SBDC Brings Home Top Honors

The Southwest Indiana Small Business Development Center team received several honors at this month’s annual state conference, including being named Center of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Additional recognition includes:

• Highest Performing Center based on statewide performance metrics

• Educator of the Year for reaching over 900 training participants

• Stellar Service for exceptional client feedback

Individual team members were also recognized:

• Catherine King – Rising Star

• Julie Folz – Most Clients Counseled and Most Business Starts (Part-Time)

• Grant Glackman – $1 Million Club for helping clients access over $1M in capital

These honors reflect the team’s commitment to supporting entrepreneurs and driving economic growth in Southwest Indiana.

ERSC Celebrates Record-Breaking March Madness

The Evansville Regional Sports Commission (ERSC) is proud to announce the successful completion of the busiest March in its history. Evansville hosted 33 collegiate basketball games across four championship tournaments in March at the Ford Center, a cornerstone of Evansville’s growing sports scene.

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Family Business Alliance

The Family Business Alliance (FBA) Cocktail Hour on April 17 was a huge success, with an open forum on the real estate market led by Mitch Schulz and Ken Haynie. Thank you to our incredible sponsors for making this night possible: First Bank, German American Bank, Gutwein Law, Harding, Shymanski & Company, Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn, LLP, Old National Bank, Traylor Construction Group, Field & Main Bank, and Evansville Country Club.

Congratulations to our Homegrown and Headquartered award recipients: Evolv and The Rug Merchant. Your continued commitment to the Evansville Region as family-owned businesses does not go unnoticed — thank you for all that you do.

Join us June 25 for an engaging session with Ross Yates, Partner at Gutwein Law, who will present an overview of the fundamentals of mergers and acquisitions—specifically tailored for decision-makers at family-owned and closely held businesses.

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Young Professionals Alliance

The Young Professionals Alliance had a great time at our March Madness event on March 20 at Mr. B’s at Club 18! Attendees enjoyed networking, drinks, apps, simulator bays, and basketball on the big screen.

Join us April 30 for a YPA Lunch & Learn focused on money management and investing for young professionals.

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Business Retention & Expansion

State and local officials celebrated the grand opening of the Mount Vernon Railroad on April 22, creating an unparalleled “Mega-Modal” opportunity for Southwest Indiana. READ MORE

The E-REP team completed five Business Retention & Expansion (BR&E) visits in April. E-REP conducts BR&E visits to engage with local businesses, understand their needs, and provide support to foster growth and address challenges.

Doing Business with the City of Evansville

Want to work with the City of Evansville - Government? Join our upcoming Supplier Information Session to:

Learn how to become a City vendor
Hear from Mayor Stephanie Terry, City of Evansville Purchasing Department, & the SBDC
Network with buyers & prime contractors
Get info on upcoming procurement plans

Date: Wednesday, May 7

Time: 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM (CDT)

Location: The Pagoda

411 SE Riverside Dr

Evansville, IN

Cowork Evansville

Our coworking community came together on April 10 for an afternoon of delicious dishes, great conversation, and plenty of good vibes. Thank you to McAlister's Deli for the amazing catering!

Orr Fellows

E-REP team members joined in welcoming the first cohort of Evansville Orr Fellows with a custom bus tour of Evansville’s cultural districts during Welcome Weekend!

Ohio River Vision and Strategic Plan

RFP - Demolition of Site - Mount Vernon

Proposals due by May 2, 2025

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Funding Opportunities

The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs ' Community Development Block Grant Owner Occupied Rehabilitation program and Planning Grant program are now open for applications. Second quarter applications for both grant programs will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. ET, on May 16, via the Indiana electronic Grants Management System, found here.

USDOT has released the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Project Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Fiscal Year 2025. Applications are due June 26, through Valid Eval’s signup page. For more information, view the SS4A Notice of Funding Opportunity here.

The CreatINg Places program, offered by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) in partnership with Patronicity, provides matching funds for community-driven placemaking projects. Eligible projects include streetscape improvements, public plazas, parks, trails, playgrounds, community markets, and more.

The Evansville Endowment Fund offers annual grants to nonprofit organizations within Evansville, Indiana, focusing on capital improvement projects. The 2025 grant cycle runs from May 7 to June 4, with a two-step application process: submit a Letter of Inquiry by June 4, and if invited, complete a full application by August 13.