Institute for Veterans and Military Families - IVMF’s Post

Kansas City, Let's Celebrate! 🎉 We have exciting news to share! This past Saturday, Congressman #EmanuelCleaver secured $4 million in funds for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Heartland Black Chamber. This money will help the two chambers collaborate on a new business development center in Kansas City. This investment represents a significant milestone for minority business owners in our region. By providing this dedicated space and programming, Both Chambers can equip more entrepreneurs with the tools to start and expand companies, create jobs, and drive economic growth in our community. The success of minority-owned businesses lifts everyone. Congressman Cleaver and leaders from both chambers held an inaugural check presentation and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Light appetizers and beverages were served. When Congressman Cleaver took the podium, he spoke passionately about the need to invest in our minority communities. He described the challenges minority business owners face and how this center will help them thrive. The audience erupted in applause when he announced the $4 million allocation. After the speech, attendees mingled over beverages and food while touring the finished portion of the center. I encourage everyone to support minority-owned businesses in our community. You can contact the chambers to get involved with the new center. This is an exciting time, and we all have a role to play!  #socialshadow #socialshadow1 #BusinessNetworking #BusinessDevelopment #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #Startups #BusinessStrategy #MarketingStrategy #SalesSuccess #ProfessionalDevelopment #BusinessMentorship #ProfessionalDevelopment #BusinessConnections

The formidable Lakeysha Hallmon, EdD has founded a number of businesses and nonprofits created to support Black entrepreneurs. Here, 6 founder/ CEOs share how participating in Hallmon's incubator ELEVATE has helped build their revenues and social media followings while still caring for their personal wellbeing. My latest for Forbes. #blackownedbusiness #womenownedbusiness #elevatedcities #entrepreneurs

We are thrilled to pass the word about Springboard: a unique funding competition that offers prizes up to $25,000 to organizations across the Buffalo, Rochester, and the Southern Tier areas.   With Springboard, there are three opportunities to enter, several rapid cash prizes to be awarded, and a single application.   If you are a person or group that helps entrepreneurs thrive, Springboard wants to help you.    https://springboardny.org/   Here’s what you need to know about Springboard eligibility: -It’s open to organizations located in one of the following counties: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, or Wyoming. - Local high schools, colleges, and universities with entrepreneurial programs - Capital providers including seed-stage funds and angel groups - Any service provider that supports entrepreneurs - Small businesses with less than $2,000,000 in gross revenues - Entrepreneurs, and their companies 

The SBDC Brockport Team recently had an impactful meeting with State Representatives from Wayne and Ontario Counties: Brian Manktelow; Senator Pam Helming; Assemblyman Jeff Gallahan; and Assemblywoman Marjorie Byrnes. We engaged in a dynamic roundtable discussion focused on addressing the unique needs of small businesses in these counties, along with how the SBDC can play a pivotal role in fostering entrepreneurship, providing essential support to local businesses and collaborating in the entrepreneurial ecosystem to allow small businesses to succeed.   #SBDCBrockport #SmallBusinessSupport #CommunityCollaboration #EntrepreneurshipMatters #WayneCountyNY #OntarioCountyNY

#LunchandLearn workshop. See below

Seattle innovators and business owners gathered at Imperia in Lake Union for the eighth annual Impact Pitch Competition. Hosted by Business Impact NW, the event allows entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas and companies to a panel of experts and ultimately compete for grants. “You get to learn the full ins and outs of your business, and you can win some money,” Adra D. D. Boo said. “People are basically learning what’s in the engine of the car that is their business.” Three winners walked away with $6,000 each, including our Art Queen and owner of the Re-Sole Takiyah Ward who won best startup and early stages business. There was also an audience vote for best marketing video. “I am so pumped,” Ward said. “I’m so proud of myself for getting to this point and being able to step into my power, and share my business with the community.” Even for those whose businesses didn’t win grants, the event was a valuable experience and provided exposure for their brands. “It’s a blessing to be honest,” Tony Wilson, owner of Papa Tony’s Hot Sauce said. “I always say I wasn’t intended to be here but I’m here now. We’re full steam ahead at making this thing a national brand.” Business Impact NW has been around for 26 years, and aims to help small businesses, especially those in marginalized areas and communities. “That’s are whole focus in the world is to make sure that small businesses have access to capital and access to information,” Business Impact NW CEO Joe Sky-Tucker said. “We’re really aimed to help businesses on the margin.” For Cameron Hudson, owner of ALLNHAUL, LLC, the added exposure is extremely valuable. “As a Black-owned business, it’s great to get out in front of people,” Hudson said. “If they don’t know you, how can they support you?” You can find out more about Business Impact NW at https://lnkd.in/dEsg6bV #LocalBusiness #SeattleBusiness #Seattle #Community #Entrepreneur #BlackSeattle #BlackInSeattle #BlackMedia #BlackMediaMatters #WWConverge 

Now here's a case where the numbers tell the story.... #entrepreneurship

#EconomicDevelopment and #WorkforceDevelopment Professionals: Check out this very quick video about the #CEOprogram and my session at the upcoming #ConnectingEntrepreneurialCommunities Conference. Message me if you'd like more information about #CEO and how to bring this #GameChanging program to your community.

This is what it's all about. Yesterday we hosted the Bristol arm of Enterprise Nation with Dan Martin. I love these events as they are more relaxed compared to other networking events. They take a 'No pressure' approach to collaborating. Attendees can come and share their problems within their business, or just turn up and be inspired by what others are doing in Bristol's business community. There's no pitching, just active listening and a shared goal of progressing together 💪 It was also great to listen to the challenges that business owners are currently facing. Lots of topics evolved around social media, AI, cost of living and a tricky recruitment period.... which made me wonder, how can we as a creative educational hub help Bristol business with these issues? We're fortunate to have such excellent facilities to teach creative subjects to our students... but it shouldn't stop there. Our creative spaces should be utilised by our local SMEs, entrepreneurs, and business leaders who could do with a helping hand. Moreover, a helping hand from the young people we teach every day. The young people that want to break into the creative industries, but need adequate work/life experience to get their foot in the door of their dream job. So, here's my open offer to my network... I'm willing to lend our recording/photography studios, green screen room, event spaces and meeting rooms to Bristol's forward-thinking business communities FREE of charge to help with progressing your business goals (outside of term time of course). In return... You'll host either a T Levels work placement for our Software Development course or take on a young person as an apprentice/or upskill a current employee (with the help and guidance from our apprenticeship team). Better yet, I'll ensure that if you do use our facilities, you'll be working with our SEND students - giving them a chance to develop their professional skill set whilst within a safe environment. Everyone wins 🔥 Doesn't sound too bad ay? let's lift barriers for young people together 🚀