Eliminate Barriers

CREATING ACCESS TO RESOURCES OUR NEIGHBORS DESERVE

Once a thriving and occupied retail destination, southeast Fort Wayne is now home to the least amount of retail establishments in the city. After listening to community members, we learned this untapped market is full of would-be entrepreneurs but challenges including inequities, risk, and lack of experience create hesitance. There is also a strong buying power among the southeast Fort Wayne population that is not being met by the current market.

Expanding Employment and Entrepreneurship

Our goal is to create more and better job opportunities and support local entrepreneurs. By developing and nurturing businesses in our community, we boost local incomes and open pathways to career advancement.

Attracting Accessible Work

Renovation projects to redevelop unused space will be catalysts to create innovative partnerships with other organizations dedicated to economic development. This model will bring together nonprofits, state government, traditional and non-traditional lenders, local businesses, and national experts. We’re dedicated to bringing in businesses that are committed to investing right here in our community. A great example is Fort Wayne Metals, which has not only established a strong presence in southeast Fort Wayne but also opened a training facility here. This facility employs local residents, sparking a chain of opportunities and positive impact contributing to local incomes.

Building Strong Business Partnerships

We are focused on creating lasting partnerships with forward-thinking businesses who want to invest in southeast Fort Wayne. These partnerships will be key to help change the narrative in our community, ultimately helping elevate the average income and break the cycle of poverty.

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