The Martinsville State of the City is held each spring to celebrate the City of Martinsville and the people, businesses, and organizations that help our community grow. During the event, the Martinsville Chamber presented its Outstanding Business, Outstanding Business Professional, and Ruth Rusie Spirit of Service awards. Attendees also heard Mayor Kenny Costin’s State of the City address, highlighting the city’s 2025 accomplishments and plans for 2026.
We were honored to welcome Samantha Johnson—an alumna of Martinsville High School’s award-winning REWIND program—as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies.
A Martinsville native, Samantha graduated from Martinsville High School in 2014 and studied journalism at Ball State University, where she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She currently works as a reporter and anchor at WTHR 13News, the NBC affiliate in Indianapolis.
The annual State of the City Dinner is the largest fundraiser of the year for the co-hosts, the Martinsville Rotary Club and the Greater Martinsville Chamber of Commerce. Net proceeds support Rotary projects, Chamber initiatives, and the charity chosen by the mayor. This year, Mayor Costin selected the YMCA of Morgan County, which received a $1,500 gift.
This special evening took place at Martinsville High School and was catered by Heavenly Helpings and Sara’s Goodies. Event highlights included:
- A silent auction with nearly 50 items
- More than $3,700 raised through auction bids
- Networking with local business and community leaders
- Updates on the good work happening across Martinsville
This event is always a great chance to connect, celebrate local achievements, and learn what’s next for our community. Be sure to follow the Martinsville Chamber on Facebook and watch for announcements about next spring’s event.