Wabash County Knows How to Help Your Business Grow!

The Wabash County business community has a wealth of expertise designed to assist small businesses along their path from idea generation through business expansion. Grow Wabash County is the premium clearinghouse for accessing the wealth of information and networks. Please contact Grow Wabash County with any questions about the businesses and programs listed below.

Financial Resources

Brightpoint

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Founded in 2010, the Brightpoint Development Fund is a nonprofit organization that provides affordable business loans, financial education, and housing development services in Northeast Indiana. The Brightpoint Development Fund is a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) micro lender and a U.S. Department of the Treasury Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).

NEW! Legend Fund

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The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) has announced the launch of the state’s Legend Fund, a loan participation program designed to help entrepreneurs and small businesses gain access to funds needed to grow. 

The Legend Fund, fueled by federal funding awarded to Indiana through the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), will distribute $29 million to mission-driven local lenders to increase lending to Hoosier small businesses, with an added focus on those that have been historically underserved. 

The Legend Fund will support Indiana entrepreneurs and small businesses by giving lenders an incentive to provide operating capital to Hoosier-based businesses. Through the program, mission-oriented and non-traditional lenders that provide debt capital for qualified purposes to Indiana-based small businesses are eligible to have a portion of those loans purchased by the IEDC, enabling lenders to then support even more entrepreneurs and small businesses. The program’s $29 million is expected to yield a minimum $50 million impact on Indiana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. 

Borrowing 101

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Venturize offers a clear explanation of financial lending options available to small business owners.

Community Development Corporation of Northeast Indiana

The CDC of Northeast Indiana is City of Fort Wayne sponsored 501(c)6 not-for-profit business development organziation. Our mission is to stimulate economic growth and prosperity throughout the communities they serve in the State of Indiana, including Wabash County. We accomplish this through several loan programs inclduign SBA 504 loans, COVID-19 loans and USDA Rural Development funding, amongst many others. 

Grow Wabash County Revolving Loan Fund

Indiana Department of Revenue

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Wabash County businesses may be subject to several state taxes, including sales and corporate income taxes.

SBA Loans

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Small Business Administration loans from participating institutions offer more flexible terms and lower interest rates for small businesses than other sources because they are guaranteed by the federal agency. Some of Wabash County’s local lenders offering SBA loans include Bippus State Bank, Crossroads Bank, First Merchants Bank and Flagstar Bank.

Wabash County Treasurer

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Wabash County businesses may be subject to local taxes. Resources at the Wabash County Treasurer's Office can help business owners understand the applicable taxes.

Wabash County Treasurer’s Office
Wabash County Courthouse
1 W Hill St Wabash, IN 46992
(260) 563-0661 ext. 1259

Business Consultation Services

NEW! NEIN Venture Hub

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The 11-county Northeast Indiana (NEIN) region is home to a variety of vibrant communities, rich with the entrepreneurial spirit and innovation!

Whether you've got an idea or are growing your empire, this hub is an inclusive, accessible place that brings together the entrepreneurial resources and support to help you reach your goals.

Welcome to your NEIN Venture Hub!

Connect IND

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Connect IND, also known as the Indiana Entrepreneurial Ecosystem is an "EcoMap", a digital platform that collects, shares and continuously updates information about real life ecosystems of people, places, organizations and resources in your community. 

NEW! 

Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (NIIC)

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The Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (NIIC) is a non-profit organization focused on providing entrepreneurs in northeast Indiana with the knowledge and resources they need to take their business idea from being a dream to a reality.

Grow Wabash County is proud to partner with the NIIC by providing access to entrepreneur coach, Angela Harrison,  to provide FREE, personalized support for entrepreneurs and small business owners at all stages of development and operation.

Angie is in the Grow Wabash County office every Wednesday from 9 - 4 p.m. to chat with anyone thinking about their next business venture or entrepreneurial mission. She can also meet with you virtually to fit the busy lifestyle of an entrepreneur on the go!

Click here to schedule a time to meet with Angie.

Indiana Small Business Development Center

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The Indiana SBDC offers no-cost business advising, training, referrals, and a library of cultivated tools and resources to businesses, from start-up through sale or retirement, succeed. 

Northeast Indiana SBDC

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Wabash County business owners and entrepreneurs can receive free business consulting from the NE Indiana SBDC. Experienced business individuals can answer business-related questions and provide market research assistance through appointments made by email or calling (260) 563-5258.

SCORE

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Northeast Indiana’s Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) provides free one-on-one mentoring for both new and existing businesses. SCORE mentors deliver valuable, timely and practical advice to help businesses open new markets, reach new customers and achieve new goals.

Business Startup Tools

Business Licenses & Permits

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Certain businesses may require specific city and/or state permits or licenses. To determine what your business may need, contact Keith Gillenwater at Grow Wabash County.

For inquiries:

State inquiries can also be addressed on the INBiz website from the Indiana Secretary of State.

CO.STARTERS

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We equip communities with robust programs to grow local small businesses.

We believe small business is the backbone of communities, and there are good ideas that need to be brought to market. We developed our programs for success so Main Street can flourish again.

We believe that individuals thrive in the context of community. CO.STARTERS is about bringing people together to learn from one another in order to create a strong network of support.

We believe in making concepts and language easy to understand, so business owners can focus on practical next steps and move toward their goals.

GWC is hosting a CO.STARTERS Core program. If interested in being part of that program please email info@growwabashcounty.com to be added to the waitlist,

Employer ID Numbers

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Employers that plan to hire employees must contact the IRS to register, pay additional taxes, withhold, match, submit employee withholdings and obtain worker’s compensation insurance.

INBiz

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INBiz is the state of Indiana's one-stop resource for entrepreneurs looking to navigate the steps to start a business. Developed within Indiana’s Secretary of State's Business Services Division, businesses will find everything they need to get their business started, from registering a business name to choosing the correct business legal structure and ensuring law compliance.

Business Guides

Indiana Business Resource Guide

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The State of Indiana offers a lengthy collection of resources and departments designed to simplify the business development cycle.

U.S. Small Business Administration

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The SBA Business Guide has a variety of resources to help plan, launch and grow any business.