Thank You to Our First Friday Sponsors!

Community Foundation of Howard County Formed as a nonprofit public charity in March 1991, the Foundation funds local grants and scholarships — its grantmaking has even commissioned new music for the Howard County Music Festival. Visit official site ↗ The Coterie A second-floor downtown spot at 107 W. Sycamore St. blending a craft beer and cocktail lounge with burgers and live music. Visit official site ↗ Indiana Underdog Martial Arts Led by Terry Gruel — a 3-time USKA world champion (2002–04) whose school has trained 17 world champions — with programs from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to karate starting at age 3. Visit official site ↗ Pix Pots Pottery A Kokomo studio handcrafting ceramics — unique mugs, bowls, and custom decal mugs. Visit official site ↗ IUK SNAHP Indiana University Kokomo's School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions trains nurses, radiologic technologists, occupational therapy assistants, medical coders, and more — its students wear the traditional red IU scrubs at their induction ceremony. Visit official site ↗ Kokomo Area Lions Kokomo's club is part of Lions Clubs International, the world's largest service club organization, with local records dating to December 1969. (Official local site pending — linking the parent org for now.) Visit official site ↗ UpCreations UP Creations is one of Kokomo Urban Outreach's youth work activities, where participants craft and sell home décor — 'UP' stands for unleashing potential, passion, and purpose. Visit official site ↗ Community First Bank of Indiana Established February 3, 2003 and headquartered in Kokomo — its CommuniTee Giveback Program matches up to $500 in donations to local causes. Visit official site ↗ Kokomo Tribune Founded October 30, 1850 as the Howard Tribune, it's one of Indiana's oldest newspapers — its motto is 'Positively, Part of Your Life.' Visit official site ↗ Oscar's Pizza Serves pizza plus calzones, stromboli, breadsticks, and salads — with listings calling out its Detroit-style and creative specialty pies. Visit official site ↗ Dechert Law Office A general-practice law firm at 217 N. Main St. in downtown Kokomo, concentrating in criminal law, family law, and personal injury. Visit official site ↗ SUTE Owner Sean Park relocated his family from Korea to Kokomo to open it, blending Korean traditions with East-meets-West dishes like ribeye bulgogi and kimchi sliders. Visit official site ↗ First Farmers Bank & Trust Roots trace back to 1885, when it opened as Mark Tully's Exchange Bank in Converse, Indiana — today it serves more than 60,000 clients across Indiana and Illinois. Visit official site ↗ The Hardie Group A family-run Kokomo realty owned by Kevin and Nancy Hardie — 'family, tradition and pride are what The Hardie Group is all about.' Visit official site ↗ Tip Top Car Washes Every wash comes with free vacuums — and the company invites sponsorship requests from local schools, nonprofits, and community causes. Visit official site ↗ Fired Arts Studio A family arts center offering pottery painting, canvas painting, and mosaics — no experience required. Visit official site ↗ Lucky Raven Tattoo Lounge Began as Devon Wooldridge's one-person private studio at Fade Salon, then expanded into a larger collaborative shop with multiple artists. (Facebook is the shop's official online presence.) Visit official site ↗ P.F. Hendricks & Co. Founded in 2015 by sisters and named for their mother, Patricia Faye Hendricks — nearly every brand they stock is Fair Trade Certified, eco-friendly, or socially responsible. Visit official site ↗ Crossroads Community Church A non-denominational Kokomo church with two campuses — Downtown at 116 N. Main St. and South — and a mission of helping people take 'their next step with Christ.' Visit official site ↗ YMCA of Kokomo Serving Kokomo since 1875 — it runs a downtown facility plus a 52-acre day camp. Visit official site ↗ Bohemian Tattoo An artist-owned custom tattoo studio with an in-house gallery showing original artwork by its artists. Visit official site ↗