Today, the City of Fort Wayne Community Development Division announced that the Don Wood Foundation will provide a $260,000 grant to the Summit City Entrepreneur and Enterprise District to support the Small Scale Developer Program.
The Don Wood Foundation announces a $260,000 Grant to Support Small Scale Developer Program
Fort Wayne, Indiana (December 20, 2024) – Today, Mayor Sharon Tucker and the City of Fort Wayne Community Development Division announced that the Don Wood Foundation will provide a $260,000 grant to the Summit City Entrepreneur and Enterprise District (SEED) to support the Small Scale Developer Program.
This initiative equips aspiring local developers with the skills and knowledge needed to participate in Fort Wayne’s housing development and vacant lot repurposing projects. Designed to complement SEED’s Entrepreneurial Training Program, the BUILD Institute, the Small Scale Developer Program focuses on key areas of development, including securing funding, project management, and navigating regulatory processes. Participants will gain practical skills applicable to redeveloping city-owned vacant properties and other projects throughout Fort Wayne.
The SEED’s eight-week Small Scale Developer Program will:
- Prepare developers with a series of readiness workshops.
- Use pre- and post-program assessments to measure growth in knowledge and capacity.
- Provide hands-on training to a cohort of up to 20 participants per session.
- Compile insights from the program to inform future capacity-building initiatives.
To encourage new talent, 2–3 seats per session will be reserved for graduates of trade programs, with scholarship opportunities available. Course Fee: $275 per participant.
The Don Wood Foundation grant ensures the program will run twice in 2025 and three times in 2026, meeting the growing demand created by the City’s increased investments in housing and redevelopment initiatives.
“Having the support of the Don Wood Foundation is a major win for our community. We’re coming together to provide meaningful direction and support for individuals looking to start or improve a career path that’s in demand,” said Mayor Tucker. “Partnerships like this demonstrate why Fort Wayne is positioned for current and future growth and success.”
“Don Wood believed that anyone could succeed as an entrepreneur, if they have the mindset of tenacity, perseverance, and salesmanship, along with access to the skills and coaching they need to help them start and grow their business,” said Laura Macknick, president and CEO, Don Wood Foundation. “We’re confident this program will cultivate local entrepreneurs, particularly those in the southeast part of Fort Wayne, to start businesses, build intergenerational wealth, and strengthen the district’s economy.”
For more information about the program or to apply, visit https://www.fwcommunitydevelopment.org/seed or contact the SEED at 260-427-1127.
SEED promotes entrepreneurial initiatives focusing on community, economic, and neighborhood development, with a focal point on the district’s approximately seven square miles. SEED boundaries include the major commercial corridors within the city and are represented in all four quadrants, however, the district is primarily in the southeast quadrant of Fort Wayne.
The Don Wood Foundation is a private foundation, established in 2018 by Don Wood, founder of 80/20, Inc., that serves and supports innovators, leaders, collaborators, and skilled workers with the potential to create and sustain opportunities in manufacturing. The Don Wood Foundation partners with nonprofits and educational institutions to provide sustained investment that supports the development of a diverse workforce through exposure, education, and training to create strong communities rooted in leadership, entrepreneurship, and the advancement of manufacturing primarily in northeast Indiana and when appropriately aligned, the Midwest.
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