Indiana Gov. Mike Braun launched the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (OEI), a new initiative aimed at supporting small businesses, boosting innovation and encouraging entrepreneurial growth across all parts of the state.
The office is designed to serve as a centralized resource hub for Hoosiers seeking to start, scale or sustain Main Street businesses.
Led by Indianapolis entrepreneur Brian Schutt, co-founder of the co-working space and startup incubator Refinery46, as well as Homesense Heating and Cooling, the OEI will operate under the Indiana Department of Commerce, led by Secretary David Adams. According to the governor’s office, Schutt brings firsthand experience in building successful businesses and community-driven spaces designed to support local entrepreneurs.
“(My wife) and I lived the American dream of growing Main Street businesses in our hometown, and I want every Hoosier to have that opportunity,” Braun said in a statement. “Our goal is to make Indiana the best place in the country to start and build your own business, and the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation led by Brian Schutt will be a nation-leading resource to help Main Street entrepreneurs.”
The office’s core mission is rooted in Braun’s broader economic development vision, which focuses on increasing wage growth and job opportunities for Hoosiers. The OEI will absorb and expand upon certain responsibilities previously held by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), including oversight of certified technology parks.
Key priorities for the new office include:
- Developing and administering programs to support small business growth, entrepreneurship and innovation.
- Directing funding and resources toward businesses in both urban and rural communities.
- Aligning entrepreneurship-related services across multiple state agencies.
- Supporting youth entrepreneurship programs in schools.
- Ensuring technical support and mentoring is accessible to business owners statewide.
- Measuring the distribution of resources to ensure rural and underserved communities benefit equally.
Business leaders across Indiana responded with support for the office, highlighting its potential to make a tangible impact on local economies.
Vanessa Green Sinders, president and CEO of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, noted the significance of the new initiative.
“Establishing the office was one of the Indiana Chamber’s top priorities this past session for the far-reaching impact it will have across the state in fostering entrepreneurship,” she said. “There have already been early discussions on that collaboration, which is a natural partnership given 80% of our members are small businesses.”
Business owners from a range of industries — including advanced manufacturing, agriculture, tech and veteran-owned enterprises — echoed the praise, citing the office’s ability to streamline access to funding, mentorship and regulatory support.
“As president of a small aerospace and defense manufacturing company, I appreciate that Governor Braun comes from a business background rather than a career in politics,” said Johnny Goode of MSP Manufacturing. “He understands the real-world challenges small businesses face and has taken meaningful action to reduce barriers, encourage growth and support innovation in our industry.”
The OEI is expected to begin rolling out programs and partnerships in the coming months. The administration says it will work closely with public and private stakeholders to ensure the initiative delivers real, measurable benefits to Hoosiers ready to launch or grow their business in Indiana.
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
, a new initiative aimed at supporting small businesses){kind=link}