06.20.2023

Today’s Forecast

83º | Mostly cloudy | 16% chance of rain | Sunrise 6:16 a.m. | Sunset 9:15 p.m.

💼 Explained: Indy’s B-corp organizations

Explained: Indy’s B-corp organizations

People walking on bridge with skyline in background

Achieving “B-Corp status” means a company successfully balances purpose + profit. | Photo by INDYtoday team

Whether you own a business yourself or just enjoy supporting them, you might have heard the term “B-Corp.” But do you know what it means?

We’re sharing the definition and how it applies to several Indy businesses. Plus, we’re giving you the details on how to achieve “B-Corp status” with your own business.

What is a “B-Corp?”

A B-Corp, or “Benefit Corporation” is a certification businesses can receive if they fulfill the following requirements from B Lab:

Achieve a B Impact Assessment score of 80+
Complete a legal commitment to be accountable to all stakeholders — not just shareholders
Allow performance information to be measured against B Lab’s standards

It’s essentially incorporating third-party oversight so that businesses live up to their mission to give back to the community. One well-known example of a B-Corp is the shoe brand TOMS, which donates one pair of shoes to those in need for every pair sold.

Who has the certification?

There are a number of different Hoosier businesses with this status, including:

Selfless.ly — a “virtual foundation” that allows company leaders to increase their impact + offer philanthropy as a benefit to their employees
Black Onyx Management — a research firm that helps build an infrastructure for continued equity and inclusion within organizations like Fortune 500 companies and major non-profits
NEXT Studios — an entrepreneurial innovation studio housed in the 16 Tech Innovation District that helps under-served founders turn their ideas into new startups

How can I get my business certified?

The process can be time-consuming, but the general steps are outlined on B Lab’s website and vary depending on your business type. Some noteworthy checklist items are:

Gather supporting documentation + data
Take the B Impact Assessment
Verify your business with a B Lab analyst
Sign the B Corp Agreement

Are you a B-Corp business? Let us know for a chance to be featured in an upcoming newsletter.

Events

Tuesday, June 20

Live Music Tuesdays | Tuesday, June 20-Tuesday, Dec. 26 | 5-7 p.m. | Circle Centre Mall Dining Pavilion, 49 W. Maryland St., Indianapolis | Free | Wind down with colleagues + grab a bite to eat after work or bring the whole family for a family-friendly evening of live local music.

Wednesday, June 21

Monumental Yoga 2023 | Wednesday, June 21 | 4-9 p.m. | Monument Circle, 1 Monument Cir., Indianapolis | Free | Bring your own mat to the largest yoga event in the city with group classes + a vendor village.

Thursday, June 22

Thursday Night Food Trucks | Thursday, June 22 | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | Ellenberger Park, 5301 E. St. Clair St., Indianapolis | Cost of purchase | Walk over to the park for grub from local faves like Combos OTG and GALS Fresh Fish.

Friday, June 23

Disney’s “Newsies” Jr. | Friday, June 23-Wednesday, June 28 | Times vary | Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre, 3 Center Green, Ste. 200, Carmel | $15.50-$20.50 | Catch the hour-long version of the 1992 film live with a Tony Award-winning score.

Saturday, June 24

Herron-Morton Place Neighborhood Tour | Saturday, June 24 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Herron High School, 110 E. 16th St., Indianapolis | $20-$30 | Connect to Indy’s diverse heritage while navigating the historic neighborhood on this walking tour of its 160-year history.

Sunday, June 25

Columbus Clippers vs. Indianapolis Indians | Sunday, June 25 | 1:35 p.m. | Victory Field, 501 W. Maryland St., Indianapolis | $12-$30 | Catch the last matchup against the Clippers + enjoy “Kids Eat Free Sunday.”

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Announced

Earn prizes for referring friends

Are you ready to get rewarded for spreading the word about the newsletter? | Graphic by 6AM City

We’re excited to announce that our referral program has been revamped. Yes, you can be rewarded for spreading the word about the newsletter.

