The Summit City Match South Calhoun pilot program is offering several opportunities for entrepreneurs and small business owners to get involved with the initiative.
Information Meetings.
Individuals interested in learning more about the Summit City Match program are invited to one of four information meetings scheduled over the next month.
The meetings will be held at Penta Minority Entrepreneurship Center, 2513 South Calhoun. Free parking is available behind the building. The meetings will be held: Tuesday, April 30 at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 1 at 8 a.m., Tuesday May 14 at 8 a.m. and Wednesday, May 15 at 5:30 p.m.
Anyone interested in attending these meetings should reserve their seat by emailing their name and contact information to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Pop-Up Store Opportunity
Summit City Match is offering a pop-up opportunity for artists, entrepreneurs and other small business owners who would like to open temporary retail operations. Pop-ups offer business and building owners an opportunity to test their business model and location with very little risk.
Pop-up shops could sell anything from art to clothing, gifts, crafts or more. Food and drink cannot be offered during a pop-up due to permitting restrictions.
The pop-up businesses may be open for as long as one month but must be open on Sunday, July 14 in conjunction with the Open Streets Festival.
Pop-up application submissions are due by May 31, 2019. Local business leaders and City staff will review the applications in consultation with building owners. Pop-up applicants are encouraged to attend one of the upcoming information sessions listed above to learn more.
What is Summit City Match?
The Summit City Match pilot program aims to match emerging entrepreneurs with building spaces, start up technical assistance and gap grant opportunities. The pilot’s goals are to encourage: the launch of more small businesses, the leasing of empty retail and commercial space on South Calhoun between Murray Street and Rudisill Boulevard, and the revitalization of the South Calhoun commercial corridor. Outreach will include special emphasis on recruiting women and people of color to participate in the program.
The pilot program is being administered by the City’s Summit City Entrepreneurship & Enterprise District (SEED), formerly known as the Urban Enterprise Association. It is funded by the City of Fort Wayne and a grant from the JPMorgan Chase & Co. The program is supported by Greater Fort Wayne Inc., the Greater Fort Wayne Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Fort Wayne Black Chamber, Latinos Count, Fort Wayne Community Schools Anthis Career Center, UAW 166, Allen County, and Brightpoint.
Business owners and entrepreneurs interested in the Summit City Match program should apply online at SummitCityMatch.com by June 30, 2019. Printed applications are available at the offices of the Fort Wayne Urban Enterprise Association, Inc. d/b/a SEED Fort Wayne, 1830 Wayne Trace, Fort Wayne IN 46803. Questions may be directed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling 260-422-2304. Spanish-speaking residents may call 260-427-2222 and Burmese-speaking residents may call 260-427-5151.