As Circle City Classic week comes to a close, Alice Watson reflects on the successes and challenges still facing Black entrepreneurs in Indiana.  

Watson, the President/CEO of Indiana Black Expo said the Circle City Classic Entrepreneur Day event was filled with resources and tools for Black small business owners and entrepreneurs. She says the event was also a chance for the business community to come together and celebrate the recent graduates of the IBE Business Training Institute. “I think it’s going great.”     

The Indiana Black Expo has 12 chapters across Indiana, and the training institute has two programs in Indianapolis, one in Ft. Wayne, and one soon to open in the Michiana area. Watson says entrepreneurs are excited to use the program to learn how to start and grow their businesses.  

The Ft. Wayne chapter has over 30 members, many of whom attended the Circle City Classic Entrepreneur Day. One member received an award from the Indiana Black Expo and JPMorgan Chase.

But Watson says there is still more work to do to grow the program and reach more Black small business owners. When it comes to resources, she says, “There’s never enough.” She highlighted members in the program learning how to access capital and gain sources for nontraditional funding, like venture capital. 

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