Category News

Before you spend serious money on a new venture, it makes sense to test a business idea first. Having a business idea is exciting. Spending thousands of dollars before you know whether customers actually want what you’re selling is much less exciting.

One of the smartest things an aspiring entrepreneur can do is test a business idea before making major investments in equipment, inventory, a building, branding or other startup costs.

That doesn’t mean you have to prove that your idea will succeed before starting.

You can’t.

It means gathering enough information to make your next decision with something more useful than a guess.

1. Be Able to Explain What You’re Selling

Start with a deceptively simple question:

What problem does my business solve—or what does it provide that someone is willing to pay for?

Try explaining your business in one or two sentences without industry terminology.

Instead of:

“I want to start a bakery.”

Go further:

“I want to sell custom cakes and desserts for birthdays, weddings and special events to customers in and around Rush County.”

Now you have something you can begin testing.

Who buys it? How often? What alternatives already exist? What matters most to those customers—price, convenience, customization, quality or something else?

Clarity comes before a business plan.

2. How to Test a Business Idea With Potential Customers

Friends and family can be encouraging. However, they aren’t always good market research.

“That’s a great idea!” is very different from:

“Yes, I would pay $45 for that.”

Talk with people who could realistically become customers.

Ask what they currently buy, where they buy it, what they pay, what frustrates them and what would make them consider something different.

The goal isn’t to convince them your idea is good.

The goal is to listen.

Sometimes the most valuable information an entrepreneur receives is something they weren’t hoping to hear.

3. Know What It Really Costs

Pricing a product or service requires more than looking at what competitors charge.

Consider the actual cost of delivering what you’re selling.

Depending on the business, that can include materials, packaging, payment-processing fees, shipping, insurance, fuel, equipment, software, professional services, rent and—something new entrepreneurs frequently underestimate—your time.

If something costs $30 to produce and customers will only pay $25 for it, selling more of it doesn’t fix the underlying problem.

You don’t need perfect numbers on day one.

You do need realistic ones.

4. Look at the Competition

Importantly, competition isn’t necessarily evidence that your idea won’t work.

In fact, existing competitors can demonstrate that people already spend money on what you’re considering selling.

Study them.

What do they offer?

What do customers seem to value?

How are they priced?

Where do they sell?

What appears to be missing?

Then ask a harder question:

Why would someone choose my business?

“Because mine will be better” isn’t enough.

You should be able to identify something meaningful to the customer—service, convenience, expertise, location, selection, experience, customization, price or another genuine difference.

5. Test a Business Idea on a Small Scale

There are many inexpensive ways to test a business idea before making a major investment.

Someone considering a product-based business may be able to test a small product line before buying large amounts of inventory.

A service business might begin with a limited group of customers.

A food entrepreneur may have opportunities to test products through appropriate markets or events, subject to applicable health and licensing requirements.

A future storefront business may be able to validate customer demand before signing a lease.

The objective is not to stay small forever.

It’s to learn while the cost of changing direction is still relatively low.

6. Decide What the Next Decision Actually Is

Finally, you do not need to answer every question about a future business today.

You need enough information to answer the next one.

Should I keep researching?

Should I test my product?

Do I need to change my pricing?

Should I speak with a banker?

Is it time to formally organize the business?

Do I need professional advice about taxes, insurance, licensing or regulations?

Breaking entrepreneurship into decisions makes the process much more manageable.

Rush County Entrepreneurs Don’t Have to Figure It Out Alone

This is exactly the kind of early-stage thinking behind the Regional Entrepreneurial Pipeline, or REaP.

The free eight-session program serving Rush, Fayette and Henry counties begins October 1, 2026 and covers business readiness, customers, pricing, sales, marketing, banking and financing, understanding business numbers, business formation and next-step resources. Virtual participation is also available when participants cannot attend a session in person. Rush ECDC

REaP isn’t designed around the assumption that everyone who has a business idea should immediately start a company.

Should I keep researching?
Is it time to test my product?
Would changing my pricing make sense?
Should I speak with a banker?
Is it time to formally organize the business?
Do I need professional advice about taxes, insurance, licensing or regulations?

All three can be progress.

If you have a business idea, side hustle, home-based business or early-stage company, Rush County ECDC can help connect you with resources and people who can help you make more informed decisions.

Learn about the Regional Entrepreneurial Pipeline (REaP)

Entrepreneurs can also explore business planning and startup resources through the Indiana Small Business Development Center (Indiana SBDC)

Your Next Great Hire May Already Work for You: Building Talent From Within

Employee development in Rush County can be just as important as recruiting new workers. When employers need additional skills, supervisors or people prepared to take on more responsibility, the first place to look may be inside their own organization.

