INDIANAPOLIS (May 6, 2019) – Governor Eric J. Holcomb
issued a proclamation today declaring May 5-11, 2019 as Small
Business Week in Indiana, celebrating the state’s more than 508,000 small
businesses that employ 1.2 million hardworking Hoosiers.
“This week we join Hoosiers in recognizing
the important role small businesses play in driving Indiana’s economy forward,”
Gov. Holcomb said. “With ingenuity, perseverance and a spirit of
entrepreneurship, small business owners are championing 21st century
developments, launching new ventures, and supporting good jobs and
opportunities that are integral to every one of our communities.”
National Small Business Week,
which recognizes the critical contributions of entrepreneurs and small
business owners in the U.S., has been celebrated since 1963. More than half of
Americans either own or work for a small business, and small businesses create
approximately two out of every three new jobs each year.
In Indiana, state leaders, small business
owners, entrepreneurs, innovators and small business advocates will join
Hoosiers to celebrate the economic and community contributions of small
businesses and the role entrepreneurs play in propelling innovation and
creating 21st century jobs.
Small Business Week
Schedule:
Monday, May 6: Putnam
County Small Business Tours
Elaine Bedel, president
of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), will join the West
Central Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to tour small
businesses and meet with entrepreneurs in Putnam County.
Schedule:
- 9:30 a.m. – Scorpion Coatings (6184 S. U.S. Highway 231, Cloverdale)
- 10:15 a.m. – 3 Fat Labs Wedding & Event Barn (2009 S. County Road 400 W., Greencastle)
- 10:50 a.m. – Wasser Brewing (102 E. Franklin St., Greencastle)
- 11:20 a.m. – Myers’ Market (302 E. Washington St., Greencastle)
Wednesday, May 8:
Evansville Small Business Event
Bedel will join Ellen
Horan, president of the Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville, and Tara
Barney, president and CEO of the Southwest Indiana Chamber, in offering welcome
remarks. Drew Peyronnin, an entrepreneur-in-residence at the Purdue Foundry @
Westgate Academy, will then moderate a panel featuring members of southwest
Indiana’s entrepreneurship community. Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke will
offer closing remarks following the panel.
Details:
- Time: Noon to 1 p.m.
- Location: Innovation Pointe, 318 Main St., Evansville
Thursday, May 9: Indiana
Small Business Impact Awards
Bedel will join the
Indiana SBDC and U.S. Small Business Administration to honor Indiana small
businesses for their contributions to grow the state’s economy and recognize
the work of the Indiana SBDC regional offices to support small business.
Details:
- Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- Location: Crane Bay Event Center, 551 W. Merrill St., Indianapolis
The Indiana SBDC provides
entrepreneurs with expert guidance and resources on how to start and grow a
business, while the Indiana Procurement Technical
Assistance Center helps businesses compete for and win government
contracts. Through its network of 10 regional offices, the Indiana SBDC will
host several other events during Small Business Week. For information regarding
region-specific events, visit isbdc.org.
Indiana received an ‘A’ grade for ease of starting a business (Thumbtack 2018),
and ranks No. 1 in the Midwest and No. 8 in the nation for entrepreneur
friendliness (SBE Council Small Business Policy Index 2018).
About IEDC
The Indiana Economic
Development Corporation (IEDC) leads the state of Indiana’s economic
development efforts, helping businesses launch, grow and locate in the state.
Governed by a 15-member board chaired by Governor Eric J. Holcomb, the IEDC manages
many initiatives, including performance-based tax credits, workforce training
grants, innovation and entrepreneurship resources, public infrastructure
assistance, and talent attraction and retention efforts. For more information
about the IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.
