Five regional organizations were recently awarded community grant funding by the Indiana’s Commerce Office.
The funding is part of the $925,107 in grants awarded by the Commerce Office's Community Collaboration Fund to accelerate entrepreneurial activity statewide. The awards will help fuel 28 community-led projects focused on entrepreneurial education, connection and acceleration across Indiana. The Community Collaboration Fund provides matching grants to support new community collaborations, services and programming that will boost Indiana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“Under Governor Braun’s leadership, Indiana is more committed than ever to cultivating the growth of Main Street entrepreneurship and celebrating the impact our business owners have on our economy,” Secretary of Commerce David Adams said in a press release. “These community projects will ensure that current and future entrepreneurs across the state have access to the programming, resources and support needed to start and scale a business right here in Indiana.”
The state’s Commerce Office chose 28 projects for matching grants based on their potential to fill gaps across the entrepreneurial ecosystem, support underserved markets and collaborate across boundaries. The projects selected will result in new programs and resources for aspiring entrepreneurs and current small business owners, such as AI education, business planning, financial literacy, online visibility and prototyping design, for businesses across a variety of industries such as the creative economy, childcare, food and beverage, defense and in rural communities.
The following organizations in the Region joined the list of those across the state to receive grant funding:
- AI for Business Growth – Saint Michael’s Youth Center ($21,200 award): Michigan City-based Saint Michael’s Youth Center will equip small business owners with AI skills to drive scalability and innovation. By offering seasonal training modules, workshops and multi-county networking events, AI education will be more accessible for rural and urban entrepreneurs alike.
- Marshall County Arts Entrepreneurship Program – Marshall County Economic Development Corp. ($14,100 award): Marshall County Economic Development Corp. will kick off a program for local artists who wish to establish their own businesses and generate revenue from their work. Through collaboration with Heartland Art Center and the Indiana Small Business Development Center, this cohort-based initiative will include workshops, peer groups and an exhibition to showcase the work of program participants.
- NWI Launch Pad: Start-Up Prototype & Production Resource – Vidette Makes ($20,000 award): Valparaiso-based NWI Launch Pad is a collaborative effort led by Vidette Makes designed to provide affordable, high-quality prototyping and small-batch production services to founders in Northwest Indiana. The program will help participants from product validation stage to launch support.
- Social Savvy – Sisterhood Social Co. ($40,000 award): The Merrillville-based Sisterhood Social Co. will create an interactive business education initiative that combines the aspects of a live podcast with the depth of a strategic workshop. Through one-to-two sessions per month, participants will enhance their digital fluency, improve online visibility and implement cost-effective marketing strategies.
- Trades Spark – Elevate Youth Mentoring ($25,500 award): Through Trades Spark, Elevate Youth Mentoring in South Bend will equip local youth and young adults with hands-on learning experiences and entrepreneurial training tailored to the trade industry. The five-week program will help students secure city contracts and launch sustainable ventures.
