(Indianapolis, IN) – Indiana’s Commerce Office has awarded $925,107 in grants to 28 community-led projects across the state to accelerate entrepreneurial activity and resources statewide through its Community Collaboration Fund (CCF).
Locally, the Ripley County Community Foundation will use its $40,000 award to expand its D.I.C.E. Challenge competition to include a community-focused component.
Officials say this new and enhanced edition of the D.I.C.E. Challenge will empower local start-up entrepreneurs by creating more accessible pathways to funding, fostering innovation and strengthening Southeastern Indiana’s economic vitality.
CCF provides matching grants to support new community collaborations, services and programming that will serve Indiana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem with a focus on education, connection and acceleration.
After receiving a large number of applications, the state’s Commerce Office selected 28 projects for matching grants based on their potential to fill critical gaps across the entrepreneurial ecosystem, support underserved markets and collaborate across boundaries.
The projects selected will result in a variety of 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.
“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,” said Secretary of Commerce David Adams. “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.”
