Indiana Governor Mike Braun is growing entrepreneurship and strengthening Indiana’s small business economy, awarding 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.
"Making Indiana the very best place to start, build and grow a business is a driving force of my administration,” said Gov. Braun. “These grants will support programs identified by communities as critical to the growth and success of their entrepreneurial and small business economies, supporting long-term job creation and wage growth. Thanks to the commitment and creativity of our regions, these programs will help founders and leaders bring new ideas to life, implement new technologies and future-proof their businesses.”
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.
The CCF Grant awards include $40,000 for the Regional Entrepreneur Pipeline (REaP). It is an eight-week, implementation-based cohort program serving Rush, Henry and Fayette Counties to support the launch and growth of small businesses in rural communities. The program offers hands-on guidance in business formation, financial systems, succession planning and digital market access to produce measurable outcomes and support long-term economic resilience in the region.
Former Roachdale Town Marshal sentenced to probation
Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance announces 2027 summer internship program
Read your FEMA letter carefully
Road closure to impact U.S. 36 in Parke and Putnam counties
South Vermillion to honor fallen mom all season
BMV branches closed for Labor Day weekend
New traffic pattern to impact State Road 63 near Newport
Riddell National Bank makes new scoreboard reality for Parke Heritage
Riverton Parke to remember fallen player
Rockville man arrested after setting fires
Governor Braun delivers another month of gas savings for Hoosier families
$120M granted to Indiana to improve healthcare access
Find a cooling center near you with Indiana 211
2026 Indiana State Fair celebrates Hoosier spirit, summer fun and memories made
State health officials and emergency healthcare providers agree to discontinue routine hospital diversion
Heat Advisory in effect through Thursday evening
USDA offers disaster assistance to Ag producers in Indiana impacted by recent flooding
First Indiana human case of West Nile found in Allen County
Legendary 'Indiana Rangers' receive Presidential Unit Citation, Sagamore of the Wabash for Vietnam War heroism
