Grow Wabash County offers robust slate of entrepreneurial supports

Wabash County, IN – Grow Wabash County is excited to share its slate of resources, new and existing, to help better support local entrepreneurs and small business owners.

To boost our abilities to better serve our thriving entrepreneurial community, Grow Wabash County has engaged with multiple partners to host not one, but two, entrepreneurship advisors in the GWC office: Angela Harrsion and Wes Shie.

Harrison will be in the Grow Wabash County office every Wednesday to meet with local entrepreneurs in person or virtually. She has an extensive background in the world of business and entrepreneurship, especially in the areas of retail management and community development.  

Her experience in education also shines through as she works in her current role as a coach for the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (NIIC), where she mentors entrepreneurs and business owners at all stages in their business journey to start and maintain their businesses.  

To book a time to meet with Harrison during her office hours, please register online at https://calendly.com/aharrison-connect or contact Grow Wabash County at 260-563-5258.  

Shie will be in the Grow Wabash County office periodically as well. He joined the Northeast Indiana Small Business Development Center (SBDC) staff as a business advisor in 2010 and has served as the Regional Director since 2014.  

Shie came to the SBDC with years of experience in banking and financial services from previously working as a relationship manager for Wells Fargo and Chase Bank. Prior to working in commercial banking, Shie also served as a finance specialist for the Community Development Corporation (CDC) of Fort Wayne.  

To book a time to meet with Shie, please email wshie@isbdc.org or contact Grow Wabash County at 260-563-5258.

Grow Wabash County is also excited to be part of the collaborative process to launch the NEIN Venture Hub which will serve as a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs in northeast Indiana to connect with their peers, mentors as well as educational resources and potential opportunities to pursue funding for their start-ups.

Entrepreneurs and small business owners can join the NEIN Venture Hub now by registering at https://startupspace.app/hub/niic/.  

“We are proud to foster a nurturing environment for entrepreneurs and small business owners,” Tenille Zartman, president and CEO of Grow Wabash County, said. “We understand that their success is integral to the growth of our communities and economies. With a robust lineup of supports and offerings, we stand committed to empowering the dreams and ambitions of those who dare to create, innovate, and lead.”

Grow Wabash County, in partnership with organizations like NIIC and the SBDC, will also be hosting various educational events and workshops throughout the year focused on the topics and skills all entrepreneurs and small business owners need in their repertoire to be successful.

Upcoming entrepreneurship workshops include:

• No Foolish Questions webinar – Monday, April 1
• Seasonal Planning workshop – Wednesday, May 1

As the joint economic development group and chamber of commerce, Grow Wabash County also offers a large variety of additional programs and supports that can be tailored to the specific needs of each local entrepreneur or small business owner to reach their goals.  

Information about upcoming entrepreneurship workshops as well as more information about all of the supports Grow Wabash County has available for our local entrepreneurs and small business owners can be found online at https://www.growwabashcounty.com/build-your-business and https://www.growwabashcounty.com/investor-center/investor-benefits.