Hiring will always be an important part of workforce development. But employers also have another valuable workforce strategy: developing the people they already have.

That can mean helping an entry-level employee gain new technical skills, preparing an experienced worker for a leadership role, creating clearer career pathways or giving employees opportunities to advance as the needs of the business change.

For employers, that isn’t simply training.

It’s workforce development.

Why Employee Development in Rush County Matters

Every employee who gains a new skill adds capacity to an organization.

Developing current employees can help businesses build the skills they need while creating opportunities for workers to advance without leaving the company—or the community—to find their next opportunity.

It can also help employers think differently about workforce shortages.

Instead of asking only, “Where can we find someone who already has every skill we need?”, another useful question is:

“Who do we already have that could grow into this role?”

Sometimes the strongest candidate for tomorrow’s opening is already on today’s payroll.

Career Pathways Don’t Have to Be Complicated

Creating opportunities for advancement doesn’t necessarily require a large formal program.

Employers can begin by looking at positions that are difficult to fill or skills that are becoming increasingly important.

Consider questions such as:

• Which positions are hardest for us to recruit?
• Which employees have demonstrated the ability to take on more responsibility?
• What skills would someone need to move from an entry-level position into a more advanced role?
• Are experienced employees approaching retirement who hold knowledge that needs to be transferred?
• Could training help an existing employee fill a future need?

Those conversations can turn workforce planning from a reaction to a vacancy into preparation for one.

Indiana Is Encouraging Employers to Grow Their Own Talent

Indiana is also placing increased emphasis on developing workers who are already employed.

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development’s Power Up Indiana initiative encourages employers to build employee skills and career pathways and includes an employer incentive component. DWD describes the initiative as a way for businesses to develop existing talent while supporting wage growth and advancement.

Employers interested in the program should review current requirements directly with DWD before making training or financial decisions, because eligibility and reimbursement requirements apply.

Learn about Power Up Indiana through Indiana DWD

Power Up Indiana isn’t the only workforce resource available to employers. Depending on the business, employee and type of training involved, other state or workforce programs may also be worth exploring.

Start With the Workforce Need

The most useful starting point isn’t necessarily asking, “What grant can I get?”

Start with the business problem.

Maybe you need more skilled operators.

Maybe you’re having difficulty developing frontline supervisors.

Maybe technology is changing the skills required for a position.

Maybe you have a strong employee who is ready for more responsibility but needs additional training.

Once the need is clear, ECDC and workforce partners can help determine whether there are resources or connections worth exploring.

Employee Development in Rush County Starts From Within

Recruitment gets a lot of attention because vacancies are easy to see.

Employee development can be less visible, but it is an important part of building a resilient workforce.

A worker who sees an opportunity to learn, advance and build a career has a reason to imagine a future with that employer.

A business that continually develops its people builds skills it can draw on as needs change.

And when Rush County businesses and workers grow together, the entire community benefits.

Is your business thinking about training, advancement, succession planning or another workforce challenge?

Rush County ECDC can help you identify workforce resources and connect with the appropriate partners. Start by telling us what your business is trying to accomplish.

The Indiana Employer Training Grant may help qualifying businesses offset the cost of training new or current employees.

Training employees costs money. Whether a business is teaching a new hire the skills needed for a position or helping an existing employee advance into a more skilled role, that investment can add up quickly.

Indiana employers may have a resource available to help offset some of those costs.

The Employer Training Grant, administered by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, reimburses qualifying Indiana employers for eligible occupational-skills training for new or current employees working in high-demand positions.

For Rush County employers planning to strengthen their workforce, it’s a program worth knowing about.

How the Indiana Employer Training Grant Can Help

According to current Indiana DWD guidance, participating employers can receive up to $50,000 in reimbursements.

Eligible employers may receive reimbursement of up to $5,000 per newly trained employee, subject to program requirements. Workers must be trained, hired and retained for at least six months, and the training must meet the state’s eligibility standards.

This isn’t simply reimbursement for routine orientation or informal job shadowing.

The training must build occupational skills connected to an eligible, in-demand occupation.

What Types of Businesses May Qualify?

The Employer Training Grant currently supports training associated with six priority sectors:

• Advanced Manufacturing
• Agriculture
• Building & Construction
• Health & Life Sciences
• IT & Business Services
• Transportation & Logistics

Indiana-based employers of any size are encouraged to apply, although the proposed training and occupations must satisfy the program’s requirements.

