Campus to celebrate partnership with Indiana Small Business Development Center

KOKOMO, Ind. - Indiana University Kokomo will launch its partnership with the Hoosier Heartland Indiana Small Business Development Center (HHISBDC) with a November 13 ribbon cutting.

The event, which is free and open to the public, marks the opening of an HHISBSC office in Innovation Hall, where Tim Branyan, coordination manager, will have office hours two Thursdays each month, to assist potential entrepreneurs.

"The primary focus is to facilitate and aid student entrepreneurs who might be on campus," said Alan Krabbenhoft, director of the KEY Center for Innovation. "He will interact with the entrepreneurship club and other student organizations to make them aware of the resources available to them."

Branyan looks forward to working with IU Kokomo students.

"I believe entrepreneurship starts with access, access to the right people, the right information, and the right environment to grow ideas into real opportunities," he said. "This partnership brings those resources directly to IU Kokomo students and the broader community, helping them take the next step toward building something meaningful."

The HHISBDC, which also has offices in Kokomo's Inventrek Technology Park and on the Purdue campus in West Lafayette, helps small businesses grow, finance, innovate, and transition through free confidential business advising and training.

"This allows us to provide direct support for student entrepreneurs in the KCI," Krabbenhoft said. "They have a wealth of data and information to provide assistance. This is a tremendous opportunity for our student entrepreneurs, and it's free."

Krabbenhoft said having the office on campus also provides more opportunities such as internships or real-world projects, as Branyan becomes more familiar with students. Kokomo faculty will be able to identify students to help new business developers as interns, or to have classes complete projects to assist with the businesses.

The ribbon cutting is at 10 a.m. Thursday, November 13, starting at the Welcome Center in Alumni Hall. Register here to attend.

Innovation Hall is funded in part by a $1.5 million grant from the first round of funding from the Indiana READI program and matching funds from Indiana University. Located in the west wing of the Kelley Student Center, it includes a new multicultural center, a media lab/eSports arena, a technology studio, dedicated space for the KEY Center for Innovation, and a business analytics lab, as well as professional offices and other training and gathering spaces for students.

Education is KEY at Indiana University Kokomo.

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