Project HOPE, a partnership with the Indiana Small Business Development Center (SBDC), has partnered with the IU Kelley School of Business to provide digital marketing and E-commerce assistance to small businesses affected by COVID-19.

Students in the Kelley School of Business will work with the Indiana SBDC’s client companies to complete digital marketing and E-commerce projects, free of charge, according to a press release from the Southwest Indiana Chamber. This technical assistance includes projects like website development, website optimization, establishing an e-commerce and digital storefront, migration to cloud-based service, enabling remote operations, digital marketing, and/or improving online security.

These projects are typically completed within two weeks and clients receive a fully-resolved solution as well as training from the student so that the client can complete similar projects moving forward.

Applicants must meet with a no-cost Indiana SBDC business advisor as part of the application process, according to the press release. 

To be eligible, Indiana small businesses must meet the following criteria: be an Indiana SBDC client; have been in business as of February 15, 2020; be able to demonstrate a negative impact from the coronavirus; identify a project that will improve the business’ capacity to respond to the coronavirus.