That makes the program particularly relevant in a community like Rush County, where several of these sectors are important parts of the local and regional economy.

What Kind of Training Counts?

This is where employers should pay close attention.

Eligible training must meet Indiana Department of Workforce Development requirements and be connected to qualifying occupational skills and eligible positions. Routine onboarding, general human-resources training and informal job shadowing may not qualify.

Additional eligibility requirements apply, including requirements related to the employees being trained, wages, training duration and retention. Because program requirements can change, employers should confirm current requirements with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development before beginning training or making financial decisions based on anticipated reimbursement.

The best first step is to discuss the proposed training before it begins. That allows an employer to determine whether the business, employees and planned training meet current program requirements.

Why Employer Training Matters in Rush County

Workforce development isn’t only about finding someone to fill an open position.

Sometimes the person an employer needs is already on the payroll—or a strong candidate can become the right employee with additional training.

Developing workers internally can help employers build skills that match their specific operations while creating advancement opportunities for employees.

Indiana’s Employer Training Grant is designed around that concept: helping businesses grow their own talent.

For employers struggling to find workers with every skill they need on day one, that approach can open another option.

Instead of asking only:

“Where do we find someone who already has these skills?”

it may also be worth asking:

“Can we develop those skills in someone we already have—or someone we’re willing to hire?”

Indiana Employer Training Grant: What Employers Should Know

One important point: employers shouldn’t complete training and assume they can request reimbursement afterward.

DWD’s process requires employers to submit information about their proposed training and work with the program before reimbursement. The state describes the process in three basic steps: apply, establish the training program, and then seek reimbursement after program requirements are met.

If your Rush County business is considering hiring, upskilling employees or developing workers for harder-to-fill positions, investigate the program before the training begins.

Indiana DWD Employer Training Grant information

Rush County employers can also contact the Rush to Work Job Center/WorkOne in Rushville to discuss workforce needs and available employer resources.

Workforce development works best when businesses don’t have to navigate every resource alone.

Economic development often becomes visible when a company announces an expansion, construction begins or new jobs are created.

But much of the work that makes those opportunities possible happens years before an announcement.

One important part of that preparation is having Rush County development-ready sites that businesses can seriously evaluate when they are considering where to locate or expand.

Companies Need Answers Before They Invest

Businesses considering a new location evaluate much more than the price of a piece of land.

They need to understand whether a site can accommodate their operation, how utilities can serve it, whether the property is appropriately zoned, how transportation connects to the site and what may be required before construction can begin.

And increasingly, companies need those answers quickly.

Indiana’s economic-development strategy emphasizes site readiness because reducing uncertainty can help companies move more efficiently through the location process. The Indiana Economic Development Corporation describes development-ready sites as an important tool for helping businesses move faster toward operational launch.

For communities competing for investment, preparation matters.

Rush County Development-Ready Sites Support Investment

One of Rush County’s major economic-development assets is Commerce Park @ Rushville, located at State Road 3 and County Road 200 North.

The Commerce Park received Indiana Site Certified Prime designation in 2019, the highest level under the state’s Site Certified program at the time. The designation followed years of local, state and federal investment in preparing the property for industrial development.

Today, ECDC’s available-sites information identifies infrastructure serving the Commerce Park that includes water, sewer, natural gas and fiber connectivity.

Those aren’t particularly flashy economic-development accomplishments.

They are, however, exactly the kinds of fundamentals that matter when a company begins evaluating whether a community can accommodate a project.

Site Readiness Reduces Uncertainty

Imagine two communities being considered for the same investment.

One has property available but still needs to determine whether appropriate infrastructure can reach it.

The other can provide information about an established development site, existing infrastructure and previous site-readiness work.

The second community can begin answering questions much earlier in the conversation.

That doesn’t guarantee that it will win the project. Businesses weigh many factors when making location decisions, including workforce, transportation, utilities, costs, incentives and proximity to customers and suppliers.

But having prepared sites means Rush County can enter those conversations with an important piece already in place.

Economic Development Requires Long-Term Thinking

The Commerce Park is also a good example of something that can be easy to overlook about economic development:

Preparation and results don’t always happen in the same year.

Infrastructure investments may be made years before a company needs them.

Workforce initiatives begin before an employer has an opening.

Housing and quality-of-place investments help create conditions that make a community more attractive to people and businesses over time.

And development sites have to be prepared before a site selector calls.

That requires communities to think beyond the next announcement and invest in the capacity needed for future opportunities.

