SBDC Project Hope To Establish, Increase Online Presence For Hoosier Small Businesses Impacted By COVID-19

Applications are now being accepted.

(Indianapolis, Ind.) - The Indiana SBDC and Indiana University Kelley School of Business are coming together to help support the long-term economic recovery of Hoosier small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Project Hope allows these small businesses to apply for help to establish or increase their online presence through website development, e-commerce support and other digital tools and services. 

Through this program, paid internships are offered to Kelley students and recent graduates to solve technology issues or provide new digital capabilities, including creating or modifying websites, building e-commerce platforms, improving cybersecurity frameworks, migrating data, and more. 

Projects will be completed by student interns under the guidance of a faculty member or professional mentor within a two week time frame.

Additionally, training and education will be provided to small businesses once the project is complete to ensure businesses can operate the new technology or tool. 

All work will be conducted virtually for the health and safety of Hoosiers.

To be eligible, businesses must:

• Be an Indiana SBDC client
• Have been in business as of February 15, 2020 
• Be able to demonstrate a negative impact from COVID-19

Indiana small businesses are encouraged to submit applications online.