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Neighborhood Resource Guide |
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10. Business Diversity |
| Healthy communities possess a complement of
retail and professional services. |
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QUESTION - Who can help bolster commercial development in our
neighborhood? |
ANSWER - Ball State University Building Better Communities
Program
Building Better Communities is designed to spur economic
development and quality of life advancement by matching
university expertise and resources to community needs. Visit
http://www.bsu.edu/bbc/.
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ANSWER - Fostering Commercial Urban Strategies (FOCUS)
A partnership between the Local Initiatives Support
Corporation (LISC), the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of
Commerce, the Indianapolis Coalition for Neighborhood
Development and the City of Indianapolis, FOCUS jump-starts
commercial development in Indianapolis’ urban neighborhoods
through planning, advocacy, and delivery of economic development
projects. Contact LISC at 396-0588 or
http://www.focusindy.com.
FOCUS provides:
- Financial and technical assistance to neighborhood-based
organizations to support community and economic development
efforts.
- Alternative sources of funding to small business owners
located in core urban areas.
- Resources to equip community developers and small
business owners with the tools needed to revitalize vacant
or underutilized properties.
- Rebates of up to 50% of the total cost (rebate not to
exceed $10,000) for construction and other work done to
improve a business owner’s façade (front of building/area
facing the street). Design assistance may be requested.
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ANSWER - Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)
LISC helps resident-led, community-based development
organizations transform distressed communities and
neighborhoods. By providing capital, technical expertise,
training and information, LISC supports the development of local
leadership and the creation of affordable housing, commercial,
industrial and community facilities, businesses and jobs.
Contact 396-0588 or
http://www.lisc.org/indianapolis.
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QUESTION - Who can help bolster small businesses in our
neighborhood? |
ANSWER - Ball State University Midwest Entrepreneurial Center
The Center promotes entrepreneurship by providing
educational programs and projects, offering assistance to
emerging entrepreneurs and maturing businesses, and promoting
cross-campus collaboration. Students assess local business
development opportunities by holding focus groups with business
and community leaders and conducting research. Project teams can
assess several areas, including: potential markets for business
development; funding availability for business development;
availability of residents with sufficient education and skills
to provide a base for business development; and barriers and
advantages to complete new venture development, including
transportation, logistics and taxes. In conjunction with a
community entrepreneurship committee, staff assist in developing
an entrepreneurship action plan based on the project's findings.
Visit
http://www.bsu.edu/entrepreneurship/.
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ANSWER - Community Development Corporations (CDCs)
CDCs work with local communities and neighborhood
associations on economic development issues. They take a
comprehensive approach to restoring neighborhoods by combining
housing production and economic development with a variety of
social support and community building efforts. Contact ICND for
the CDC in your area at
www.icndindy.org/.
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ANSWER - Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber is an association of large and small businesses.
Contact 464-2200 or
http://www.indychamber.com/.
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ANSWER - Indiana Small Business Development Center
The Center offers free and low cost information, management
counseling, and educational services designed to support small
business owners and potential entrepreneurs. Contact 234-2082 or
http://www.isbdc.org/.
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ANSWER - Indianapolis Private Industry Council (IPIC)
IPIC finds workers with the skills companies need. Contact
639-4441 or http://www.ipic.org/forbusiness.htm |
ANSWER - Indianapolis Small Business Loan Fund
The Fund provides alternative financing to stable small
businesses in targeted core urban neighborhoods. Loans must
create or retain jobs or help develop, rehabilitate, or
revitalize the neighborhood. Contact Central Indiana Small
Business Development Center at 233-7232 or
www.isbdc.org.
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ANSWER - Indianapolis Urban Enterprise Association (IUEA)
IUEA encourages business development, expansion and
retention within the Urban Enterprise Zone. Contact 974-2240 or
http://www.u-e-a.org/.
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ANSWER - Neighborhood Self-Employment Initiative (NSI)
NSI helps individuals explore, start and grow successful
small businesses. Contact 917-3266 or
http://www.nsibiz.org/.
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ANSWER - SCORE Association
SCORE helps small businesses by providing free confidential
business counseling and low-cost seminars in all areas of
business planning, start-up, and operation. Contact 226-7264 or
http://www.indyscore.org/.
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ANSWER - The Indy Partnership
The Indy Partnership provides specialized knowledge and
assistance for companies and site selection consultants to make
informed business location decisions. It provides information on
available buildings and land, community profiles, and business
incentive programs. Contact
236-6262 or
www.indypartnership.com.
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ANSWER - U.S. Small Business Administration
The Indiana branch offers free counseling to aspiring
entrepreneurs as well as small business veterans through SCORE,
Women Business Centers and Small Business Development Centers.
It also offers assistance to businesses owned and controlled by
socially and economically disadvantaged individuals through the
8(a) Business Development Program. It has staff to advise women
business owners and veterans who want to start their own
business. Contact 226-7272 or
http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov/in/.
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