RCCF Receives $40K Grant for D.I.C.E. Program

The goal D.I.C.E is to inspire young people to learn about entrepreneurship and to see small business creation and ownership as a viable career goal.

INDIANAPOLIS – The Ripley County Community Foundation has received a generous grant to support the D.I.C.E. Challenge.

Today, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) announced $500,000 in grant awards to accelerate activity and resources statewide through a pilot of its new Community Collaboration Fund (CCF).

This investment will help power 16 community-led projects focused on entrepreneurial education, connection, and acceleration across Indiana, with a particular focus on underrepresented founders and underserved markets.

The Ripley County Community Foundation received a $40,000 award for their Dreams, Ingenuity, Creativity, & Entrepreneurship Challenge, which inspires young people to learn about entrepreneurship and see small business creation and ownership as a viable career.

The funding will help the organization provide high school students in Dearborn, Decatur, Franklin, Jefferson, Jennings, Ohio, Ripley, and Switzerland counties with an entrepreneurial training program and regional pitch competition in preparation for the Innovate WithIN pitch competition.

In order to be eligible for funding, CCF projects must be a new initiative or an expansion of existing services; a collaboration between two or more support organizations, provide direct entrepreneur support; focus on entrepreneur education, connection or acceleration; provide at least a 25 percent funding match; have developed metrics and budgets; and be completed within nine months of funds being awarded. 

“Indiana has been recognized as the best state in the U.S. to start a business, and we’re leaning in even further to ensure that all Hoosiers have equal access and opportunity in their entrepreneurial journey,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce David Rosenberg. “The Community Collaboration Fund is yet another resource that community-focused entrepreneur organizations across the state can leverage to provide direct support to aspiring entrepreneurs, startups and growing small businesses and to help ensure the continued success of Hoosier innovators statewide.” 

To learn more about the D.I.C.E. program, visit https://genesisp2s.org/dicechallenge.