Commerce Department Awarded Grant for Hammond Lab
The $2 million grant will support a new academy to help local startups with market validation and funding readiness.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Startups
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The U.S. Department of Commerce awarded a $2 million grant to the Roberts Impact Lab at Purdue University Northwest. The funds will launch an academy designed to accelerate business development in Northwest Indiana.
Why it matters
This initiative aims to bolster the regional economy by providing local entrepreneurs with structural support for commercializing services and products. It focuses on closing gaps in funding readiness and technology adoption for businesses in the area.
The federal award is $2 million, distributed to support operations at the lab located at 5454 Hohman Ave. The university, which represents 2% of the gross regional product, will host the new 16-week cohort program.
The players
Roberts Impact Lab
A research and business development facility located at 5454 Hohman Ave. in Hammond, Indiana.
U.S. Department of Commerce
A federal executive department that manages the Minority Business Development Agency, which issued the grant.
Purdue University Northwest
A public university serving as a major economic driver for the region, contributing roughly $746 million annually.
The details
The newly funded Entrepreneurship, Commercialization, and Innovation Academy will provide a structured 16-week program for regional participants. The curriculum covers core operational requirements including customer discovery, competitive analysis, intellectual property, and technology adoption to move products toward market readiness.
Timeline
Spring 2027: Launch of the first Entrepreneurship, Commercialization, and Innovation Academy cohort.
Market Landscape
This project follows a pattern established by the Minority Business Development Agency of providing targeted federal funding to university-affiliated labs to stimulate regional ecosystems. The initiative sits within a broader trend of leveraging higher education infrastructure to drive local commercialization.
Business owners in Northwest Indiana should monitor the academy's rollout for potential opportunities to refine their market validation and intellectual property strategies. The program serves as a key resource for those aiming to bridge the gap between initial product concepts and formal funding readiness.
The takeaway
Securing federal resources often requires aligning local business goals with the specific commercialization priorities of agencies like the Department of Commerce. Monitor the Roberts Impact Lab for application criteria to leverage these training resources for your business.
What happens next
The first cohort for the Entrepreneurship, Commercialization, and Innovation Academy is scheduled to launch in spring 2027.
Further reading
For more on the regional ecosystem, see our latest coverage on Startups.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WIMS.
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