Up to $15,000 available in professional services to support research and development, business operations improvement, or technology development and implementation projects

The Indiana Small Business Development Center (SBDC) today announced applications are open for the Indiana Technical Assistance Program (INTAP) through Feb. 25, 2024. This statewide initiative connects small businesses with critical professional assistance to complete growth and improvement projects.

“INTAP is one of the Indiana SBDC’s most impactful programs,” said Indiana Economic Development Corporation Vice President of Small Business Andrew Carty. “It is laser-focused on supporting small businesses in taking the plunge on their next iterative stage of innovation. By helping qualified companies fund projects they might not otherwise be able to pursue, INTAP enables our small businesses to secure the necessary skillsets, technologies or technical expertise needed to get to the next level.”

Through INTAP, eligible small businesses may apply to receive up to $15,000 in professional services from a qualified vendor to complete growth and improvement projects that require specialized assistance or technical expertise. Such projects include app or technology development, inventory and point of sale tracking system updates or training, intellectual property legal assistance, grant writing assistance for the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs, and more. The program is administered in partnership with Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington’s Cook Center for Entrepreneurship, which houses the South Central Indiana SBDC regional office.

INTAP has assisted 250 businesses with completing projects since the program was launched in 2017, 80 of which were completed in 2023. To be eligible for INTAP, Indiana small businesses must meet the following criteria:

• be or become an Indiana SBDC client by March 1,
• have a physical presence in Indiana,
• use a vendor physically located in Indiana,
• be able to complete the project within five months and before Dec. 31, 2024,
• be an eligible project type, and
• be able to demonstrate a positive impact after completion, including but not limited to new job creation, increased production or sales or new market expansion.

Indiana companies are encouraged to learn more about eligibility requirements and submit applications online.

Success Story: AgTech startup partners with software developer to launch product 

Indiana SBDC client Contango, a West Lafayette-based AgTech company, developed a software that optimizes the supply chain for physical commodities such as grain, fertilizer and energy. The company utilized INTAP in 2023 by working with Spiccato Software Solutions to develop their validated software design mockups into a functional product. This project helped Contango make the shift from selling a prototype to selling a product, increasing customer confidence and accelerating Contango’s growth. Contango has also participated in the 2022 gBETA AgBioScience Accelerator and was a featured startup at the 2023 gener8tor Agriculture Conference.