Registration now open for first BELT cohort: Growing local small businesses and entrepreneurs
- Lori Gagen
- Jul 24
- 2 min read
Registration is now open for the new, four-county Business & Entrepreneur Launch Tool (BELT) program, a 10-week cohort designed to teach participants everything they need to know about launching or growing a small business in the northeast corner of Indiana.
The BELT program is a collaboration of the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (NIIC), the Northeast Indiana Small Business Development Center (SBDC), local economic development organizations (LEDOs), chambers of commerce, Main Street organizations, and business associations from across Noble, Dekalb, LaGrange, and Steuben Counties. BELT is funded in part by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) as well as community grant funders. Anyone who wants to grow their own professional skills and small business is welcomed to apply.
Classes will be held weekly beginning on Wednesday September 3, 2025, and will rotate to various locations in all four sponsoring counties. A complete course schedule is available at the link below.
The cost to participate in BELT is just $125. Cohort members will participate in professional skills training, learn from local leaders with years of experience and knowledge, and be eligible to earn awards upon completion. The value of the BELT experience equates to thousand of dollars if the same content was acquired "al a carte" from all of the various providers who are coming together to make this program possible. Registration is now open and class size is limited!
Upon the completion of BELT, cohort members will have the opportunity to compete for a plethora of tangible awards including small business loans, storefront space, marketing assistance, and much more. For a full list of benefits, download the flyer below:
Historic Downtown Kendallville is a proud sponsor and collaborator in the BELT program. For more information, please contact Lynne Koepper with the SBDC at lkoepper@isbdc.org or Angie Harrison with the NIIC at aharrision@niic.net.