HISTORY

SOURCE Entrepreneurship Center (SOURCE) is a resource center that emerged from the Near West Great Places 2020 Quality of Life Plan. IUPUI served as fiscal agent for the initial years to ensure a smooth launch and start-up as well as adequate resources to serve the local community. SOURCE serves the local neighborhoods by bringing access to value-add resources to area entrepreneurs interested in developing their business.

In 2016, Local Initiatives Support Corporate (LISC) designated the Near West/River West as a Great Place 2020 neighborhood. The Near West Quality of Life Plan was created by residents and neighborhood stakeholders in response to declining employment and business vacancies in Near West. The Steering Committee identified the need for an entrepreneurship center to serve as a catalyst for economic growth, and SOURCE was created by IUPUI to fill that need.

Mission

MISSION: To create an encouraging and supportive environment where entrepreneurs thrive, and businesses can start, grow, and sustain successful operations.

Our education and economic initiatives promote and encourage business ownership by assisting in the launch of entrepreneurial ventures and support start-up to scale-up businesses that create jobs, improve the quality of life, and strengthen the community in Indianapolis’ Great Places and more specifically the Near West neighborhoods of Haughville, Hawthorne, Stringtown and We Care.