Ivy Tech Hamilton County will hold free workshop connecting local entrepreneurs with lenders & business development experts

Ivy Tech Community College Hamilton County will play host to a free Business Financing Workshop from noon to 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 at Baker Hill Headquarters, 1320 City Center Drive, #300, Carmel. Register for this free event at this link.

The workshop is part of CEED to Success, a national pilot program designed to expand entrepreneurship and business financing education for underserved founders, with a focus on veteran, women, and minority owned businesses. Through this initiative, Ivy Tech Hamilton County is partnering with Baker Hill, the program’s founder, and the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) to bring these resources to the local community. CEED stands for Community Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development.

“Entrepreneurs need more than a great idea to build a successful business. They need access to the knowledge, relationships, and resources that can help turn that idea into a sustainable company,” said Joe Perry, Dean for the Schools of Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Business, Logistics & Supply Chain, Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering & Applied Science, and Information Technology at Ivy Tech Hamilton County. “Through this workshop, we’re helping make the financing process more approachable while connecting Hamilton County entrepreneurs with experts who can help them take their next step. This is exactly the kind of hands-on, community-focused learning that can strengthen our local entrepreneurial ecosystem and create opportunities for more businesses to thrive.”

The workshop brings together entrepreneurs, lenders, and economic development experts to help attendees navigate the funding landscape. Programming includes an overview of resources for Hamilton County entrepreneurs, and a financing fundamentals presentation led by Indiana Members Credit Union.

“CEED to Success isn’t just a program; it’s a catalyst for systemic change,” said Dirk Soma, Director of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems at Baker Hill. “By working alongside NACCE and aligning education, entrepreneurship and local partnerships, we’re building resilient ecosystems where underserved entrepreneurs don’t just start businesses; they drive lasting, community-centered impact.”

This collaboration underscores a shared mission: turning entrepreneurial dreams into tangible success stories by making business loans more accessible.

“Being bankable is about more than securing a loan,” said Trevor Haley, VP of Commercial Underwriting at Indiana Members Credit Union. “It is about building a business that is positioned for long-term success. Through this program, we want to help entrepreneurs understand the financial foundations that inspire confidence from lenders, investors, and partners. By serving as educators and trusted advisors, financial institutions can play an important role in helping small businesses grow and thrive.”

The importance of this effort is reflected in the broader small business landscape: recent U.S. Census data show that women-owned and minority-owned firms each represent more than one in five employer businesses nationwide, while veteran-owned businesses remain a significant force in communities across the country. As these entrepreneurs continue to grow their economic impact, initiatives like CEED to Success help ensure they also have clearer pathways to the financing knowledge, relationships and resources needed to scale.