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The Indy Chamber will have office space at OneZone to provide one-on-one counseling to business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. In 2015, the Indy Chamber’s Entrepreneur Services team provided nearly 5,000 hours of free business coaching, and another 5,500 combined hours of classes and workshops aimed at small business issues.
Early this year, the Indy Chamber’s Business Ownership Initiative (BOI) finalized its “intermediary” lender status with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), adding federal capital to significantly grow the capacity and regional reach of the microloan program (already the nation’s largest Chamber-affiliated lending initiative). Last month, BOI and the Greater Greenwood Chamber announced their partnership in bringing business coaching, microlending, and entrepreneurial resources to the southern suburbs of the Indy region.
“With connections in the regional business community and plans to grow their presence, BOI is an excellent lending partner for our microloan program,” explained Stacey Poynter, Indiana District Director for the SBA. “Building a broader network that capitalizes on positive momentum across the metro will help put even more dollars to work and have a bigger impact in Central Indiana. The business coaching office spaces in Fishers is a great way to expand BOI’s regional coaching.”
“Our business coaching has always been available at no charge to companies throughout the nine-county region,” said MichaelHuber, president & CEO of the Indy Chamber, which represents nearly 2,000 employers across the metro area. “But to make these resources more accessible beyond Marion County, we’re going out and actively seeking small business owners to grow the Indy region.”
Along with business coaching, the Indy Chamber’s presence at OneZone will help suburban employers take advantage of its microlending program, which provides modest loans (up to $50,000) to support the growth of small businesses that may not meet traditional lending standards.
“We’re among Indiana’s fastest-growing communities year after year because Carmel and Fishers are great places to live and do business– but our climate for new business is just as appealing,” said Mo Merhoff, president of OneZone, the chamber of commerce serving Fishers and Carmel. “This partnership will give more young companies the confidence and capital to grow, from new retail and restaurants to high-tech start-ups. Working collaboratively, we can accomplish much more."
“Almost every growing company has cash flow challenges,” said Carrie Henderson, the Indy Chamber’s senior director for Entrepreneur Services. “Our coaches are able to analyze a business balance sheet and lay out realistic options – sometimes we can help clients qualify for a bank loan, or connect them with alternativefinancing. In other cases, microloans provide a small-but-critical infusion of capital. Despite the ‘micro’ name, they often have a major impact.”
Indy Chamber business coaches will be available via appointment to serve the needs of new clients. Potential or current business owners do not have to be affiliated with OneZone or a member of the Indy Chamber to take advantage of coaching services there; learn more about the Indy Chamber’s Entrepreneur Services at IndyChamber.com and businessownership.org. To schedule an appointment, contact our offices at 317.464.2258.
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ABOUT INDY CHAMBER
The Indy Chamber is the voice of progress and improvement for the Indianapolis region's business community. With membership of nearly 2,000 businesses in the Indianapolis region, the Indy Chamber is leading the effort to strengthen the business climate, improve the state of education, revitalize neighborhoods and enhance the region's workforce.
Business Ownership Initiative is a wholly owned not for profit subsidiary of the Indy Chamber’s Entrepreneur Services division, which includes the Central Indiana Women’s Business Center (CIWBC), a program partially funded in cooperation with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
For more information, visit IndyChamber.com.
ABOUT ONEZONE
OneZone, a Hamilton County chamber, serves the Central Indiana business community by reaching across municipal boundaries - just the way business does - to deliver more impact and more opportunities more efficiently.
Our name – OneZone - describes the unity we see for the future: multiple communities, but one place to do business. With over 1,300 members, OneZone is astronger voice, a significant presence and a business advocate in an ever-changing marketplace. Commerce. Connected. To learn more, visit onezonecommerce.com.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Joe Pellman, Indy Chamber - (317) 464-2251, [email protected]
Chris Watts, CVR Public Relations - (317) 514-3184, [email protected]
Lisa Wirthwein, OneZone, Inc. - (317) 436-4653, [email protected]
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