Creating Connections: A Big Day for Food-Focused Entreprenuers!
What began as a bold vision came to life in a big way at the Momentum South Bend Hub. On Wednesday, we brought together entrepreneurs, community leaders, food lovers, and lending experts under one roof for a day of learning, connection, collaboration, and celebration.
A Full Day of Impact
The day kicked off with a 1PM Kitchen Tour at La Casa de Amistad, offering an inside look at a space where local food entrepreneurs can thrive. We toured and discussed other kitchens in the community including The Commerce Center, MLK Dream Center and future SJCPL space on the westside. This portion of the day was fully booked, and for good reason — access to licensed kitchen space remains a key need in our community.
Kitchen Tour at La Casa de Amistad
At 5PM, we packed the room for our Capital Access Workshop, led by Amanda from Allies for Community Business. While the session was geared toward food-focused entrepreneurs, the information was valuable for any small business owner. We also introduced our exciting new 2025 Fusion Fest Vendor Fund loans — more details on that coming soon.
Amanda from Allies for Community Business presenting the Capital Access workshop.
By 6PM, the day shifted into a reception for clients, businesses, friends, and supporters of our work across the region. The room was filled with conversations, collaboration, and, yes — delicious bites provided by A Bite with Mee. This was a chance to celebrate the momentum we've built together and look ahead to what's next. There were laughs, business cards exchanged, and a lot of talk about growth.
6PM Reception at Momentum South Bend — Big thanks to our new friends at Momentum for the incredible space and tour!
Our stomachs thank A Bite with Mee for feeding us!
Of course, the night didn’t end there—an unofficial 8PM hangout at South Bend Brew Werks gave folks a chance to cheer on the Indiana Pacers as they kicked off their next winning series, and keep the networking going, Indiana-style.
Special Thanks To:
None of this would’ve been possible without the generosity, vision, and collaboration of our community partners:
Everwise Credit Union – For sponsoring the Capital Access Workshop
South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership – For ongoing support and event sponsorship
La Casa de Amistad – For opening your kitchen and your doors
Allies for Community Business – For sharing capital access expertise
Momentum South Bend – For hosting and showing what community-centered development looks like
A Bite with Mee – For the amazing food and fuel throughout the evening
Missed Out?
You really did miss out — but don’t worry.
More events are coming soon!
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Together, we’re building a stronger, more connected, and more equitable small business ecosystem — and we’re just getting started. Thanks for being part of it!
