Launch Johnson County Takes Off
New program supporting Johnson County entrepreneurs, founders, and dreamers takes flight this fall! Launch Johnson County — powered by the Greater Franklin Chamber of Commerce, Town of Edinburgh and Franklin College — kicks off September 10.
FRANKLIN, IND. — The Greater Franklin Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Edinburgh, and the Office of Professional Development at Franklin College are joining forces for a brand-new program supporting entrepreneurs from all corners of Johnson County.
Launch Johnson County is hosting workshops and events, 1:1 and small group mentoring, and community-focused pitch competitions to identify, connect, and invest in entrepreneurs from Johnson County. The program is targeted at smaller towns and areas that currently do not have ready access to regional and national resources, like the U.S. Small Business Administration, and would-be founders who simply may not have time to navigate those structures.
The program is made possible by a Community Collaboration Fund grant from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, and will coordinate events and gatherings in Franklin, Bargersville, Edinburgh, Trafalgar, and more throughout the year. Business ideas of all types and sizes — whether a small community bakery or the next billion-dollar tech idea — are eligible for support through Launch Johnson County’s programming.
“We are so excited to be able to get this going and see what ideas are out there in our community just waiting to be discovered,” says Rosie Chambers, president/CEO of the Greater Franklin Chamber of Commerce. “I really think this is going to bring people together and begin to change how businesses start in Johnson County.”
Launch Johnson County will be hosting a kickoff celebration at Garment Factory Events on Tuesday, September 10, from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m., where more resources and information about the program will be available.
The first workshop will be held on Tuesday, September 17, from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. at Franklin College, and will focus on developing back-of-the-napkin ideas into a plan of action for a potential new business.
A pitch competition with a $10,000 top prize will be held on Tuesday, October 29, at Franklin College’s Custer Theater. Applications will open at the kickoff event on September 10; more information will be available soon at franklincoc.org/launch.
“The workshops and events are purpose-built to sharpen ideas and help get people ready for that pitch event,” Jeremy VanAndel, director of professional development and instructor of business at Franklin College shared. “We’ll dig in to what makes a solid business idea and how to share it in an engaging way. No one with an idea they’re passionate about should feel like they can’t take part in these programs.”
In addition to cash prizes, Launch Johnson County pitch participants can win valuable in-kind services like legal support, business formation and financial guidance, and even office or retail space.
“There is so much our communities have to offer,” says SaraBeth Drybread, director of the Edinburgh Community Center. “We know there are great ideas and people ready to support them; Launch Johnson County is here to help shine a light on them.”