In Focus: Some schemes, initiatives and grants for women entrepreneurs in Indiana
#WomenInBusiness #IndianaEntrepreneurs #EmpoweringWomen
Indiana, fondly known as “The Hoosier State,” is igniting the entrepreneurial scene – with a surge in women-led businesses. Women entrepreneurs in Indiana are more than business owners. Women entrepreneurs in Indiana are not only reshaping the state’s economic landscape, but also contributing to a growing trend nationwide. With an impressive 42.5% of businesses owned by women, Indiana proudly ranks 10th in the nation for women-led ventures. These trailblazing women are driving innovation, creating jobs & fostering vibrant communities.
Women Entrepreneurship on the Rise: Indiana’s Bright Future of Innovation
Women-owned businesses in Indiana collectively generate $2.1 trillion in sales and employ nearly 10.8 million people. The state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is bolstered by robust support networks like the Central Indiana Women’s Business Center, NAWBO, NOWIB, IFBPW, and the Indiana Office of Women’s Business Ownership.
These organizations offer mentorship, funding opportunities, leadership training, and a strong sense of community. Additionally, Indiana banks are stepping up to support women entrepreneurs with special lending programs featuring lower interest rates and flexible terms.
So, in Indiana or “The Hoosier State” – women entrepreneurs are part of a growing trend of women-owned businesses in the United States, and they are making a significant impact on the state’s economy.
Let us now study some resources available for women entrepreneurs like schemes, initiatives and grants in the state of Indiana.
Indiana Government Agencies
> Indiana Secretary of State – INBiz
INBiz is Indiana’s one-stop resource – for registering & managing your business and ensuring it complies with state laws and regulations. It is a valuable tool that helps new businesses get properly registered and also helps existing businesses stay up-to-date on everything for their business.
In partnering with the Secretary of State, Department of Workforce Development and the Department of Revenue, INBiz has created a portal that provides a streamlined and expedited process for your business needs.
> Indiana Department of Administration – Minority and Women’s Business Enterprise Division
The Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises Division of the Department of Administration assists minority-owned, woman- owned & veteran-owned businesses by creating a fair, competitive, equitable business environment.
Part of its mission is to certify women-owned businesses, so you can benefit from sub contracting opportunities on state contracts.
To qualify, a business must be 51 percent owned by a woman or women who possess expertise in the field, control the business enterprise & are U.S. citizens.
> Indiana Small Business Administration (SBA)
The Indiana SBA is supported by a district office in Indianapolis. They provide services including – funding programs, counseling, federal contracting, certifications & disaster recovery. They can also connect you to partner organizations, lenders & other community groups that help small businesses succeed.
The Indianapolis office serves all 92 counties in Indiana.
Examples of educational programs and events include – Indiana Tax Obligations and Compliance, Federal Contracting 101, Veterans is a Franchise Right for You, and The Art of Business.
https://www.lisamasiello.com/women-entrepreneurs-start-a-new-business-in-indiana
Indiana Agencies & Non-profit Organizations
> Northeast Indiana Innovation Center – NIIC – Women’s Business Center
Do you have the need to set and achieve business goals, and are wondering about your next best steps?
Turn to The Northeast Indiana Innovation Center, which provides one-on-one and group coaching, workshops, and community for women at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey (whether you have a side hustle you want to turn into a full-time business or have been in business for 10 years!).
Many resources are available free of charge and include – information on innovation accelerators, business planning, capital, disaster recovery, financing, government contracting, human resources, ideation, IT, the law, marketing, operations, permits and licensing, space & youth support.
> Central Indiana Women’s Business Center – CIWBC
The Central Indiana Women’s Business Center (CIWBC) is a cooperative program between the U.S. Small Business Administration & the Indy Chamber. It is designed to – promote the creation and growth of businesses by women entrepreneurs by empowering them towards successful entrepreneurship and economic self-sufficiency.
Entrepreneurial services include:
Access to capital – They offer loans and financing that aren’t available through traditional lenders. With amounts ranging from $1,000 to $50,000+, they have you covered, whatever your need may be.
Education – Whether you need assistance with accounting, HR, or anything in between, their experienced coaches will give you the tools and resources you need to succeed.
Connections – Clients cultivate sustainable relationships throughout the nine county Indy
Region. These connections build networks that support you at business growth.
> Indiana Small Business Development Center (ISBDC)
The Indiana Small Business Development Center (Indiana SBDC) helps small businesses in many ways – to start, grow, finance, innovate, and transition through no – cost, confidential business advising and training.
In addition, to services including – “Start your business,” “Grow your business,” “Finance your business,” “Innovate,” and “Transition,” programs are focused on “Innovative Agribusiness,” “Cybersecurity resources,” “Export Indiana Accelerator,” “Indiana Technical Assistance,” and “Manufacturing initiatives.”
