New partnership aims to provide direct outreach, support to minority employers; small businesses encouraged to leverage available grants, loans to aid recovery

Governor Eric J. Holcomb recently provided updates on the state’s efforts to support Indiana small businesses and entrepreneurs, announcing a new partnership with Indiana Black Expo (IBE) to increase access to economic and workforce recovery programs for minority employers and encourage small business owners to apply for funding available through state and federal programs.

“Launching this new partnership with Indiana Black Expo will expand the state’s capacity to provide critical COVID-19 resources to minority businesses and workers, while further positioning Indiana for long-term, sustainable economic recovery.”

Indiana Black Expo (IBE) partners to expand COVID-19 economic & workforce recovery through education, community outreach & new programming

Gov. Holcomb approved $500,000 in federal funding made available through the CARES Act to support minority-owned businesses and entrepreneurs and communities negatively affected by COVID-19.

Through this new partnership, IBE will also provide direct technical support to employers by connecting minority-owned businesses and minority Hoosiers with critical COVID-19 resources; developing educational initiatives, including a webinar series for minority business owners; and increasing collaborative partnerships with existing state resources, such as the Indiana Small Business Development Center (Indiana SBDC) and Next Level Jobs, to offer training and counseling services.

Through these efforts, and by leveraging IBE’s 12 chapter affiliates and extensive network of African American Hoosiers across the state, this partnership aims to increase awareness and utilization of available funding and resources among minority businesses and workers to ensure recovery initiatives are inclusive across Indiana.