HAMMOND, Ind. — The Roberts Impact Lab at Purdue University Northwest (PNW) has a $2 million federal grant to launch a startup academy, the university said Oct. 8.
The money comes from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency. It funds the Entrepreneurship, Commercialization, and Innovation Academy, or ECIA.
The deal
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Grant | $2 million |
| Funder | U.S. Commerce Dept., Minority Business Development Agency |
| Program | Entrepreneurship, Commercialization, and Innovation Academy |
| Format | 16-week cohorts |
| First cohort | Spring 2027 (planned) |
| Site | Roberts Impact Lab, 5454 Hohman Ave., Hammond |
| Project leads | Thomas L. Keon and Niaz Latif |
What participants get
Cohorts will cover the "concept to commercialization" sequence, PNW said:
- Customer discovery and market validation
- Competitive analysis
- Intellectual property
- Funding readiness and technology adoption
The academy is open to college students, professional innovators and small-business owners. Mentors will help them test whether an idea can sell.
"This grant will enable Purdue University Northwest to expand the number of entrepreneurs and support the development of new business ventures throughout Northwest Indiana," said Keon, PNW chancellor emeritus.
Latif, who runs the lab, said PNW will use its regional partnerships "to expand entrepreneurial pathways and promote economic prosperity for underserved communities."
The building
The lab, at 5454 Hohman Ave., is in a former hospital building, according to a Purdue trustees memo. PNW calls it the centerpiece of a $40 million-plus downtown Hammond innovation district.
- Purdue trustees approved $10 million on Dec. 12, 2025, for a first-floor renovation: $7.5 million in reserves and $2.5 million in gifts.
- The roughly 13,000-square-foot project adds two quantum labs, classrooms and meeting space.
- A trustees memo set construction from September 2026 to June 2027.
PNW Chancellor Kenneth C. Holford said the lab will be "a major hub in Northwest Indiana where scientific discovery and technological advancement cultivate innovative solutions that propel regional growth."
PNW did not say how many people each cohort will take. People interested in the academy can email Keon, the university said.
Photo credit
¹ Hero: Downtown Hammond, May 23, 2016, by HammondMan, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for web; this copy is shared under the same license.
² Hohman Avenue, 1956 postcard (Hammond News Agency, Curt Teich), Steve Shook collection, via Wikimedia Commons.jpg), CC BY 2.0. Resized for web.
³ St. Margaret's Hospital, 1938 postcard (Hammond News Agency, Curt Teich), Steve Shook collection, via Wikimedia Commons.jpg), CC BY 2.0. Resized for web.