IEDA In Your Ear

The Childcare Resource and Referral Network is a statewide resource designed to provide free support for families looking for childcare, childcare providers looking for assistance, and employers trying to connect employees to childcare. The Network aids communities to help them address their childcare needs, as well.  Kristi Burkhart is Director for one of the five regional Network operators, and she talks on this podcast about all of the services provided through the program and how to access them.

Entrepreneurship in rural communities takes a little extra effort.  In this second podcast dealing with the connection between economic development and regional planning councils, we explore how the Southern Indiana Development Council partnered with economic development organizations to stimulate the redevelopment of an endangered Vaudeville theatre and energize entrepreneurship at the same time.  Greg Jones, Southern Indiana Development Commission, Chris Pfaff, Knox County Economic Development, Nicole Like, Pantheon Theatre, and Jeff Quyle, Radius Indiana, join Lee Lewellen on this podcast to tell the story.

In 2022, Indiana’s Small Business Development Centers helped secure over $110 million for Indiana small businesses and regularly meet individually with over 1,000 clients a month helping local businesses grow and thrive.  Andrew Carty is the IEDC Vice President for Small Business and he shares details about how the SBDC is evolving to meet local needs under IEDC’s leadership.

Forbes Magazine named Indiana as the #1 state for starting a business in 2023 and Indiana ranked #4 in the US for the survivability of its start-ups.  David Watkins, Senior VP for Entrepreneurship and Small Business talks on this podcast about IEDC’s efforts to support entrepreneurs including the new Connect IND website.   This podcast is sponsored by Duke Energy.

Hustle SBE is a unique cohort-based experience focused on female and minority entrepreneurs in the South Bend – Elkhart region.  Over the last four years, over 60 entrepreneurs have participated in this unique business bootcamp and have grown their businesses and their networks as a result of it.  Bethany Hartley, President and CEO of the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership share details about the program and insights about building the ‘entrepreneurial ecosystem.’   This podcast is sponsored by Duke Energy.