Starting a business is a great way to work for oneself, pursue a passion and possibly make a lot of money. However, not everyone has a business degree and many of the daily business operations and records can be confusing. Well, one Northwest Indiana nonprofit has developed a program to help East Chicago residents understand the ins and outs of entrepreneurship.
The Northwest Indiana Reinvestment Alliance, NWIRA, is an organization with the mission of strengthening Northwest Indiana communities through homeownership, rehabilitation and credit building opportunities, particularly for low-to-moderate income and minority residents. Last year, the nonprofit started a program called the Entrepreneurial and Small Business Project.
This program was designed to offer the people of East Chicago, IN free education on what it takes to run a business from the start up to financing to drafting business plans. The classes were held last fall and were offered in both English and Spanish. These classes also allowed participants to become NxLevel certified upon completion.
The Alliance received funding for the Entrepreneurial and Small Business Project in the form of a grant from the Foundations of East Chicago, a nonprofit organization that works toward the betterment of East Chicago through education, health and the promotion of a safe and viable community. This grant helped to cover expenses for the project, so that it could remain free for East Chicago residents.
For more information on the Alliance and the Entrepreneurial and Small Business Project, visit www.nwireinvestmentalliance.org.
