The Indiana Economic Development Corporation recently announced that 1.05 million in grant funding have been awarded to accelerate entrepreneurial activity and resources statewide through its new Community Collaboration fund.
SPARK Jackson County was one of many recipients of grant funds.
“The award of this CCF grant from the IEDC will continue to fuel our work to curate an intentional economy in Jackson County that is driven by entrepreneurship and innovation,” said Dan Robison, who is executive director of the Jackson County Chamber.
According to a news release, the investment is intended to help power 32 community-led projects focused on entrepreneurial education, connection and acceleration across Indiana, with a particular focus on underrepresented founders and underserved markets.
“Indiana already ranks number two in the nation for starting a business, and these unique and collaborative projects are set to propel our entrepreneurial ecosystem to even greater heights,” Secretary of Commerce David Rosenberg said. “Through the Community Collaboration Fund, we’re accelerating 32 projects aimed at filling critical gaps and providing more direct support and resources for our entrepreneurs and small businesses at every stage of their journey, ensuring that all Hoosiers have the tools needed to innovate, grow and succeed.”
SPARK Jackson County, a program operating through the Jackson County Chamber, received $40,000.
The chamber will run a series of micro projects in the Jackson County community to expand the SPARK program initially funded by the CCF pilot.
These projects include a corporate-entrepreneur pitch competition, a middle school entrepreneurship program and an expansion of the TIME program into the Jackson County community in partnership with Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce.
The first microproject, which is already developed is the launch of a SPARK website.
It serves as a hub of information and houses content for other micro-projects. The website is now live at sparkjacksoncounty.com.
Another project is SPARK List which will showcase a list of ideas in a public format, website, alerting the ecosystem community that there is a business problem that requires a solution.
For entrepreneurs who don’t currently have an idea they are working on, they can engage in SPARK List to begin filling a need that exists in the local business landscape.
“For example, Acme Ag Company may post on SPARK List that they have developed a new, autonomous system for crop spray application, but are in need of aerial field scans to properly program the system,” Robison said. “This would alert our local innovators and big thinkers that a need for a local drone service is needed, and they could begin developing a startup business plan to fill that need.”
Another is called SPARK School to engage middle school students with the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and business startups.
“This will be designed to supplement and serve as an on-ramp to our county’s high school Maverick Challenge program,” Robison said.
In partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Seymour, North Vernon and Brownstown, they will develop a fun, short-term experience that will introduce Jackson County middle school students to the best approaches to starting a successful business.
SPARK also will be expanding their newly formed program, SPARK Amigos, with a partnership with the Columbus Chamber’s TIME Program, thanks to a recent grant from Cummins Inc.
The established program currently offers business mentorship and resources for minority-owned businesses in Bartholomew County, and now Jackson County.
“Some programming is needed to engage our local Latino startups and introduce them to the TIME program and the resources they offer,” Robison said.
With this partnership, SPARK will be able to host connect events and engage SPARK Amigos Allies to lead the outreach and launch with the Latino community.
The Community Collaboration Fund, launched in October of 2023, is designed to foster Indiana’s already strong entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Under the leadership of Governor Eric J. Holcomb, Indiana ranks No. 2 in the U.S. for starting a business by Forbes, boasts one of the most active VC markets in the world and has been recognized as a top 15 emerging North American destination for entrepreneurship by Startup Genome.