How does it work? You can find the referral section near The Wrap in the newsletter. One referral is equal to one point. You’ll receive the point when your friends confirm they want to be signed up for the newsletter. It’s a tiered reward system — as you earn more points, you unlock bigger and more rewards. Look forward to receiving exclusive products you won’t find in our online store such as hats, mugs, blankets, a paid-for night out on the town, and more.

To celebrate our referral program, we’re hosting a giveaway until Wednesday, July 12, 2023. The top referrer will receive $500, and one additional person who refers at least one friend will automatically be entered for another $100 giveaway.

As part of our new and improved referral program, we’re offering all newsletter subscribers an additional 15% discount to our online store (Six & Main), just use coupon code REFTDY23 at checkout. The offer is good until Monday, July 24, 2023.

Questions? Send us an email here.

See giveaway terms & conditions.

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News Notes

Development

As Hamilton County continues to grow into an “overnight escape,” seven hotels are making their way through the planning process and into the construction phase. Carmel, Fishers + Westfield are getting two new hotels, and another is in the works for Noblesville. Get the details. (IndyStar)

Coming Soon

Indy-based startup Arrive (formerly Dronedek) is planning to launch its patented smart mailbox soon. It recently established its ticker symbol for the Nasdaq stock market. The mailbox is designed to accept deliveries from robots + drones, in addition to traditional carriers. It’s also climate-controlled and secure. Learn more. (IBJ)

Number

$50,000. That’s how much the Harrison Center is asking for in crowdfunding to enhance its alleyway with public art. If it reaches its goal, the CreatINg Places grant program will match the amount. The alley would be used for community events + a permanent art scavenger hunt. Get involved. (Inside Indiana Business)

Community

Trash, heavy trash + recycling pickups will be modified for Indy residents this week because of yesterday’s Juneteenth holiday. If your normal pickup day is Monday, service will resume today and the schedule will slide from there. The regular schedule will resume next week. (FOX59)

Sports

Indy native Henry Davis has been called up by the Pittsburgh Pirates, only days after he was promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis. The 2021 first-round pick plays catcher + right field and will be used “in different ways,” according to Pirates manager Derek Shelton. (FOX59)

Festival

Due to a lack of funding, Indy Irish Fest announced that it will be canceling its annual festival set for September and beyond. The not-for-profit counts on sponsorships, profits, and donations to put on the event + hasn’t recovered since 2020. The organization is still determining next steps. (IBJ)

Travel

Wanna save 40-90% on flights? Sign up for Going — a free travel membership — and you can browse deals immediately (like a $300+ round trip to Barcelona).*

Eat

🍦 Scoop, there it is

What ice cream flavor best embodies Indianapolis?

Natural State’s most recent soft serve flavor is banana cream pie. | Photo via @naturalstateprovisions

Calling all lovers of Indianapolis, warm weather, and ice cream. We want to know — if our city was a flavor of ice cream, what would it be? What local ingredients would it contain? Would it be ribboned with locally procured sea salt caramel or crumbled cookies from Leviathan Bakehouse?

Share your locally inspired ice cream flavor with us by Friday, June 30, and we may feature it in an upcoming newsletter — just make sure it includes one to three local ingredients (bonus points if you list the local spot to source the ingredients and include a catchy name for your frosty concoction).

Need some inspiration? Here are two examples to get your stomachs grumbling:

🇺🇸 US: A waffle cone of vanilla bean ice cream laden with chunks of apple pie.

🇯🇵 Japan: A taiyaki filled with taro soft serve and topped with a black sesame cookie.

Submit your Indy-inspired flavor

The Wrap

Anna Bowman in a black shirt and jewelry

Today’s edition by:
Anna Bowman

From the editor

I was excited to see that one of Indy’s fave local authors, Leah Johnson, is joining the local bookstore boom with her own soon. The Reese Witherspoon-approved writer recently announced the launch of Loudmouth Books, which will sell diverse titles + authors right here in the Circle City. You can start buying books from the store online and contribute to its GoFundMe.

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