Rush County Development-Ready Sites Are Part of a Bigger Strategy

Rush County development-ready sites are an important part of preparing our community for future business investment, even though much of that preparation happens long before a company announcement or groundbreaking. Commerce Park @ Rushville is an important asset, but it isn’t the only location ECDC can help businesses evaluate.

Companies have different requirements. Some need large acreage. Others need an existing building, commercial property, a smaller industrial site or room for a future expansion.

That’s why Rush County ECDC now offers businesses a customized property search based on project requirements such as acreage, building size, utility needs, transportation access and expansion plans.

The goal isn’t simply to have property available.

The goal is to help businesses determine whether Rush County is the right place for their investment.

That work starts long before a groundbreaking.

It starts with being ready when opportunity calls.

Considering a location or expansion in Rush County?
Visit ECDC’s Available Sites page or contact Rush County Economic & Community Development Corporation to begin a confidential property search.

A strong downtown Rushville economy is an important part of economic development in Rush County.

Economic development doesn’t happen only in industrial parks. It also happens when someone opens a small business, a family spends Saturday morning downtown, a visitor discovers a local restaurant or shop, and community events bring people together in places Rush County has invested in creating.

It also happens when someone opens a small business, a family spends Saturday morning downtown, a visitor discovers a local restaurant or shop, and community events bring people together in the places Rush County has invested in creating.

Rushville will have a good example of that in action on Saturday, September 19, when Willkie Days—also promoted as Rush Fest—returns to downtown Rushville.

The Rush County Chamber of Commerce-organized event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will bring local shops, vendors, food, children’s activities and community members together downtown.

But events like this have value beyond a single Saturday.

The Downtown Rushville Economy Supports Local Business

Small businesses are an important part of the downtown Rushville economy and the broader Rush County economy.

Community events can introduce residents and visitors to businesses they haven’t tried before, create opportunities for entrepreneurs and vendors to reach customers, and generate additional foot traffic for established downtown businesses.

Willkie Days is particularly well positioned for that this year because it overlaps with the Heart of Rushville Farmer’s & Artisans Market, which is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. September 19. The market provides a regular downtown outlet for local produce, baked goods and handcrafted products.

For someone testing a product, building a customer base or operating a very small business, markets and community events can provide valuable exposure.

For existing storefronts, they bring potential customers directly to the neighborhood.

Quality of Place Is Part of Economic Development

There is another reason vibrant community spaces matter to Rush County ECDC.

Businesses don’t make location and expansion decisions based on buildings and infrastructure alone. Workers and their families also make decisions about where they want to live.

That makes quality of place part of the economic-development equation.

A downtown that offers local businesses, public events, entertainment and opportunities for people to gather contributes to the experience of living in a community.

On September 19, Rushville will have several examples happening on the same day.

In addition to Willkie Days and the Farmer’s & Artisans Market, the Rush County Community Calendar currently lists the Summer Concert Series season event at Riverside Park Amphitheater that evening, with On the Border – The Ultimate Eagles Tribute and The Morgan After Band.

The Princess Theatre also has performances scheduled that weekend.

Together, activities like these give residents reasons to spend time locally and give visitors reasons to experience Rushville.

Entrepreneurship Often Starts Small

Downtown events also connect directly to another ECDC priority: entrepreneurship.

Not every business begins with a building, employees and a large investment.

A business may begin at a kitchen table, in a garage, online or with someone selling a product at a local market.

Creating places where small and emerging businesses can meet customers helps build an environment where entrepreneurship is visible and accessible.

Rush County ECDC is working on that same goal through the Regional Entrepreneurial Pipeline, or REaP, which provides free workshops and resources for new and early-stage entrepreneurs in Rush, Fayette and Henry counties.

Community events and formal entrepreneurship programs serve different purposes, but they reinforce the same idea:

Local businesses need opportunities to start, connect with customers and grow.

Supporting the Downtown Rushville Economy

Willkie Days is a celebration, not an economic-development program.

And that is precisely the point.

Economic development ultimately isn’t just about completing projects. It is about building a community where businesses can succeed and people want to spend their time, build careers, raise families and invest.

Sometimes supporting that goal is as simple as showing up.

Visit downtown. Explore a business you haven’t visited before. Meet a local vendor. Have lunch. Attend an event.

Every local purchase won’t transform an economy by itself.

But strong local businesses, active community spaces and residents who support them are all pieces of a stronger Rush County.

Willkie Days / Rush Fest
Saturday, September 19, 2026
9 a.m.–2 p.m.
Downtown Rushville

For the most current event information, visit the Rush County Community Calendar.

UPDATE: The September 1, 2026 application deadline referenced in this article has passed. For current grant opportunities and application information, please visit the Rush County Community Foundation website.

