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The Entrepreneurship Center of Urban League of Greater Atlanta Making a Difference through Partnerships
On May 19, 2015, the Urban League of Greater Atlanta hosted a free, day-long seminar held, in partnership with Wells Fargo, at the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce to support greater Atlanta Black businesses to grow. Within a few short days of the announcement, registration filled to capacity – a clear sign that entrepreneurs throughout the Atlanta metro region are eager to advance. The seminar connected 72 firms to decision makers that offer access to capital, contracts and expert advice on building capacity of their firms to grow. Participating firms and organizations included Access to Capital (ACE), Home Depot, MARTA, Georgia Department of Transportation, SBA, Wells Fargo, Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council, Stonehenge Capital, Ernst & Young and local consultants, a successful 8(a) firm and more.
The ULGA launched The Entrepreneurship Center – TEC – almost 11 years ago, and it has grown stronger each year. Since 2013, the center has served 1,858 clients and has helped them gain loans and contracts totaling more than $3 million.
The seminar was just one example of the successful partnerships ULGA’s entrepreneurship center has been able to engage to help build a strong business community in the Atlanta area. Other partners include Georgia Pacific, Atlanta Business League, State Farm, PNC Bank and Hewlett Packard.
By increasing the number of successful, sustainable Black businesses, TEC fosters wealth and job creation and economic health. Center director Marc Parham engages experienced consultants to coach and lead seminars and workshops that help clients with the range of issues faced by new and long-time small business owners and those seeking to start a business including business plan development, loan applications, marketing plans and social media campaigns.
Over the past two years, TEC has provided 1,173 coaching hours and 6,069 training hours. Of the total clients, 64 percent were pre-venture, 20 percent were start-ups, 12 percent were early-growth, and 4 percent were in the expansion stage.
Muslimah Baldwin is one of the clients who came to TEC in the expansion stage. In business for five years, she was eager to acquire capital to add a cart to the two she was using in her popular mobile food business, Dogs on Wheels. Through TEC’s help, Muslimah secured a $25,000 loan. She purchased an additional cart – shaped like a hot dog -- that promotes her brand.
Once clients connect with TEC, they are able to partner with a business consultant, take business development classes conducted by local experts, attend small business events, and take advantage of networking and financial opportunities they may not have been able to reach on their own.
“We are excited about the progress TEC is making. Historically, the Urban League has been in the business of promoting entrepreneurship – especially in communities that have been shut out of the financial backing and information that could make the difference between success and failure,” said Nancy F. Johnson, ULGA president and CEO. She adds, “Going forward, we are putting more focus on supporting existing businesses to grow by helping them build their capacity and connecting them with partners who can provide opportunities to access capital and contracts.”
To that end, the ULGA TEC is among a group of metro Atlanta economic development focused organizations that are working to ensure that Black firms gain access to contracting opportunities connected with Georgia’s Transportation Investment Act of 2015. Under the Act, the state of Georgia will spend almost $1 billion dollars over the next 5 years on the maintenance and improvement of roads and bridges projects.
TEC is working collaboratively with community partners to ensure that Black firms in the greater Atlanta region are aware of these opportunities through upcoming outreach forums, connected to TEC technical assistance, capital and bonding they will need to be prepared to compete and joint venture for these opportunities. Historically the participation of Black firms in Georgia Department of Transportation projects has been minimal and ULGA TEC and our partners are working to change these statistics in a meaningful and impactful way over the next 5 years.
For more information on ULGA TEC programs and services please visit our website.
