Scaling Up! South Bend

Scaling Up! South Bend is a 3-month training program designed to scale small, product-based businesses for success and provides graduates with access to 6-month discounted/free space on Sample Street to help their business grow.

The City of South Bend Department of Community Investment is partnering with 37 Oaks University. 37 Oaks University builds retail, commerce & distribution knowledge for entrepreneurs and uses platforms to educate and prepare small businesses for distribution growth through diverse channels.

This program will focus on recruiting diverse business owners who currently sell a product part- or full-time, who want to strengthen their business model, and who want to scale and move into multi-tenant small business space on the Sample Street corridor.

Graduates of the program will have the opportunity to receive subsidized space at the Sibley Center through the end of 2021.

Product business owners will benefit from this program by:

• Receiving a 14-week training specific to product businesses from a national marketing and distribution expert
• Learn with a cohort of like-minded business owners ready to grow in South Bend
• Get discounted space in South Bend for your business to grow

How to apply

Click here to apply to the program. Applications for the program will be accepted until March 12^th, 2021.  Cohort businesses will be announced on March 15^th , 2021.

Who can apply?

Any small, product-based business owners who currently sell a product full or part time, who want to scale and move into multi-tenant small business space on the Sample Street corridor.

What is the cost of the cohort?

Although the cohort is valued at $2,000, the City is happy to offer a subsidy and cohort members will only be asked to pay a one-time fee of $200.

When is the application due?

Applications are due by March 12^th, 2021.