Bargain hunters have a new place in downtown Winamac to rediscover, reuse, and repurpose vintage, retro and nostalgic items. The Abandoned Treasures thrift store is one of the most recent additions to the Market Street lineup.
Stores such as Abandoned Treasures that invest in the community serve as a contributing factor to the success of the people and the county, according to Nathan Origer, executive director of Pulaski County Community Development Commission.
“The people of Pulaski County are not waiting for progress to come to them,” Origer said. “Their entrepreneurship and initiatives have enabled our county to redevelop from an agrarian society to a modern industrial center. Our team works to provide the right-fit assistance, incentives, or both, to bring new businesses to our towns and to benefit those who operate within our borders.”
Pulaski County’s “team” consists of the economic development commission and an alliance of organizations and individuals who work together to help the towns of Francesville, Medaryville, Star City, and Winamac thrive and grow. Team members promote tourism, trade, industry, and quality of life in Pulaski County. They bring together the leadership and resources of the total community to ensure that the surrounding area is a great place to work, do business, and live.
“Pulaski County in general, and Winamac in particular, offer businesses (especially retail and restaurants) strong seasonal tourism activity,” Origer said. “Tippecanoe River State Park alone draws six-figure visitor totals, while the canoe/kayak/tube liveries operating on the river and Broken Arrow Campground north of Winamac combine to add another 15,000 to 20,000 people coming to the community.”
“We understand that starting a new business or taking your existing business to the next level can be scary,” Origer added. “The Pulaski County Community Development Commission offers prospective business owners assistance in finding financing opportunities, free consulting services, and an easy guide to required state filings. We manage the Pulaski County Revolving Loan Fund as well as offer Indiana Small Business Development Center training workshops.”
Some of the ways the development team can help new businesses get started:
Revolving Loan Fund - provides low-interest loans to qualifying start-ups and growing small businesses.
The lower-tier Small Loan Program is divided into three levels: Micro, Mini, and Small. A five-member ad hoc committee reviews Small Loan Program applications and business plans; if the committee approves, it recommends that the County Commissioners make the loan, at which time the Commissioners hear the applicant’s case and make a judgment.
Small Business Development Center - The Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center (SBDC) looks to impact the Region’s businesses through workshops, no-cost one-on-one consulting and special events. The SBDC is a resource for both existing businesses and entrepreneurs looking to launch a business. The staff offers advice to help businesses grow and to help start-ups take off from the ground level.
“Pulaski County is an entrepreneurial community, with many of its largest employers having grown out of garages and workshops in the heart of rural Northern Indiana,” Origer said. “Business owners have many opportunities to supplement visitors’ primary reasons for coming to the area.”
For more information about the Pulaski County Community Development Commission, visit development.pulaskionline.org.
