Noblesville proudly welcomed a distinguished business delegation from Nova Prata, Brazil, for a weeklong Sister Cities exchange centered on economic growth, innovation, cultural connection, and shared learning. The visit highlighted the strong and growing bond between our communities, showcasing our mutual commitment to entrepreneurship, education, advanced manufacturing, and quality of life.

Below is a recap of an energizing and impactful week.

Healthcare Innovation, Collaborative Spaces & Public Safety

The week kicked off with a strong turnout from City of Noblesville leadership, the Noblesville Chamber of Commerce, and Sister Cities volunteers at the Indiana Orthopedic Institute (IOI). The delegation was impressed by IOI’s integrated “one-stop-shop” model for surgery and outpatient care. Brazilian healthcare professional Luciane Donin engaged in thoughtful conversation around U.S. insurance and billing practices, sparking a lively cross-country comparison.

Next, the group toured the Arena at Innovation Mile, Noblesville’s state-of-the-art multipurpose sports and event venue and home to the Noblesville Boom, the NBA G League affiliate of the Indiana Pacers. The visitors were fascinated by the building’s design, materials, and versatility.

The group made a meaningful stop at a Noblesville fire station. Years ago, the City donated a fire truck to Nova Prata that is still in service today. Brazilian guest, Magnos Spagnol, a former Nova Prata firefighter, was presented with a special plaque to take back to Nova Prata. The group toured the firehouse and heard more about daily life, and had a chance to check out the firetruck fleet. Carbon, the Noblesville Fire Department Black English Lab, who provides comfort with emotionally charged incidents and works alongside the police department’s therapy dog, Luna, as part of the NobleAct program, stole the show riding his doggy-sized firetruck for the group.

The day concluded with a tour of the Noblesville Police Department, where the delegation learned about the many specialized divisions, including patrol, traffic, K-9, Problem-Oriented Policing (POP), crisis negotiation, and crime analysis, followed by a visit to the Sister Cities mural in downtown Noblesville.

Agriculture, Healthcare Systems & Advanced Manufacturing

Because agriculture plays a major role in Nova Prata’s economy, the visit to Beck’s Hybrids quickly became one of the week’s standout highlights. Welcomed personally by CEO Sonny Beck, the delegation gained insight into agricultural research, seed development, and the Hoosier commitment to farming innovation.

At Riverview Health, the group explored advanced medical technology, patient services, and workforce culture. They were surprised to learn Hamilton County has around 12 PET scan machines, compared to the single PET scanner located nearly two hours from Nova Prata. The delegation was especially interested in Riverview’s strategies for employee retention and organizational culture.

The final stop of the day was SMC Corporation, one of Noblesville’s largest and most sophisticated advanced manufacturing operations. The delegation was astonished to learn that the massive U.S. headquarters is currently operating at just 30% capacity, strategically designed to accommodate future growth. A surprise highlight included having a Brazilian executive from SMC’s Detroit team join their tour.

Workforce Pipelines & Surgical Innovation

The morning began at Gaylor Electric, where the delegation saw firsthand how in-house prefabrication, safety practices, and workforce development fuel large-scale project efficiency. The biggest revelation was Gaylor’s internal high school education pipeline, designed to support and train future electricians. Roberta Pegoraro, a language school owner from Brazil, expressed immediate interest in exploring potential education partnerships.

At Nexxt Spine, the group received an in-depth look at cutting-edge spinal implant and instrument manufacturing. Founder Andy Elsbury’s story resonated deeply with the delegation. The group also learned that Brazil is the world’s second-largest spine surgery market. They were highly impressed that Nexxt Spine produces all implants and 95% of their instruments completely in-house.

The day wrapped up with a culturally rich visit to Adam Grubb Media, with a conversation led in Portuguese by Brazilian executive Camila Schaefer. The warm hospitality, including homemade Brazilian cake, made the delegation feel right at home while touring Ground Level Studios.

Schools, Senior Living, Construction & Advanced Engineering

The delegation began the day at Noblesville High School, where they learned about academic programs, workforce pathways, and toured the school’s new $42 million academic expansion supporting STEM education, career training, and performing arts.

At Finch Creek by Del Webb, the group visited three model homes and learned about the remarkably fast 90-day homebuilding process in the United States, a stark contrast to typical construction timelines in Brazil.

Tours at Bastian Solutions and Engineered Facades offered a deeper look into commercial construction, industrial engineering, materials, and façade manufacturing. Highlights included seeing Bastian’s active construction site and exploring the fabrication workshop at Engineered Facades.

The day’s conversations were especially meaningful for the construction-focused delegates, Eduardo Ponzoni Vendramin, Charles Bos, and Moises Roin, who asked detailed questions about materials, permitting, timelines, and U.S. building methods. 

The group then traveled to Prairie Lakes Health Campus to learn more about senior living. This senior living community offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled services, a pharmacy, and a lab.

The evening concluded with a lively farewell celebration at Casa Santa, where Mayor Chris Jensen presented a Noblesville flag to Roberta Pegoraro, former Nova Prata Sister Cities President, symbolizing the friendship and partnership between the two communities.

Manufacturing, Cultural Icons & Entrepreneurship

The final day featured a visit to the Splenda Manufacturing Plant, where the delegation learned about large-scale food production, quality control, and logistics operations.

A stop at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum fulfilled a “bucket list” wish for several guests and offered an up-close look at Indiana’s racing legacy and innovation history.

The exchange concluded at REALIZE Inc., where the group explored Noblesville’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, small-business support resources, prototyping capabilities, and 3D printing technologies. REALIZE surprised the delegation with a custom light-up sign, an unforgettable gesture to end the week.

A very special thank you to all of our Noblesville businesses that hosted throughout the week and our Nova Prata business guests!