Bloomington, Ind.—The Mill, Bloomington’s nonprofit center for entrepreneurship, announced today that it will be piloting a new accelerator program in the Uplands Region. Indiana Uplands Accelerator is a transformative initiative aimed at igniting the entrepreneurial spirit and fostering economic development within the Uplands Region. This region, encompassing counties like Monroe, Dubois, Washington, Owen, Brown, and Lawrence, boasts untapped potential in terms of innovation and economic growth. The ultimate vision is to create an ecosystem where startups and scalable businesses thrive, leveraging the unique resources and talents of the region.

“There is so much hidden talent across the uplands region,” said Andy Lehman, Head of Accelerator Programming at The Mill. “We want to be a resource and support as they are building their business and driving economic development in their counties. It’s exciting to be building out this network of support amongst the uplands region.”

The pilot accelerator program is being funded thanks to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC). The grant is part of the IEDC’s Community Collaboration Fund (CCF) Pilot Program – meant to power 16 community-led projects focused on entrepreneurial education, connection and acceleration across Indiana. It is one of many new entrepreneurship-focused initiatives the state has rolled out in recent months in an effort to further grow Indiana’s entrepreneurial activity and support the growth and success of startups and small businesses.

“We’re grateful for our continued partnership with the IEDC,“ said Pat East, Executive Director of The Mill. “By addressing the specific needs of local entrepreneurs, fostering a collaborative ecosystem, and empowering individuals to pursue their entrepreneurial ventures, we believe that this program will not only invigorate the region’s economy but also strengthen its social fabric.” 

This 8-week accelerator will give all participants the opportunity to connect with mentors and subject matter experts from across the region covering topics like marketing, sales, financials, investment pitch decks, legal, and accounting. They will also receive weekly 1:1 coaching with a startup expert. The Mill is hopeful that this will ignite a new spirit of collaboration and innovation in the Uplands Region and that the effects of this accelerator will be felt for years to come. 

Anyone interested in participating can learn more and apply at dimensionmill.org/indiana-uplands-accelerator/

By: Washington County Community Foundation