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Small Business Week Highlight: Tlaolli

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SMALL BUSINESS WEEK NEIGHBORHOOD HIGHLIGHT: Carlos came from Monterrey, Mexico in 2005, following his wife and children who had come to the United States two years before. He worked for a large distribution company, helping them break into the Hispanic market and orienting their ingredients to more healthy sources. When this work was no longer available, his daughter Carla, who is a chef, encouraged him to start his own business. He started small, making salsa at home and selling it to friends and eventually distributors. When Indy’s Kitchen opened up, they began cooking there and branched into tamales. A contact … Continued

SMALL BUSINESS FAÇADE AND PROPERTY IMPROVEMENT GRANTS NOW AVAILABLE

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SMALL BUSINESS FAÇADE AND PROPERTY IMPROVEMENT GRANTS NOW AVAILABLE INDIANAPOLIS, January 18, 2018 – The Small Business Façade and Property Improvement Program is a tool within FOCUS: Works, a collective impact partnership between implementing partners LISC Indianapolis, the Indy Chamber, the Indianapolis Coalition for Neighborhood Development, and the City of Indianapolis, with key support from Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership® (INHP), State Farm Insurance, PNC Bank and others. The program is a key part of Indy’s comprehensive approach to community revitalization — helping residents transform distressed areas into places of choice and opportunity. The Small Business Façade and Property Improvement Program is … Continued

2018 Facade Grant Applications Now Open

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The Small Business Facade and Property Improvement Program is a component of FOCUS that provides matching grants to property owners willing to renovate the street-front exteriors of their structures. These improvements could include new signage, windows, painting, and/or structural or design changes. This is a rebate program where business and property owners receive reimbursement for up to 50% of the cost of the project in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $20,000 for completed work. The goal is to build long-lasting relationships that connect neighborhoods with businesses and new resources to revitalize urban markets. To apply, please fill out the 2018 Small … Continued

INHP Anchor Housing Program

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INHP Anchor Housing Program Midtown, as the convenor of the Midtown Anchor Coalition (MAC), has teamed up with Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership (INHP) to provide funding for home buyers or current residents looking for renovations in a Midtown home. This program is open to the public as well as employees of Butler University, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, and Crown Hill Heritage Foundation. Whether employees are already homeowners or want to purchase today or in the future, INHP’s comprehensive lending, mortgage, and credit advising and homebuying education services are designed to help clients become and remain long-term, successful homeowners. To learn more … Continued

Twin Accounts: Building Credit While Saving

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Two big challenges facing many low-wealth families are poor credit scores and the lack of savings to address emergencies or other longer-term goals. The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and Financial Health Federal Credit Union in Indianapolis have teamed up to do something about that. Working closely with financial coaches in the Centers for Working Families network, the partners launched Twin Accounts.™ Borrowers must be in an active coaching relationship, with a clear set of financial goals, and have the ability to pay $25.00 per month. The borrower takes a loan for $300 which is immediately deposited into a “locked” savings account. The … Continued

2017 Small Business Facade and Property Improvement Grants

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The 2017 Small Business Facade and Property Improvement Program is a component of FOCUS that provides matching grants to property owners willing to renovate the street-front exteriors of their structures. These improvements could include new signage, windows, painting, and/or structural or design changes. This is a rebate program where business and property owners receive reimbursement for up to 50% of the cost of the project in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $20,000 for completed work. The goal is to build long-lasting relationships that connect neighborhoods with businesses and new resources to revitalize urban markets. To apply, call LISC’s direct line … Continued

SEND Hiring Community Coordinator for Twin Aire Neighborhood

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Southeast Neighborhood Development, Inc. (SEND), in its role as lead agency for the Great Places 2020 planning process in the Twin Aire neighborhood, seeks to hire a community coordinator. If interested, please submit cover letter and resume electronically to Paul Smith at Paul@sendcdc.org. Please include your salary requirements, expressed on a per hour basis, in your cover letter. Deadline for applications is January 20, 2017. Please click here for the full job description.

