Restaurants eating up federal COVID relief
As the pandemic subsides, local eateries are hopeful that a new coronavirus relief program, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, will help them emerge intact.
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Indy-area tech community still wrestling with diversity, equity, inclusion
Discussion and debate at Friday’s IBJ Tech Power Panel event focused largely on how companies can do a better job recruiting and hiring diverse employees, as well as the ability of diverse entrepreneurs to raise venture and growth capital from a cadre of investors who largely remain white and male.
$28.6B federal relief program for restaurants launches this week
The Restaurant Revitalization Fund will provide up to $10 million per recipient to qualifying restaurants, bars, food trucks, caterers, and other eligible recipients based on their pandemic-related revenue losses.
$16 billion grant program for performance venues set to reopen for applications
The federal grant program, part of a larger pandemic relief effort, officially launched April 8, but its application portal crashed within hours because of technical problems. The portal is set to reopen Saturday.
Performance venues say federal grants should help them survive
Businesses are looking for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program, which had its launch derailed last week because of technical problems with the application portal, to reopen soon.
Could Indiana spend its $3B from feds on a one-time, impactful investment?
The state has an estimated $3 billion in federal funding coming its way. IBJ decided to ask what would happen if officials did something big and bold with the money.
Aging water systems, increasing demand require heavy investment
For nearly a decade, voices across Indiana have raised warning flags about the need to repair the state’s aging water-utility systems and make plans to meet the growing water demand.
Broadband ‘imperative for our professional and educational lives’
Most Indiana leaders and politicians agree that providing every Hoosier with a high-speed broadband connection is a worthy goal, if not a high priority. But they disagree over how to accomplish and pay for it.
White River could become a national-park-like amenity
Improving a 58-mile stretch of the White River and taking advantage of the natural resource that flows through the Indianapolis area has been on local leaders’ wish list for years.
Bill Oesterle: State needs to recruit new talent to Indiana
Unlike many other states, Indiana has its fiscal house in order so this federal money is a rare opportunity for thoughtful new investment.
Greg Porter: The American Rescue Plan can change the course of Indiana
It is up to the state to get relief into the hands of those who need it most.
Drone mailbox developer planning to hire 85 for new Indianapolis office
DroneDek, an Indianapolis-based startup, said it has raised more than $1.25 million to support its upcoming product launch.
Kristen Cooper: Pre-seed funding will help more women succeed
Unless a founder is independently wealthy, she can operate for only a limited time with her own savings. Securing pre-seed capital is extremely difficult for founders without access to networks of affluent people conditioned to write checks for risky ventures.
Independent music venues face closures without help
About 60 entertainment stages, bars and studios across Indiana have joined forces in a new association to fight for government assistance they say is needed to survive.
Wealthy hospitals get billions in federal bailout funds
Some are asking whether coronavirus aid funds are flowing to the neediest hospitals, or to those that already have deep financial resources, as the money is doled out to thousands of institutions nationwide.
State starts to dole out $2.6 billion in federal virus aid
The funding is intended to help the state navigate the pandemic, and state officials are slowly rolling out plans to spend it—while holding a sizable portion back in case COVID-19 roars back.
Local virus relief funds top $45M and counting
The funding is going to businesses that need assistance paying their employees or rent, to organizations helping families pay their mortgage or buy groceries, and to companies bearing pandemic-related expenses.
Allos Ventures closes third VC fund at $52 million
The Allos III fund has already invested in eight technology companies, and Allos officials said the fund could invest in up to 30 across the Midwest.
Self-funded firms take all the risk, all the rewards
Venture capital is supposed to be the lifeblood of fast-growing tech startups. But a handful of Indianapolis-area companies are defying that widely embraced mindset.
Intelligent Fiber Network raises $13M to help fund expansion
The Indianapolis-based broadband provider raised the funds from some of its member-owners and a new owner: Wabash Valley Power.