Professor of Operations Management
Main Street Initiative Supports Small and Mid-sized Businesses
Indianapolis firms rely on expertise provided by Kelley faculty and students
Small and mid-sized businesses are a driving force in today’s economy, and have been for quite some time. Over the last twenty-five years, there has been a net loss of five million jobs from the Fortune 500, while small businesses have created more than 34 million new positions. Today, these companies are generating the majority of new jobs (approximately 7 of every 10 new jobs being created). In Central Indiana, more than 95% of businesses have 100 employees or less.
In response to this growing trend, the Kelley School of Business Indianapolis campus launched a new outreach effort, the Main Street initiative, to support Central Indiana’s small and mid-sized businesses (defined generally as companies with 10-100 employees). The new initiative focuses on an often overlooked market, which nonetheless supplies the bulk of economic growth as measured by job creation, payroll and output.
While large corporations may capture the headlines on Wall Street, it’s the small and mid-sized businesses that are the lifeblood of the economy closer to home, on the Main Streets of Central Indiana. Through this initiative, Kelley faculty provides support and insight for the region’s small and mid-market firms, and helps build a stronger, more diverse economy in the process.
Access to Research and Advice
Kelley Indianapolis faculty apply their real-world experience and cutting-edge research to challenges faced by small and mid-sized companies and make these resources available online through a website, www.kelley.iupui.edu/mainstreet. Individuals can visit this site to submit business related questions to faculty members. The answers are then shared on the archives page so other visitors can read the questions and the responses.
The School has also formed a partnership with the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, to offer the Main Street Institute – a series of workshops and educational programming on areas like sales and marketing, customer relations, and managing growth.
Students Participate Too
Kelley graduate and undergraduate students also undertake hands-on partnerships with area companies in the small-to-mid-sized category, and the School has launched a new business certificate program geared towards providing managerial talent to smaller companies. The program is designed to teach the essentials of business including accounting, marketing, operations, human resources and management through six core classes and one online elective.
Kelley Plays Important Role in Economic Development
As one of the top-ranked business programs, the Kelley School of Business prides itself on a strong network of relationships with companies in Indianapolis, the heart of Indiana’s business community. With Main Street, the School is building even deeper partnerships while helping these firms grow and providing more opportunities for students to learn.
The Kelley Indianapolis Main Street initiative also reflects the broader philosophy of the IUPUI campus, to support the economic and civic goals of Central Indiana. IUPUI was recently 4th on a list of top 25 urban universities that contribute to economic development, culture and quality of life in their communities, as part of a national study (“Saviors of our Cities”) by the New England Board of Higher Education. The Main Street initiative continues this tradition of outreach and collaboration with the business community and other civic stakeholders.
2008 Main Street Institutes Seminars
Friday, February 8
“Every Changing Technology: What’s right for you and your business”
Enterprise management systems
Information security
Friday, May 16
Leadership and Human Resources
Leadership for business success
Attracting and retaining top talent
Friday, August 22
Marketing
Viral marketing – How to catch it
Online marketing – Finding customers in cyberspace
Friday, November 14
Finance
Panel discussion focusing on tax strategies
All events are scheduled from 8:15 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and will be held in the IUPUI Library Auditorium. Registration is available at www.indychamber.com.