Successful Development on Tap Speaks to Gentrification in Indy

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Thank you to everyone who attended last night’s Development on Tap. The event, Gentrification in Indy with national housing expert Alan Mallach’s findings on changes in neighborhood incomes and housing values in Indianapolis, was well-attended and appreciated. “Indianapolis is a great city, with strong institutions, valuable assets, and healthy job and population growth. While some parts of Indianapolis are seeing rising incomes, house values and similar indicators, however, the data shows that substantially more parts of the city are seeing decline in these same indicators than are seeing growth. The city has been losing ground in important respects, experiencing weak … Continued

FOCUS Works

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LISC’s FOCUS Works is an effort designed to support the redevelopment of targeted urban industrial districts through façade improvement grants, targeted small business loans, technical assistance, staffing and more. That sounds great, but how does it work? This Indianapolis Business Journal article, McNamara Florist hopes $2.5M bet on HQ will help Mass Ave industrial corridor flower, explains how companies are investing in the nearly 500-acre area known as the Mass Ave/Brookside Industrial Corridor. Last year LISC supported McNamara through a $20,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).  

Webinar: Report on Evaluation of LISC’s FOCs

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LISC invites you to join us for an overview of the key findings of a two-year study of LISC’s Financial Opportunity Centers (FOCs). The independent study by the Economic Mobility Corporation has found that clients of FOCs are more likely to be employed year-round, to reduce non-asset related debt and to build positive credit histories than comparison group participants. First Steps on the Road to Financial Well-Being: Final Report from the Evaluation of LISC’s Financial Opportunity Centers Thursday, October 27, 2016 2:00 pm  |  Eastern Daylight Time (New York, GMT-04:00)  |  1 hr 30 mins Register

State Farm Neighborhood Assist- Be the Catalyst for Positive Change in your Community

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Have you ever wanted to help your community with a problem but didn’t know where to start? Maybe it’s a run-down park or to help the impoverished in your community. Now, YOU have the power to fix it. State Farm Neighborhood Assist wants to help identify and address key issues faced by consumers throughout the United States. State Farm Neighborhood Assist, a crowd-sourced philanthropic initiative, lets communities determine where grant funding is awarded. The application is short and simple, and can be found by visiting www.neighborhoodassist.com. You, or someone you know, could be the catalyst for positive change to your … Continued

2015 LISC Indianapolis Annual Report

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2015 a momentous year for LISC In 2015 LISC Indianapolis invested more than $15 million into Indianapolis neighborhoods in grants, loans, and equity. This supported 30 different non-profits, assisted 2,905 families and 102 businesses, built 91 homes, and improved 437,000 square feet of commercial space. We also support programs that enabled 528 family members to obtain jobs, over 500 families to increase their income, and the creation of 83 new neighborhood jobs. Please click here to read the 2015 LISC Indianapolis Annual Report.

Indy Chamber’s 2016 Monumental Awards

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ONLY ONE WEEK LEFT! Project submissions are being accepted for the Indy Chamber‘s 2016 Monumental Awards. Entries due no later than 5 PM on Friday, July 29. LISC is the nominating sponsor for the Neighborhood Revitalization and Innovative Reuse category!   Click here to learn about the entry guidelines, 2016 category requirements and judging criteria. 

June 9: Become a Brewing Entrepreneur

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Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about becoming a Brewing Entrepreneur! Join Riley Area Development Corporation (RADC)‘s STIR Workshop on June 9 at Centerpoint Brewing. Join owners Jon Robinson of Centerpoint Brewing and Tia Agnew of  New Day Craft for a workshop geared towards becoming a brewing entrepreneur.  You will hear first hand accounts from our experts on what it takes to open a brewing business plus  tools to utilize as you get started, how to brand your product and much much more. This educational discussion will be held at Centerpoint Brewing and will be 21+.  We’ll be carding at the door.  As always, … Continued