It's easier to be an entrepreneur in Northeast Ohio now than it was just five years ago. Our region continues to add an array of resources for entrepreneurs. Over the last year we've seen new community funds, incubators, accelerators and business competitions come online. And now, Cuyahoga Community College, in partnership with the Goldman Sachs Foundation, is offering Cleveland area small business owners the opportunity to apply for the upcoming class of 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) that begins in September.
The program is designed to help small businesses create jobs and economic opportunity by providing them with greater access to business education, financial capital and business support services. Applicants accepted into Goldman Sachs 10KSB will receive a practical business education with coursework that includes peer learning, one-on-one professional business advising and the opportunity to access growth capital.
The program is designed for entrepreneurs with limited resources who demonstrate a commitment to growing their business and creating jobs within their community. Business owners eligible to apply for the program generally have been in business for two years or more and typically have at least four employees and a revenue stream of $150K to $4 million per year.
JumpStart is proud to be a partner in the program that helps meet the ever-growing demand for small business support. More than 620 small business owners have participated in 10KSB in Chicago, Houston, Long Beach, Los Angeles, New Orleans and New York with a 99% graduation rate across all sites. In all cases, participants embody the diversity and potential of America's small businesses, with 50% of companies being women-owned and 45% African-American- or Latino-owned.
To learn more about the program in Northeast Ohio or to sign up for an information session, visit www.tri-c.edu/10ksb.
John Dearborn is President of JumpStart and brings experience as an entrepreneur, founder and CEO at companies across the US and Europe over the last 25 years to the pursuit of economic transformation in Northeast Ohio.