In the zone

IU Northwest center ‘empowering’ regional businesses

By Michelle Searer

Anthony Fenyves, owner of Anthony’s Café in Highland, leads a training session about food service marketing to zone clients at the Empowerment Zone office in Gary.

The Empowerment Zone initiative is a comprehensive redevelopment program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to encourage development in economically depressed areas. Small business owners in zoned areas of Gary, Hammond and East Chicago qualify for tax credits, job training and other inducements that will help grow their businessws, which will in turn revitalize the community. The Center for Management Development is part of the IU Northwest School of Business and Economics, which assists outside businesses using staff and faculty from the school.

Through the partnership, IU Northwest offers two to four training sessions each month that address the concerns identified by zone business owners. A needs assessment was completed in the fall to identify what business owners wanted from training and consulting services. Training sessions focus on broad topics such as customer service, setting service standards and service recovery as well as industry specific courses such as "Local Store Marketing for Food Service Providers." Training sessions are interactive as participants work on issues specific to their business with the tools instructors bring.

"In many cases business owners have a vision for what they want; they just need some business management tools to help them get there," said Desila Rosetti of the Center for Management Development. "The center utilizes IU Northwest faculty and staff experts that business owners may not know are available or know how to gain access."

The training sessions have provided zone business owners with learning opportunities not affordable anywhere else. Larrice Sims, owner of Eat-N-Run in Gary, said he was struggling to make his business work and ready to give up when a chance meeting with a friend at the bank led him to the zone.

"I was ready to give up, but when he said my shop was in this zone, I finally had hope," Sims said. "These classes are eye openers; it’s a treat to see what I can be doing and should be doing to improve my shop."

Anthony Fenyves, owner of Anthony’s Café in Highland, spoke about marketing techniques for restaurant owners at one of the recent training sessions in the Gary Empowerment Zone office. Fenyves said he is proud to share his knowledge because he can remember starting out five years ago without having any contacts. He said the sessions are great opportunities for owners to network.

Call 219-397-3738 in East Chicago or 219-881-4997 in Gary for information.

http://www.iun.edu/~bnwdtk/