Upon retiring, Jo Ann Wilkerson knew she wanted to make a difference in her community. She envisioned creating a welcoming space where families could gather for creative, fun, and wholesome activities. When she and her husband discovered the property that would become White Pine Manor, they initially questioned whether 16 acres was more than they could handle. However, the moment they toured the land, Jo Ann saw its potential and knew she could turn her dreams into reality. Inspired by the property's beauty and vastness, she imagined adding a wedding venue and persuaded her husband to sell their home, choosing instead to live on-site as they began the buildout.
Jo Ann’s journey as an entrepreneur was far from easy. In a small town, finding business resources and support proved challenging. At one point, she nearly got involved with a predatory lender offering business loans with exorbitant interest rates. Despite the obstacles, Jo Ann remained determined—continuously learning, adapting, and refusing to give up on her dream.
Determined to find the support she needed, Jo Ann reached out to the Small Business Administration (SBA), which referred her to the Central Indiana Women’s Business Center (CIWBC). Initially, CIWBC was unable to offer SBA funds due to Jo Ann’s location being outside their service area. However, driven by their determination and expertise, the Business Ownership Initiative (BOI) lending team worked diligently to secure private funding a few months later. This allowed them to reconnect with Jo Ann and provide the support she needed to move forward. With the guidance of the business coaches, Jo Ann successfully secured a $20,000 loan, which she plans to use for capital improvements to enhance her venue.
Jo Ann has continuously found creative ways to maximize the potential of her property, which has helped her business thrive. She has hosted local farmer’s markets, created photo sets for photographers to rent, and plans to offer family movie nights and holiday events. Today, the main portion of the property serves as a beautiful wedding venue, just as she had envisioned. Jo Ann believes that programs like CIWBC are crucial for business owners, sharing, “When you’re an entrepreneur you sometimes feel like you’re on your own. At CIWBC, I found supportive people, with knowledge to help my business grow.”
To learn more about White Pine Manor, visit: https://www.whitepinemanor.com/
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