Program will scale 150 diverse businesses and create 30 new businesses in Central Indiana and address supply chain needs
INDIANAPOLIS – The Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council(Mid-States MSDC) has
announced the launch of Accelerate 100+ (A100+), a 12-month result and answer-oriented program
designed to scale 150 diverse businesses headquartered in Central Indiana that are owned and operated
by minorities, women, service-disabled and LGTBQ+ individuals. The program will also identify 30 young aspiring entrepreneurs to participate.
Businesses certified by the Office of Minority and Women Business Administration for the City of
Indianapolis and the Indiana Department of Administration Office Division of Supplier Diversity are
encouraged to apply. Members of the National Association of Women Business Owners, Indy Black
Chamber and the Indy Rainbow Chamber are also encouraged to apply. The program will launch
September 2021 and registration is now open.
Combining the resources of Mid-States MSDC with training and professional development, the A100+
program will help participants access local and national contracting opportunities and engage with
industry experts. In addition to taking part in coaching and mentoring offered through the program,
business owners will conduct market research analysis to gain real-world understanding of their current
customers, prospects, and partners. They will learn to leverage current and future certifications and
experience the Business Model Canvas and Entrepreneur Operating System (EOS). Council partner, the Playbook Investors Network will also engage with participants to assess their financial readiness for seeking investors and access to capital.
Upon completion of A100+, participants will receive a Certificate of Entrepreneurship from an accredited college/university.
“We are always looking for opportunities to address the supply chain needs of the corporate community
while elevating the capacity of minority-owned business,” said Mid-States MSDC President and CEO
Carolyn Mosby. “While there may be similar programs currently in existence for select groups, none
bring the national resources available through the Mid-States MSDC or collectively through partnerships that the organization has with global resources from corporate America, government, and the non-profit
sector.”
Accelerate 100+ program funders include Lumina Foundation, Old National Bank, PNC Bank, Vectren
Foundation, Lilly Endowment Inc., Eli Lilly, Inc., Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC), FedEx and Fifth Third Bank. To learn more about Mid-States MSDC and the Accelerate 100+ program visit
https://midstatesmsdc.org/programs-events/accelerate-100/.
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About Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council
The mission of the Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council is to accelerate economic growth
by driving opportunities and collaboration between corporations and minority businesses. The Mid-
States MSDC’s footprint includes Central Illinois, Indiana and Eastern Missouri and we connect our
corporate members with qualified minority-owned suppliers of all sizes – Minority Business Enterprises
(MBE) – that meet a high standard of excellence. We ensure that standard in four essential steps:
About Accelerate 100+
The Accelerate 100+ program represents a unique opportunity to fundamentally shift minority business
development into a new 21st-century model. Rapid technological advances, new industry clusters,
globalization and increased competition have all become a new way of doing business, while minority
business development efforts have largely gone unchanged. This unprecedented collaboration provides
the intricate coordination of resources and relationships to ultimately drive success.