Indiana Governor Mike Braun is encouraging small business owners in the Region to explore free online tools that will help them plan for the future. Governor Braun said in Northwest Indiana alone, nearly 58% of all business revenue comes from those whose owners are at least 55 years old. The state’s regional partnership with SMB.co is part of the Keep IN initiative, which launched in May to preserve local jobs and businesses by reducing preventable business closures and supporting smoother business ownership transitions, a news release said.
Business owners in Lake, Porter, La Porte, Jasper, Starke, Newton and Pulaski Counties can get access to a set of free, voluntary, confidential and educational tools from SMB.co designed to support early planning and decision-making, a news release said. That includes exploring an estimate of their business value, assessing their readiness for a future transition, creating exit plans and learning about different succession pathways, and tracking and understanding their business over time.
“By implementing this partnership at the regional level, we are ensuring business owners receive support that reflects the realities of their local communities and the industries they serve,” said Brian Schutt, director of the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. “By starting earlier and increasing access to information, we can help support stronger outcomes for business owners, employees and local communities.”
Business owners in this seven-county, northwest Indiana region are encouraged to learn more and explore available resources by visiting smb.co/indiana .
