Hartford City Council Approves $3,500 for Small Business Development Center in 2027

From the Hartford City City Council meeting on June 1, 2026

Hartford City Council voted 4-0 to budget $3,500 for the East Central Indiana Small Business Development Center in 2027, up from $3,000 in 2026.

Judy Porter of the SBDC presented 2025 business development statistics and requested the funding. SBDC services are free to businesses, funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the state, and local contributions. The center assists businesses from startup through 500 employees.

Porter also visited Blackford County Commissioners the same day, where the county approved $5,000 for 2027.

Mayor Eckstein cautioned that the council hasn't established its full budget direction yet — "we're still trying to see where it's going to go."

Source: Meeting transcript — Hartford City - City Council Meeting - June 1, 2026

Some information may be inaccurate due to video audio quality.