A pastry chef, an industrial farmer, a candle maker, and two podcasters in Indianapolis all have the same thing in common – they went through a six-week training course to help their dreams come to reality. The Indy Chamber’s Re-Entry Entrepreneurship Development Initiative (REDi) creates opportunities for current and formerly incarcerated individuals to explore small business ownership as a means of self-sufficiency.
Jon Johnson, REDi program manager, takes these emerging entrepreneurs on their journey to becoming business owners. He teaches a six-week class, that includes topics such as cash flow, marketing, and customer service; provides one-on-one coaching; and is always at the ready to offer guidance and counsel beyond their classroom hours. “I teach it and live it,” he says.
16 Tech provides the classroom at HqO and gives participants free parking, Wi-Fi and printing, and can even provide an address for someone who needs it – a critical component to establishing an LLC.
“This program wouldn’t be possible without 16 Tech’s involvement,” said Johnson. Not only are the facilities an essential part of starting their businesses, but they see other successful entrepreneurs around the district.”
Giving back is another important part of the initiative. “We look for our participants to help others with the knowledge they’ve gained from the program.”
For example, an Indy Chamber member who is a salon owner is mentoring two of the program participants who are early-in-career aestheticians. She rents booth space to them and helps them with their business operations, an “in-house” counselor to help them achieve success.
The program has birthed transportation companies to help the elderly run errands and get to appointments, a farmer who is showing others how to grow their own food and is partnering with food banks to stock their shelves, even an inventive craftsman who is incorporating food smells like greens and hamburgers into candles.
“If they dream it, our program can help them achieve it,” Johnson continued. “We are helping our students build their community no matter where they are – their Church, 16 Tech, the members of their program cohort, and even their families.”
Thus far, the REDi program has helped launch 35 businesses. REDi is a program of Indy Chamber’s Business Ownership Initiative (BOI). More than 10,000 hours of business coaching and over $400,000 in lending capital are provided by BOI across the Indianapolis region each year.
