the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) announced $500,000 in grant awards to accelerate entrepreneurial activity and resources statewide through a pilot of its new Community Collaboration Fund (CCF).
Groups impacting Kosciusko and Marshall counties were among those selected.
This investment will help power 16 community-led projects focused on entrepreneurial education, connection and acceleration across Indiana, with a particular focus on underrepresented founders and underserved markets.
This is the first round of grants awarded through CCF, which is designed to support the growth of Indiana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by inspiring new programming and new collaborations between entrepreneur support organizations. The IEDC launched an initial pilot program of CCF this summer, inviting entrepreneur support organizations to submit small business-focused services and programming for funding awards between $5,000-40,000 (requiring at least a 25% match from the project).
From the submissions, 16 projects were selected based on their abilities to fill gaps in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, work across community boundaries, and support non-traditional markets, such as rural, women, minority and veteran entrepreneurs. These 16 projects will increase resources and direct support for entrepreneurs across Indiana through a variety of programming, such as startup accelerators and pitch competitions, one-on-one coaching and group education, mentorship and entrepreneurial ecosystem navigation, and student entrepreneurial education.
“The ability to leverage the Community Collaboration Fund, along with the investment of our community partner organizations, will greatly accelerate our work to support and empower local entrepreneurs and big thinkers,” said Dan Robison, director of the Jackson County Chamber. “The launch of this program by the IEDC demonstrates the state’s commitment to connect and support all current and aspiring entrepreneurs as well as our local ecosystems throughout Indiana.”
The 16 entrepreneurial programs awarded funding include:
KESO Collab Entrepreneur Navigator
Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation ($32,400 award)
The Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation will launch the KESO (Kosciusko Economic Support Organization) Collab Entrepreneur Navigator to kickstart its community’s eager and emerging entrepreneurial ecosystem. The navigator will align local entrepreneuriaL support organizations, identify gaps in its services, offer entrepreneur meet-ups, and provide mentorship for entrepreneurs and small businesses in Kosciusko County.
Capital Coaching in North Central Indiana
CDFI Friendly South Bend ($40,000 award)
CDFI Friendly South Bend will work with the North Central Indiana Small Business Development Center to create one-on-one capital coaching and training to help underserved businesses access capital. With support from CCF, capital coaching will be available to entrepreneurs in St. Joseph, Marshall and Elkhart counties.
CCF is one of many new entrepreneurship-focused initiatives the state has rolled out in recent months in an effort to further grow Indiana’s entrepreneurial activity and support the growth and success of startups and small businesses. Last year, the IEDC launched Entrepreneurship Indiana, an annual publication celebrating the entrepreneurial journey; this year, it expanded its staff and support programming through the Indiana Small Business Development Center; and in June, the organization launched ConnectIND, a digital portal available in 11 languages that is designed to increase support for entrepreneurs and founders.
