Southern Indiana Business Report
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Small Business Development Center (SBDC) announced Jan. 18 that applications are open for the Indiana Technical Assistance Program (INTAP) through Feb. 20. This statewide initiative connects small businesses with critical professional assistance to complete growth and improvement projects.
“INTAP helps small businesses grow and thrive by helping them complete critical growth projects they might not otherwise be able to pursue,” said Indiana SBDC State Director and Vice President of Small Business David Watkins. “Small businesses can utilize this program for a variety of professional assistance, everything from product prototyping to inventory control systems. I strongly encourage small business owners to learn more about this program and see how it could help take their business to the next level.”
Through INTAP, eligible small businesses may apply to receive up to $15,000 in professional services from a qualified vendor to complete growth and improvement projects that require specialized assistance or technical expertise such as app or technology development, intellectual property legal assistance and grant writing assistance for the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. The program is administered in partnership with Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington’s Cook Center for Entrepreneurship, which houses the South Central Indiana SBDC regional office.
INTAP has assisted 128 businesses with completing projects since the program was launched in 2017, 68 of which were completed in 2021. To be eligible for INTAP, Indiana small businesses must:
• Be or become an Indiana SBDC client.
• Have a physical presence in Indiana.
• Use a vendor physically located in Indiana.
• Be able to complete the project within five months and before Dec. 31.
• Be an eligible project type.
• Be able to demonstrate a positive impact after completion, including but not limited to new job creation, increased production or sales, or new market expansion.
Indiana companies are encouraged to learn more about eligibility requirements and submit applications online.
About SBDC
The Indiana SBDC, which is a program of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, helps businesses start, grow, finance, innovate and transition through no-cost, confidential business advising and training. For more information on resources and programs for small businesses, visit isbdc.org. To become a client of the Indiana SBDC, contact the regional office nearest you. The South Central Indiana SBDC is based in Bloomington and can be reached at 812-345-1141.