Recent event and workshop topics include:
Youth Employment Law 101
Market, Management, Money and More: A Webinar for Start Ups
Making Better Decisions with Analytics: A Webinar for Small Business Owners
Business Planning Made Simple
The Big View: Marketing is More than Advertising
SCORE – Indiana
SCORE offers women entrepreneurs key resources to build on their strengths & provide new avenues to success.
Along with resources and tools created especially for women entrepreneurs – SCORE offers free and confidential business advice. SCORE mentors, many of them successful women small business owners, are ready to help you achieve your business goals.
Events specifically for women entrepreneurs include – the SCORE Women’s Small Business Symposium; Small, Minority and Women Owned Business Workshop; Women Owned Small Business Certification Workshop; and Minority Women’s Roundtable.
> National Association of Women Business Owners – NAWBO Indianapolis
NAWBO Indianapolis connects women business owners with resources, opportunities, & networking.
NAWBO tries to achieve the following:
Strengthens the wealth creating capacity of members and promotes economic development within the entrepreneurial community,
Creates innovative and effective changes in the business culture,
Builds strategic alliances, coalitions and affiliations &
Transforms public policy and influence opinion makers.
Resources you need to achieve smart business growth are available to NAWBO members on both a local and national level , resources that can help you find everything from new sources of capital to maximizing your certification to tips on how to begin government contracting.
> Greater Lafayette Commerce
Greater Lafayette Commerce offers the resources and skills you need – to be successful in your journey.
Individual and group programs include:
Ask the Experts – The membership of Greater Lafayette Commerce is teaming with experienced professionals who have the skills you’re looking for to help you overcome challenges, and provide you with perspective and direction.
Customer Experience – The program teaches service language and communication and increasing customer-centric thinking. It seeks to improve hospitality skills of anyone who works with customers or tourists in the Greater Lafayette area.
Elite Excel – Attend cohort workshops with industry professionals which supply you and your leadership team with the tools and strategies needed to manage, change, and advance your business.
Peer Offered Development Strategies – Each PODS group consists of eight to twelve, noncompeting, second stage business owners or executives working together with a facilitator to solve complex business problems, share examples of success, and hold each other accountable.
Storefront Strategies – Storefront Strategies workshops help businesses acquire
customers, tailor customer experiences to their base, expand their business networks,
and provide information on how to source local products and talent.
https://www.lisamasiello.com/women-entrepreneurs-start-a-new-business-in-indiana
Funding – State and Federal Sources
> U.S. Small Business Administration – Funding Resources
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps small businesses to get the funding they need. Funding resources include:
Loans – To start or expand your business with loans guaranteed by the SBA.
Investment capital – To find an investor for your business. Investors make both debt and equity investments.
Disaster assistance – To get help after a disaster with low-interest disaster loans.
Surety bonds – To protect your work and your client with an SBA-guaranteed surety bond.
Grants – You can look for government grants that help businesses do scientific research and development.
> Central Indiana Women’s Business Center (CIWBC)
The Central Indiana Women’s Business Center (CIWBC) is a cooperative program between the U.S. Small Business Administration & the Indy Chamber. It is designed to promote the creation and growth of businesses by women entrepreneurs by providing access to capital.
The CIWBC offers loans and financing that aren’t available through traditional lenders—and with amounts ranging from $1,000 to $50,000+, they have you covered, whatever your need may be.
https://www.lisamasiello.com/women-entrepreneurs-start-a-new-business-in-indiana
> Amber Grant
Since 1998, WomensNet has helped women like you find real grants, loans & other funding for their small businesses.
This is a great and simple way to start , and you can apply for Amber Grants for Women.
Businesswomen from Indiana (and all over America) can easily apply for this grant. The judges pick a $10,000 Amber Grant recipient each month – and if you win, you’re automatically eligible for the $25,000 year-end Amber Grant.
Which means you could be awarded $35,000 total this year – by completing your simple two-question application today!!
https://ambergrantsforwomen.com/business-grants-women-indiana/
> Indy Chamber Programs Central Indiana Women in Business
The Central Indiana Women’s Business Center (CIWBC) is a cooperative program, funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, under the umbrella of the Business Ownership Initiative of Indiana (BOI) and a program of the Indy Chamber; designed to promote the creation and growth of businesses by women entrepreneurs by empowering them towards successful entrepreneurship and economic self-sufficiency.
> 78 Women Grants for Indiana
Grants for women entrepreneurs, seed money to individual women, college grants for women, small business grants for women, enterprise grants and grants for minority women.
Avtar Madan
Himanshu
Shree Lahiri
