$40,000 grant awarded to Start Local, Grow Local through Grow Wabash County

Indiana Governor Mike Braun awarded grants through the state’s Community Collaboration Fund (CCF) that will support 22 community-led, regionally driven projects.

These awards will help accelerate projects focused on entrepreneurial education, tech enablement and small business acceleration statewide.  

Indiana ranks top five in the US for small business survival and 12th in the nation for the rate of new entrepreneurs, according to the Kauffman Institute. CCF provides matching grants to support new community collaborations, services and programming that are filling critical gaps in resources and further strengthening Indiana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem 

The projects selected for 2026 CCF funding – which are outlined below – focus on helping entrepreneurs and small businesses start and scale more quickly, access capital and new markets, and leverage technology and artificial intelligence. The state’s grants, totaling $757,000, will support $1.18 million total invested in these projects, which are expected to serve more than 6,000 current and aspiring entrepreneurs and small businesses across the state. 

Among the awarded grants, $40,000 to Start Local, Grow Local through Grow Wabash County. This new entrepreneurship initiative is designed to support rural founders and small business owners in Wabash County. The program will provide structured workshops and entrepreneurship certification training, one-on-one advising, access to professional services, test-market funding, as well as a new, dedicated navigator to help startups and existing small businesses learn about and access the many resources and financial opportunities available to support their long-term growth and success.