22 Jul Community Foundation Awards $400,000 to Strengthen Entrepreneurship and Workforce Development in Grant County
Marion, Indiana — The Community Foundation of Grant County has awarded two $200,000 Collaboration Partner grants to support transformational initiatives that will strengthen Grant County’s economy by investing in entrepreneurs, students, and the future workforce.
The grants were awarded to the Grant County Economic Growth Council and The Academy through the Foundation’s Collaboration Partners grant cycle, designed to help trusted organizations deepen their impact, expand capacity, and pursue innovative solutions that create lasting community change.
The Grant County Economic Growth Council received $200,000 for its Grant County Entrepreneurial Support initiative, which will establish the county’s first coordinated entrepreneurial support ecosystem by connecting aspiring and existing business owners with training, coaching, mentorship, workspace, and access to capital. The initiative is designed to guide entrepreneurs from idea to launch while creating a permanent support network for business growth across Grant County.
The Academy received $200,000 for its Talent Pipeline & Workforce Development initiative, which will expand opportunities for local students through paid apprenticeships, dual-enrollment education, mentorship, workforce training, and career development. The initiative is designed to help young people build meaningful careers while encouraging them to live and work in Grant County.
“Strong communities don’t happen by accident, they are built intentionally,” said Dawn Brown, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Grant County. “These two investments complement one another in powerful ways. One creates stronger opportunities for entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses. The other prepares the next generation with the education, skills, and experiences they need to succeed right here in Grant County. Together, they strengthen our community’s long-term economic future.”
The Entrepreneurial Support initiative will establish Grant County’s Entrepreneurial Support Organization (ESO), providing programming for businesses at every stage of development through expert workshops, one-on-one coaching, business mentorship, feasibility studies, business showcase events, and future co-working space. The project also creates stronger connections to financing opportunities through the Economic Growth Council’s revolving loan funds.
The Academy’s initiative builds on partnerships with Grant County high schools, the Grant Regional Career Center, Campus, Slingshot, local employers, and community mentors to provide students with paid work experience while earning college credit and developing durable workplace skills. Participants graduate with professional experience, mentorship, and educational credentials that prepare them for successful careers in Grant County.
Both projects align closely with the Grant County Strategic Vision by advancing economic development, talent retention, workforce readiness, collaboration, and long-term community prosperity.
The Community Foundation created the Collaboration Partners grant cycle to invest in organizations with demonstrated leadership and a shared commitment to solving community challenges through partnership. Rather than funding isolated programs, the initiative focuses on strengthening systems that create lasting opportunities for Grant County residents.
“These projects represent exactly the kind of collaborative leadership our community needs,” Brown said. “When organizations work together to create opportunities, from education and workforce development to entrepreneurship and business growth, we create a stronger Grant County for generations to come.”
For more information about the Community Foundation of Grant County and its grantmaking programs, visit GiveToGrant.org.
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About the Community Foundation of Grant County
The Community Foundation of Grant County, Indiana, Inc. is an advocate for local philanthropy and is dedicated to improving the lives of people in the Grant County area. An effective steward of the community’s charitable resources since 1984, the Foundation partners with donors to establish charitable funds and invests in nonprofit organizations and community initiatives through a variety of grantmaking efforts. The Community Foundation connects people, resources, and causes to promote sustainable impact for the betterment of Grant County. Currently the Community Foundation holds over 400 charitable funds that support a variety of charities and charitable causes in Grant County. For more information, please visit GiveToGrant.org.
Media Contact:
Shelly Jones
Chief Development Officer
Community Foundation of Grant County
Email: Shelly@GiveToGrant.org
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