Small Business

Motorcycle crash in Grant County leaves 1 dead, 1 seriously injured

Columbus council OKs $3M TIF grant for Crump Center for the Performing Arts redevelopment

Columbus City Council voted 9-0 to direct up to $3 million in tax-increment financing dollars to support the estimated $21 million restoration and expansion of the Historic Crump Theatre. City officials say the TIF money won’t be released to the Crump Center for the Performing Arts until several state, private-pledge and nonprofit governance conditions are met.

Carmel's former Horton Fan Factory becomes 88,000‑sq‑ft performing-arts, sports and wellness center

Current Publishing reports developer Turner Woodard converted the 88,000‑square‑foot former Horton Fan Factory at 201 W. Carmel Dr. into the Carmel Performing Arts & Sports Center, home to gymnastics, dance, training, wellness tenants and an eight‑court indoor pickleball venue. Woodard bought the 5.5‑acre site in 2021.

Towne Post Q&A profiles five Fishers women-owned businesses, listing openings and founding years

Towne Post Network — Indiana published a Q&A on 2026-10-08 profiling five Fishers women entrepreneurs. The piece records business types and start/opening dates, including Pure Green Fishers (opened 2025-09-06), JETSET Pilates (started 2025), Fit Chicks (2012), Shea’s Diamonds (fall 2017) and Next Level Strategic (2022).

Six Indiana University teams win seed grants for defense-focused biotechnology research

Indiana University announced on 2026-10-08 that six IU research teams received up to $50,000 each from the IU Applied Research Center and IU Launch Accelerator for Biosciences’ National Security Biotech for Defense program to advance defense-relevant biotechnology projects.

Marshall County Commissioners approve Criminal Justice Grant for overtime patrols

Giant FM reported that Marshall County commissioners on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, ratified the auditor’s and sheriff’s signatures on an Indiana Criminal Justice Grant that Auditor Angie Birchmeier said was increased to $80,500. County officials said the federal grant reimburses overtime for extra traffic patrols during high‑travel holiday weekends.

Pet Friendly Services puts $10,000 into Transport Assist pilot to fund spay/neuter access in southern Indiana

The Tribune — Seymour reported on 2026-10-07 that Pet Friendly Services of Indiana and Bloomington nonprofit clinic Pets Alive launched a Transport Assist pilot backed by a $10,000 investment to help as many as 400 cats and dogs get spay/neuter surgery at Pets Alive. Eight local animal-welfare groups across five counties will receive grants and help transport pets.

Two Morgan County organizations selected for $10 million Google energy grant

Brownsburg pursues Community Parks Initiative planning grant for Lincolnwood Park

Brownsburg has been invited to apply for a noncompetitive planning grant from the Lilly Endowment–backed Community Parks Initiative to plan improvements at Lincolnwood Park. Applications are due Oct. 30; town staff will seek council authorization to submit the application on Oct. 22, Current Publishing reported.

Fulton County Youth Center awarded $50,000 IYI grant to continue youth programs

Giant FM reports that on October 6, 2026 the Fulton County Youth Center was awarded a $50,000 grant from the Indiana Youth Institute under the Strengthening Youth Programs in Indiana (SYPI) initiative. The award is one of 168 grants totaling more than $40 million.

IU signs final beam for IU LAB at 16 Tech, a planned anchor for Indiana’s bioscience ecosystem

Indiana University reported on 2026-10-06 that leaders signed the final beam for the IU Launch Accelerator for Biosciences (IU LAB) at the 16 Tech Innovation District. The five‑story, 150,000‑square‑foot facility broke ground in October 2025, was launched with a $138 million Lilly Endowment grant in December 2024, and is expected to open in 2027.

Visit Columbus to offer up to $14,000 tourism development grants to local tax‑exempt groups

Visit Columbus announced it will make grants of up to $14,000 available to local tax‑exempt organizations to support projects and events that boost the community brand, encourage overnight stays and generate out‑of‑county visitor spending. Grants cover up to 50% of project costs and require a one‑to‑one cash match; funds are first‑come, first‑served, the agency told WKKG on 2026-10-06.

WonderLab in Bloomington awarded $208,500 SYPI grant to expand southern Indiana youth programs and build capacity

WonderLab Museum announced it received a $208,500 grant from the Indiana Youth Institute through the Strengthening Youth Programs in Indiana (SYPI) initiative to support and expand youth STEM outreach in southern Indiana and to strengthen the museum’s organizational capacity.

Columbus council to consider $3M TIF-linked grant for Crump Theatre renovation

Source report dated 2026-10-06: WKKG reported Columbus City Council was to consider a $3 million grant for renovation of the Crump Theatre. The redevelopment commission approved the grant last month; the article says the money would come from central tax increment financing district and special taxing-district property tax revenues toward a $15.2 million project.

SI: Indiana Fever face offseason questions with Kelsey Mitchell’s free agency central

Sports Illustrated’s Grant Young outlined three offseason questions for the Indiana Fever on Oct. 6, 2026, centering on unrestricted free agent Kelsey Mitchell, frontcourt depth and coaching uncertainty. The piece notes multiple Fever players will hit free agency and that the front office intends to prioritize re-signing Mitchell.

Indianapolis agency to hold Dec. 3 forum for certified small businesses

WISH-TV reported that the City of Indianapolis Office of Minority and Women Business Development (OMWBD) will host a year‑end forum on December 3, 2026, at the Indianapolis Public Library downtown main branch. Registration is expected to open in early November 2026; a city disparity study is nearing completion and will be released after the mayor’s review.

Visit Columbus opens $14,000 in tourism grant funds for Bartholomew County nonprofits

Visit Columbus opened applications on 2026-10-04 for $14,000 in remaining grant funds through its Tourism Development and Event Support programs, with program guidelines and applications posted at comeseecolumbus.com/industry-resources/grants. Funds will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Centra awards $75,000 grant to Turning Point

United Way opens 2027 grant applications

Hamilton County advances Hazel Dell Parkway bridge replacement; approves $1.179M CDBG award and recovery contract

At a Sept. 28 Hamilton County Commissioners meeting, officials reviewed bids for preliminary engineering and design of a total replacement for the Hazel Dell Parkway bridge (collapsed Aug. 15) and approved a 2026 Community Development Block Grant award of $1,179,216 and a federal recovery contract with Tidal Basin Group.

IU Southeast launches Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition initiative to help keep Indiana businesses local

Indiana University reported on 2026-10-02 that IU Southeast launched an Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Initiative, funded by a $40,000 Community Collaboration Fund grant, to educate prospective buyers and business owners about ownership transitions; a full-day summit is planned for November and a second full-day event is scheduled for May.

Minority Business Highlight: Eve’s Garden Deli

Tipton Community School Corp. awarded $86,000 from Indiana Secured School Safety Grant

Tipton Community School Corporation announced on Oct. 1, 2026 that it received an $86,000 award through Indiana’s Secured School Safety Grant program to fund security personnel, vulnerability assessments and updated safety technology; Carroll and Tipton county districts received more than $186,000 in this round.

Marshall County Commissioners approve 2027 Community Crossing Matching Grant Paving Projects