HUNTINGBURG — The Huntingburg Chamber of Commerce wants to encourage entrepreneurs to follow their dream.
A small business seminar this summer and networking sessions that will start this month between new and seasoned entrepreneurs are just some of the things the chamber has in the works.
As the various community projects through the city’s Stellar Communities designation start to form and materialize, chamber Executive Director Sara Schroeder has been thinking about the business and retail aspects of the city.
“These Stellar projects are such a huge investment in our community,” she said. “Our streets, our parks — everything is going to be beautiful. But we need to fill several of our retail locations. Just as much as we want to draw people in to experience Market Street Park or the new Fourth Street, we want people to come and shop, and to make it so that what shoppers need is down here.”
Since taking the executive director job a year ago, Schroeder’s focus has been on bringing more small businesses to Huntingburg and encouraging interested entrepreneurs to start a business. She also wants to help make connections between seasoned business owners, new entrepreneurs or those thinking about entrepreneurship.
An effort to make such connections will start this month. Tuesday, Feb. 21 will be the start of a monthly networking meeting, at which people can discuss aspects of having a small business with those who actually do run a business.
The group will meet every third Tuesday from 8:15 to 9:15 a.m. at the Old School Cafe, 304 E. Fourth St.
“This is a chance to network, collaborate, brainstorm ideas,” Schroeder said. “We’re trying to get ready-made mentors that can help provide mentorships to those with small business questions. This can be someone who is thinking about starting a business, but just doesn’t know who to talk to about their idea.”
If there is an issue or recurring idea that comes up at the sessions, the chamber will work on getting more information to the group.
Anyone can attend the networking sessions. “You don’t have to be a chamber member, or live in Huntingburg,” Schroeder said. “This is an opportunity for business owners all through the county to collaborate and support each other.
“What we’re finding is that small business owners in Jasper are selling wares in Huntingburg stores and vice versa. There have been collaborations that have happened naturally.”
The chamber is also planning to conduct a small business seminar this summer.
“We’re doing this to start putting those ideas in people’s heads about small business opportunities, especially in our downtown,” Schroeder said.
Radius Indiana is working with the chamber to analyze the small business market. “We’re working with Radius to have them do some research about what is trending in small businesses right now,” Schroeder said, “what is on the market as the most exciting thing out there for this type of area.”
Some of that information will be a part of the summer seminar.
“We want to present the possibilities and then do your more traditional information of ‘if you’re going to set up a small business, here are the steps you need to take’ and introduce the resources to people,” Schroeder said.
The chamber’s goal is to encourage people to make the leap into the world of owning a small business.
“We’re looking at (Nov. 2018) for completing Fourth Street upgrades,” she said. “That is a great amount of time for someone who is interested in starting a small business to put that plan in place and start making progress toward the ultimate goal of having a brick and mortar business.”
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