Mayor awards certified vendor of the month to Liftoff Creamery

Liftoff Creamery is a Black-owned,  aviation themed, ice-cream parlor in the Herron-Morton neighborhood. Now, it’s indianapolis’ first certified Vendor of the Month.

Indianapolis’ Office of Minority and Women Business Development created the Vendor of the Month initiative to bring attention to minority and women owned businesses.

Liftoff Creamery was chosen to be the first Vendor of the Month because of the owner’s commitment to youth mentorship.

Mayor Joe Hogsett stood outside the business to give the award.

“Your aviation themed ice cream parlor has helped employees provide mentorship and share entrepreneurial experience with our city's next generation,” Hogsett told Liftoff owner Ryan Lynch.

“So for a whole host of different reasons, thank you for being such a positive force in the community.”

Lynch has experience as a commercial airline pilot and is the founder of a nonprofit devoted to teaching youth about the aviation industry. Lynch also runs an after-school work program to teach kids about running small businesses.

Contact WFYI economic equity reporter Sydney Dauphinais at sdauphinais@wfyi.org. Follow on Twitter: @syddauphinais.