Wabash County Knows How to Help Your Business Grow!

Located on Market Street in downtown Wabash, this “commercial commons” has two spaces open and ready for your small business to call home:

Click to download site flyers for available suites.

• Suite 3
• Suite 6

Inquiries can also be directed to info@msswabash.com.

The Coop is a new co-working space located in North Manchester, Indiana that serves as a business hub that offers space and resources for those looking to start a business or for small businesses looking to grow.

To inquire about space in The Coop, contact Manchester Alive at director@manchesteralive.org .

City of Wabash Building Department

Town of North Manchester Building and Code Enforcement Department

With the intent to encourage the development of arts, cultural activities, and fine dining within the Riverfront District in the City of Wabash, and as per Indiana Code Section 7.1-3-20-16 and 7.1-3-20-16.1, the City of Wabash has established a municipal riverfront development district in downtown Wabash. 

Wabash Municipal Riverfront Development Project Area Alcoholic Beverage Permit

The City of Wabash Redevelopment Commission has authority to issue alcoholic beverage permit for a three-way liquor license within the Riverfront Improvement District as described in general ordinance 6-2020 that authorized and established the boundaries of Wabash’s riverfront development area.

The aim of this district is to encourage greater economic growth and development opportunities in Wabash through the attraction of residents and visitors to discover and enjoy the Riverfront District, and thus, amplifying the reputation of our Riverfront District as a tourist attraction that boasts one-of-a-kind dining and entertainment experiences. Your business will be an incredible asset in continuing this mission.

For more information, contact Grow Wabash County at 260.563.5258 or email info@growwabashcounty.com 

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

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

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

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. 

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

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

T.H.R.I.V.E. (Train | Hope | Rise | Innovate | Venture | Elevate) Emerging Leaders Reimagined revolutionizes the rich history of executive-level training for small businesses. 

Sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), this research-based, executive-level program combines business fundamentals with the innovative tools and competitive strategies needed to deliver immediate results. 

This intensive program gives ambitious small business owners a challenging opportunity to accelerate their growth through training led by business experts, strategize with professional coaches, and develop connections with like-minded peers.

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!

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!

Wes Shie hosts office hours in the Grow Wabash County office periodically. 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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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

For inquiries:

• City of Wabash Building Department
• Town of North Manchester Building & Code Enforcement Department
• Wabash County Advisory Plan Commission
• Wabash County Health Department

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

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.

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).

Grow Wabash County will be offering Micro loans with the intention of expediting the review process for loan requests on a scale between $500 - $5,000.  Loan requests for over $5,000 will be available as well but will be subject to additional terms and requirements through our traditional revolving loan fund program. 

Due to limited funding available, we will select businesses that we feel will most benefit from this funding on a first come, first serve basis.

Micro Loan Terms

• WSJ Prime as of day of loan origination
• Terms not to exceed twelve (12) months
• Personal guarantee required to secure the loan
• 2% loan origination fee

Who is eligible: Businesses operating in Wabash County, current on all taxes, and are credit-worthy may qualify.

Approved uses of funding: To help offset financial startup cost, working capital, and/or purchase capital such as: working capital needs, need capital investments, or other critical business expenditures.

Process: All interested candidate must fill out the initial online application. If selected, applicants will sign an affidavit verifying their eligibility and confirm that they are current on their taxes. They will also consent to both a personal and business credit check. Upon review, the GWC Loan Committee will make final determinations regarding loan awards, the preparation of loan agreements and documents and the execution of those documents by all parties. If approved, a meeting will be scheduled to complete loan & forms (promissory note, affidavit, personal guarantee, media release)

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. 

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. 

The Grow Wabash County Revolving Loan Fund exists to help the local business community with planned projects and unforeseen situations. This program was seeded in the early 2000’s with funds from the USDA Rural Development and has funded numerous projects in Wabash County for almost 20 years.

Loans $10,000 to $75,000 (or not to exceed 25% of loan fund) may be awarded to eligible businesses operating in Wabash County, are current on all taxes and are credit-worthy.

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.