A new centre has opened in the state of Indiana in the US which helps minorities kick-start their small business ideas, it has emerged.

The Minority Business Enterprise Centre (MBEC), opened in March with a $600,000 (£300,865) grant from the US Department of Commerce, which gives people a hand with areas such as strategic planning, logistics and supply chain management, reports the Indianapolis Star.

Administrators say the centre helps fill gaps in businesses owned by women and minority groups, while benefiting the state's economy as a whole.

"It helps us build strong minority businesses in Indiana," Claudia Cummings, who oversees the Minority and Women's Business Enterprises division, told the publication.

"Small business is really the backbone of the Indiana economy, so anything we can do to build stronger small businesses is a win for Indiana."

The centre offers individual consultation to minority businesses with annual revenues of more than $500,000.

Minority-owned companies in the US generate $668 billion annually, according to the MBEC's figures.