Goshen College art major and entrepreneur receives grant for local art magazine

GOSHEN, Ind. – Goshen College senior Gabe Baker recently was awarded an entrepreneurship grant from the Entrepreneurship Learning Center of $5,000, the maximum amount, in order to pursue his business and bi-monthly magazine, the “Maple City Art Review,” which examines and endorses artists, exhibits and events in the Goshen area.

The grant was funded by the Lilly Foundation through Goshen College’s Entrepreneurship Learning Center (ELC), which encourages students to start their own businesses and is intended to encourage Indiana college graduates to stay in the state.

Baker, a Goshen native, used his business savvy and art major background to create a sample of the magazine, which also became its first issue. According to Baker, the goal for the magazine is “to establish itself as the primary source for news and information about events that are happening or have happened in Elkhart County.”

Baker is a 2003 graduate of Bethany Christian High School and attends Assembly Mennonite Church. His parents are Doug and Cindy Baker of Goshen.

While the first issue of “Maple City Art Review” came out in June, Baker didn’t receive the entrepreneurship grant until August when he formally presented his business plan to an evaluation committee consisting of GC faculty members, administrative staff, alumni, current students and a community business and economic development leader.

Phil Rush, interim director of the ELC, associate professor of business and information systems and a member of Baker’s selection committee, said “Gabe’s situation was a bit unusual in that he started the business – and in fact published his first issue of the magazine – before applying for the grant. This meant there was little debate about his commitment to the idea and seeing it through.”

Baker’s professional drive continued by securing a loan from a bank, which, said Rush, is “quite unusual for a start-up business in the very early stages.” His dedication to the magazine was illustrated in his business plan as well as “his willingness to grapple with the financial issues involved in creating a business plan,” said Rush.

Since distributing 500 copies of the June issue, Baker has experienced the typical difficulties in starting a small business. “Putting together the business plan and getting funding has been the most difficult aspect of the business so far. … Another challenge has been to attract advertisers and convince them to advertise in the magazine,” he said.

Despite the challenges, Baker intends to print 1,000 copies of a single issue by the end of 2007. The second issue was released in early October by a staff that Baker personally assembled of current Goshen College students and alumni. “We really have a broad focus,” said Baker, which can help when it comes to having enough content, “but it can still be challenging to find a good balance of material in each issue. We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback about the magazine from readers [and] people feel like we have a very professional and modern layout.”

Although the process of putting each issue together is “somewhat long and complicated,” Baker believes the “Maple City Art Review” will be valuable to the community and the artists within it.

“I see the magazine playing an important role in helping to promote the arts in Elkhart County in the coming years,” said Baker. “I think that we have a great opportunity to work with some fantastic artists and community people to really help Elkhart County grow.”

The second issue of “Maple City Art Review” is available at locations around Elkhart County this fall. For more information, contact Gabe Baker at (574) 238-8957.

The Entrepreneurship Learning Center provides services for student entrepreneurs and business owners and offers grants up to $5,000 to start and run a business or nonprofit organization. So far, six Goshen College students have received Entrepreneurship Grants.

According to Rush, “Although this is the last year of funding for this program through a Lily grant, significant funding is already in place in order to continue the activities of the ELC, along with other outreach programs of the business department, under the umbrella of the Center for Business and Entrepreneurial Education (BBE).”

– by Emily Dougherty

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” “Making a Difference College Guide” and U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu.

the magazine.