04.15.24

Winner of Venture Hub Entrepreneur Grant Announced

Wabash Furniture & Flooring has been selected to receive a $1,500 business development grant awarded by Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (NIIC).

A family-run business with close ties to the community, Wabash Furniture & Flooring was chosen for the 2024 NEIN Venture Hub Entrepreneur Grant by Grow Wabash County, the county-wide economic development organization of which the store is a member. In a competition among 11 counties that make up the service area for the Fort Wayne-based NIIC, Grow Wabash County received the largest number of Venture Hub grant applications from its membership.

“They operate their business with the expressed mission to invite every community member and customer into their business through a mutually rewarding experience,” said Tenille Zartman, President & CEO of Grow Wabash County. “They are dedicated to exceeding expectations by providing value, high-quality furnishings and unmatched customer service through commitment, integrity, and trust.”

Wabash Furniture & Flooring is located at 1435 N. Cass St. Zartman said the company is poised to expand its operation at a new Wabash location “to better accommodate growing sales and customer base.”

They are having a Ribbon Cutting ceremony on Friday April 19 to celebrate their expansion and receive the grant.

Grow Wabash County chose Wabash Furniture & Flooring after evaluating the many applications it received on factors that included quality to life enhancement, target industry, investor or community involvement, the likely positive effect of receiving the grant, and status as a new or existing business.

03.01.24

Venture Hub Entrepreneur Grant Announced

 

Fort Wayne, March 1, 2024 — If you operate a small business or entrepreneurial start-up, consider yourself in the running for a $1,500 grant opportunity through the Fort Wayne-based Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (NIIC).

The application period for the NEIN Venture Hub $1,500 Entrepreneur Grant opens Friday, March 1, and will close at 11:59 pm on Friday, March 15. The applications can be found on the NIIC’s Venture Hub site at NEIN Venture Hub.

The NEIN Venture Hub opened last November in response to need expressed from across this part of Indiana for an online “entrepreneurial ecosystem” to serve needs of new and aspiring businesses. It has over 80 resources for entrepreneurs. The Venture Hub platform is designed to help start, launch, and develop businesses as a “one-stop shop” for developmental tools, knowledge, and support. It is powered by the Economic Impact Catalyst, a nationwide network that “focuses on data-driven insights and solutions drawn from the voices of small businesses.”

Venture Hub’s grant program is part of the NIIC’s “Entrepreneurship for All” initiative, which offers free developmental resources to new business ventures across this part of the state, through networking opportunities, workshops and other learning events, multi-media training offerings, and one-on-one mentoring Venture Hub is also seeking partnerships with established businesses to augment what it offers to entrepreneurs and new businesses.

11.16.23

New Online Ecosystem Launches for Northeast Indiana Entrepreneurs—during Global Entrepreneurship Week

 

Fort Wayne, November 16, 2023 — Today, Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (NIIC) launched the NEIN Venture Hub for individuals who need help to start, launch, and grow their businesses. NEIN Venture Hub is a technology-enabled solution that integrates the tools, knowledge, and support entrepreneurs need.

“It is fitting to launch during Global Entrepreneurship Week, which includes 40,000 activities worldwide,” said Mike Fritsch, President and CEO Of NIIC. This year’s theme is removing barriers and welcoming all, which dovetails with NIIC’s vision of Entrepreneurship for ALL.

The pathway for launching NEIN Venture Hub included over 70 meetings as part of a listening tour in Northeast Indiana. “We met with economic development professionals, entrepreneurial support organizations, entrepreneurs, and educators. What bubbled to the top was the need for all support providers to work together to help entrepreneurs. We heard you. This ecosystem will help make that possible.”

About 50 organizations and resource partners currently use NEIN Venture Hub. That number will grow as communities in the region lead launch events. Individuals can leverage collective resources, knowledge, and expertise to tackle challenges, foster innovation, and maximize impact by engaging in this online ecosystem. The platform is free of charge to individuals. Register at https://startupspace.app/hub/niic/.

Partnerships are available for companies who would like a customized sub-hub on NEIN Venture Hub. Contact Rhonda Ladig at rladig@niic.net. Contact your local economic development corporation or chamber of commerce to see if your community is part of NEIN Venture Hub.

Primary offerings of NEIN Venture Hub include:

1. Resources—find specific resources needed through a robust network.
2. Events—find information all in one place for events and training happening throughout Indiana.
3. Knowledge—access tools, articles, blogs, video training to upskill when needed, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
4. Mentorship—mentors, and mentees connect here.

“We’re bringing NEIN Venture Hub to the region because we believe every person, company, and community has the opportunity to prosper through entrepreneurship. This will help them build wealth and autonomy and improve outcomes for the community,” said Fritsch. “We hope to increase access to long-term entrepreneurial success by coordinating regional supports and efforts.”

About the Platform:

The platform used for NEIN Venture Hub is Startup Space, powered by the Economic Impact Catalyst (EIC). “EIC focuses on data-driven insights and solutions drawn from the voices of small businesses and we are honored to welcome NEIN Venture Hub and NIIC to our national network,” said David Ponraj, founder and CEO of Economic Impact Catalyst (EIC). “NIIC shares our belief that entrepreneurship holds the power to solve some of the most critical problems faced by communities, and we look forward to supporting their growth.”