INDIANAPOLIS – Intend Indiana, under its Build Fund initiative, is a loan fund dedicated to helping businesses grow by connecting them to flexible, affordable, and responsible funding. Once again, 100% of Build Fund loans in 2024 went to minority- and women-owned businesses, reinforcing Intend Indiana’s ongoing commitment to promoting diversity in entrepreneurship and creating wealth-building opportunities for underserved small business owners.
Build Fund supported a range of businesses across industries, providing capital for expansion, equipment, and real estate development. The 2024 loan recipients include:
- Priest Homoya, LLC. (Ash & Elm Cider Company) – Funding supported the relocation of Indianapolis-based Ash & Elm’s operations to a new facility on East Washington Street and enabled ownership of the building.
- Bihurri, LLC. – Financing supported the construction of a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home on a vacant lot in Indianapolis.
- Nettie’s Learning Academy, LLC. – Funding helped expand the central Indiana childcare facility, ensuring continued high-quality early childhood education services.
- ACT Development, LLC. – Supported the construction of two single-family homes in the Indianapolis Near Northwest neighborhood.
- The Master’s Key, LLC. (Joy’s Helping Hand Childcare Center) – Provided capital for a sprinkler system, playground equipment, and facility enhancements to accommodate additional children at the Indianapolis-based childcare center.
- Green Gold, LLC. – Assisted a landscaping business in purchasing equipment to expand its capacity for larger projects.
- GMR Construction Services, LLC. – Funding went toward rehabilitating a single-family home in Marion County.
- C&A Consulting, LLC. – Enabled the purchase of specialized equipment for lead abatement across multiple properties.
- Inner City Development, LLC. – Supported the construction of three single-family homes in South Bend’s Lincoln Park neighborhood.
- Reliable Roofing & Construction, LLC. – Assisted with the construction of a single-family home as part of a larger affordable housing initiative in South Bend.
“Access to capital is one of the biggest barriers for small developers, especially minority-owned businesses,” said Sharika Webb, owner of Mamba Investments, LLC and Build Fund borrower. “Build Fund’s support allows us to continue revitalizing neighborhoods and creating economic opportunities in our community.”
Jamika Cooper, owner of Joy’s Helping Hand Childcare Center, also shared the significance of the funding, stating, “Working with Intend Indiana to fund my commercial property purchase and renovation helped me to expand my business and provide more child care enrichment opportunities for the families in our community.”
“Our goal with Build Fund is to provide underserved small businesses with access to affordable capital so they can grow, build wealth, and contribute to their communities,” said Stephanie Quick, President of Intend Indiana. “With 100% of our 2024 loans going to minority- and women-owned businesses across Indiana, we continue to break down barriers and create opportunities for historically underrepresented entrepreneurs.”
Intend partners with community-based organizations, nonprofits, foundations, banks, and state and local governments to leverage resources and deliver impactful programs designed to meet the needs of the community. For more information about Intend Indiana and the Build Fund, visit www.intendindiana.org.