees are directed to the online event calendar for updates. - People interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP at the event page.

Between the lines: - Dennis Alejo, founder and coordinator of Wayne County Networking, said the goal is not just exchanging business cards, but building relationships that continue through referrals, online visibility and collaboration. - Alejo said the group wants people in different Wayne County towns to know who to call in other communities when they need a service, a partner or support. - The model stretches beyond traditional business-to-business networking and includes churches, service providers and nonprofit groups, which suggests the group is aiming for a broader local ecosystem.

What's next: - The October 1 meeting is the next scheduled opportunity for new members to join and make connections in person. - Wayne County Networking plans to keep hosting monthly meetings, with dates posted on its online event calendar when changes happen. - The organization is also developing its weekly support chat, which could add an ongoing channel for members between meetings.

The bottom line: - Wayne County Networking is betting that smaller, countywide relationships can translate into stronger referrals, more visibility and a tighter local support network.