Valparaiso-based BUN’s Soapbox was one of eight businesses to win recognition from the Indiana Economic Development Corp.
BUN’S Soapbox won the IEDC’s Community Impact Small Business of the Year award.
The IEDC’s awards were presented in conjunction with the U.S. Small Business Administration’s National Small Business Week.
“Indiana’s economic momentum is incredibly robust today, thanks in large part to the commitment, the work ethic and the spirit of our entrepreneurial community,” Gov. Eric Holcomb said in a press release. “Across the state, Hoosier entrepreneurs and small businesses are creating new solutions, providing critical services, and contributing to the vibrancy and prosperity of their neighborhoods.”
Holcomb also proclaimed April 28 through May 4, Small Business Week Indiana. More than 534,000 small businesses support 1.2 million jobs in Indiana.
The IEDC’s awards recognize the contributions of small businesses to Indiana's economy and communities. The eight honorees worked with the Indiana Small Business Development Center, an IEDC program that helps small businesses start and grow.
BUN’S Soapbox sells handmade products such as soap, shampoo bars, lip balm and lotion sticks. The company uses goat’s milk purchased from a local farmer.
BUN's Soapbox was founded by Jamie Fankhauser in 2017. The company started small. Their products were sold in two local retail stores. Today, BUN'S Soapbox has its own storefront location.
As the business grew, Fankhauser began hiring more employees. Inspired by her own family member with autism, she hires young adults on the autism spectrum. Fankhauser observes each employee’s strength and focuses them on a task where they excel, such as production, labeling or retail.
Indiana’s entrepreneurs have a significant impact on the state’s economy and communities. Companies under five years of age account for the majority of net new job growth. They contributed about $11.5 billion to Indiana’s GDP in 2022.