Read More

Rush County workforce development starts with helping local employers find, train and retain the people they need to succeed.

Read More

When people think about Rush County economic and community development, they may picture a new factory, a ribbon cutting, or a company announcing new jobs.

Read More

Rush County ECDC, in partnership with Fayette County and Henry County economic development collaborators, is preparing to launch the Regional Entrepreneurial Pipeline, also known as REaP.

REaP is an 8-week cohort program designed to help new and early-stage entrepreneurs in Rush, Fayette, and Henry Counties take practical next steps toward starting, formalizing, or growing a business.

Participants will learn about business readiness, banking and lender expectations, customers, pricing, sales, marketing, social media, LLC registration, EIN setup, INBiz registration, business banking, recordkeeping, and local small business resources.

The first cohort begins October 1st, 2026! Space may be limited, and early registration is encouraged.

Apply for REaP here:
https://www.rushecdc.org/reap/

Learn more about the Governor/I​EDC Community Collaboration Fund announcement here:
https://events.in.gov/event/gov-braun-strengthens-indiana-entrepreneurship-through-community-grants

Regional Partners Launch Regional Entrepreneurial Pipeline to Support Small Business Growth

Rushville, Ind. – Rush County Economic & Community Development Corporation, in partnership with Fayette County and Henry County economic development collaborators, is preparing to launch the Regional Entrepreneurial Pipeline (REaP), a regional initiative designed to support new and early-stage entrepreneurs across East Central Indiana.

The program is supported through Indiana’s Community Collaboration Fund, administered by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. The Regional Entrepreneurial Pipeline will provide practical, hands-on support for individuals who have a business idea, operate a side business, recently started a business, or are ready to take the next step toward formal business ownership.

To learn more about the Governor and IEDC announcement and all Community Collaboration Fund grantees, visit: https://events.in.gov/event/gov-braun-strengthens-indiana-entrepreneurship-through-community-grants

The first cohort is scheduled to begin soon and will serve participants from Rush, Fayette, and Henry Counties. Weekly sessions will focus on business readiness, banking preparation, marketing, customer identification, pricing, business formation, and local small business resources.

“The Regional Entrepreneurial Pipeline is about meeting entrepreneurs where they are and helping them take practical next steps,” said Leslie Shaul, Workforce Manager for Rush County Economic & Community Development Corporation. “Many people have strong business ideas but are not sure how to move forward. This program is designed to connect them with the information, partners, and support they need to build a stronger foundation.”

The cohort will include sessions led by regional partners, Ivy Tech, local banking professionals, small business resource providers, and subject matter experts. Planned session topics include entrepreneur readiness, banking readiness, marketing, social media, pricing, business formation, LLC registration, EIN setup, INBiz registration, and next-step resources.

A key component of the program will be the Business Formation Lab, which is designed to help eligible participants understand the process of formally organizing their business. Eligible participants may receive assistance with approved LLC registration costs through the program.

The Regional Entrepreneurial Pipeline is intended to strengthen the region’s small business ecosystem by helping entrepreneurs better understand the steps involved in launching, organizing, and growing a sustainable business. The program also aims to build stronger connections between entrepreneurs and local support organizations, banks, chambers, technical assistance providers, and economic development partners.

“This is a regional effort,” Shaul said. “Rush, Fayette, and Henry Counties all benefit when local entrepreneurs have better access to practical support, trusted resources, and clear next steps. Our goal is to make the process less overwhelming and more accessible.”

Registration is available online at https://www.rushecdc.org/reap/. Space may be limited, and early registration is encouraged. Questions may be directed to Leslie Shaul at lshaul@rushecdc.org.

###

About Rush County Economic & Community Development Corporation

Rush County Economic & Community Development Corporation works to support business growth, workforce development, community investment, and quality-of-life initiatives throughout Rush County.

About the Regional Entrepreneurial Pipeline

The Regional Entrepreneurial Pipeline is a regional entrepreneur support initiative serving Rush, Fayette, and Henry Counties. The program is designed to help new and early-stage entrepreneurs gain practical knowledge, connect with local resources, and take meaningful steps toward business formation and growth.

About the Community Collaboration Fund

The Community Collaboration Fund (CCF) is a program of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) designed to inspire new, community-led collaborations and programming that drive entrepreneurial education, tech enablement and small business acceleration statewide. CCF grants enable Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) to implement initiatives that serve Indiana’s entrepreneurs and small businesses and fill critical ecosystem gaps across Indiana’s regions.

Regional Entrepreneurial Pipeline | Rush, Fayette, and Henry Counties