Indy Black Chamber of Commerce
Our ultimate vision is to bridge the gap of economic disparity within our community. In partnership with the Anderson Black Chamber of Commerce, the Indy Black Chamber of Commerce was established as a 501c3 non-profit organization in January of 2015.
Our mission is to serve as a comprehensive resource for developing Black and Minority-owned businesses, by providing business education, financing, and access to capital opportunities to impact the economic enhancement of the Black community. Our ultimate vision is to bridge the gap of economic disparity within our community, creating advocates who will support proactive initiatives not only in business but also in education.
Chamber 465 offers our members a collaborative and engaging co-working incubator that shares resources and information. We provide consulting services, workspace, classes, and workshops to businesses looking for fresh ideas. We can assist businesses with branding, marketing, and workflow productivity that impacts their bottom line and caters to the specific needs of XBE’s. We are here to assist entrepreneurs with taking their business to the next level. Chamber 465 members benefit from an engaging environment that consist of printing services, high-speed internet, lecture rooms, private focus booths, and ample workspace.
The Indy Black Chamber of Commerce INC is an organization who has a heart for our community of business owners, and are proud to have directed out over $1 million to approximately 150 recipients through our lending and grants programs through year end 2022. This program initiative was created to support economic growth and development within Indianapolis and surrounding counties.
The Indy Black Chamber of Commerce joined with community members and local entrepreneurs to open a new space at the Indianapolis City Market in the heart of downtown. The S.O.U.L. (Supporting Our Unique Locals) of the City Kitchen Incubator will support Black restaurant start-up owners by providing state-of-the-art food prep and retail space and by offering guidance on growing their small business. The program was made possible through a $150,000 grant awarded by Bank of America to build and equip four retail stations within the Indianapolis City Market. This also includes a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen which will be available to Black caterers and food truck owners who need more space to prepare food.
The S.O.U.L. of the City Kitchen Incubator mission is to: inspire, cultivate, and embrace entrepreneurship. We will guide and support new restaurant start-ups by providing an opportunity to grow their culinary concept and build a customer following within a retail space in one of our food halls, for a maximum of 2 years. Afterwards, bringing in our financial partners to assist with shifting their brand to a standalone restaurant in the community, which would then open up the retail space for a new entrepreneur to come through the program.
This 10-week business development training class is designed to embrace entrepreneurship by providing the foundation necessary to equip business owners for long term success. This class is geared for entrepreneurs who have been in business at a minimum of 2 years and/or have generated > 25K in business revenue in the prior year. This class is aimed towards delivering educational concepts that impact your knowledge of business acumen and generate a strategic plan for business sustainability.
