New in 2020: Regions Foundation Announces $200,000 Grant to Support Small Businesses in East Lake, Clarkston, Southside Atlanta
ATLANTA, Jan. 11, 2020 — Fifty promising small businesses have been selected for the 2020 Start:ME Accelerator, a free, intensive 14-session business training program from the Goizueta Business School for promising ventures in the metro-Atlanta communities of East Lake, Clarkston and Southside Atlanta.
New in 2020, the Regions Foundation, a nonprofit initiative of Regions Bank, has awarded a $200,000 grant to support six Start:ME accelerator program cohorts over two years. The Foundation makes significant investments in economic and community development, education and workforce readiness, and financial wellness across the Southeast, Midwest and Texas.
“The result of this investment from the Regions Foundation will be more inclusive prosperity across our community,” said Bill Linginfelter, Atlanta-area Market Executive for Regions Bank. “Start:ME is having tremendous success with entrepreneurs and small-business owners who, in turn, create jobs, provide important products and services, and strengthen the economy. Regions Bank and the Regions Foundation have a long history of making investments that support people and opportunities in the communities where we live and work. And we are proud to join with Start:ME in supporting successful entrepreneurship in Atlanta.”
“Small businesses are the backbone of our communities, and the Regions Foundation is proud to invest in the people and organizations that create a strong economic engine for a community’s success,” said Marta Self, Executive Director of the Regions Foundation. “Through the Start:ME program and the investment by the Regions Foundation, entrepreneurs and small-business owners in underserved areas are provided access to skills, insights, local experts and new opportunities for success. The Regions Foundation’s investment will support long-term economic growth for Clarkston, East Lake, Southside Atlanta and the broader metro area.”
The Start:ME program operates within communities, drawing talented entrepreneurs who live in, work in, and/or provide valuable products and services to the community. During the 14 sessions, and well beyond, Start:ME connects those entrepreneurs to the business know-how, networks, and capital needed to build and develop sustainable businesses.
“The Start:ME program supports a diverse group of small businesses representing a range of industries from fresh juices to baked goods, construction to clothing, education to eco-friendly manufacturing all based right here in Atlanta,” says Erika H. James, John H. Harland Dean of the Goizueta Business School. “It focuses on entrepreneurs whose promise and dedication will create both strong businesses and good job opportunities in their local communities. This program reflects the conviction of our namesake, Roberto C. Goizueta, that business should have a positive impact on society.”
Ventures in the 2020 cohort generate almost $1M in annual revenues, account for 127 jobs, and occupy nine brick and mortar locations. Of the 50 businesses:
- 74% of ventures are women-led
- 86% of ventures are led by people of color
- 74% of ventures have existing revenue; Average revenue $25K; Combined revenue of $933K
- 32% of ventures operate in the food/beverage industry
- 24% provide professional services
- 16% focus on health, beauty and fitness
All three communities offer peer-selected grant pools of $10,000 to help the most promising businesses start or scale. Since its inception in 2013, Start:ME has supported 208 local businesses accounting for more than 338 jobs. Of those, 30 have brick and mortar locations. The program has peer-selected 39 ventures to receive more than $200,000 in startup capital.
The program is developed and delivered by Emory University’s Goizueta Business School in partnership with East Lake Foundation (East Lake), Friends of Refugees (Clarkston), Focused Community Strategies (Southside), and Purpose Built Schools Atlanta (Southside).
The 2020 cohort was selected from a record pool of more than 280 applications.
Clarkston Participants
- Teresa Afternoon (Teresa Abboud) – Artwork and products showing cultural connections through coffee.
- Cakes by Semira (Semira Abdu) – Custom cakes, cookies, bread and pastries made from scratch.
- T&H Fashion Store (Tufah Ahmed) – Store featuring women’s clothing and accessories.
- Imperial Insurance (Rovens Bazil) – Insurance agency offering auto, fire and commercial coverage.
- SecPro (Maria Campos) – Information Technology consulting firm.
- Sugarholic Desserts (Teasha Chestnut) – Alcohol infused desserts with innovative flavors.
- Othello Communications (Lanii Dennis) – Video marketing strategies including drone marketing to businesses.
- Mada Jy (Adja Mada Diakite) – Beverages using African heirloom recipes and natural ingredients.
- NVRBEENSTANDARD (Micah Ford) – Inspiring apparel for women and men.
- Harvey Wurie (Zainab Harvey) – Immigration and bankruptcy law firm.
- Creole Vegan (Adele Ledet) – Plant based meal options with a Cajun twist.
- Hala’s Halal Food (Hala Mustafa) – Sudanese Arab style foods.
- Chow Club Atlanta (Yohana Solomon) – An underground dining experience featuring immigrant chefs and creating a conscious community through food.
- STyler Visuals (Sonia Tyler) – Sharing the stories of people, businesses and events with visual content.
- Basil House (Saw Win) – Asian fusion restaurant to open in the Clarkston area.
- Famous Cafe & Company (Ishak Yusuf) – Healthy and affordable refreshments accompanied by production/digital service oriented memberships.
East Lake Participants
- Lucent Educational Therapy (Erika Afeman) – Educational plans for students included skills-based tutoring, behavioral plans and group study workshops.
- Rogue Digital (Madison Copeland) – A digital marketing agency.
- Vitality Mobile Massage (Sharita Davis) – Mobile massage therapy.
- Native Live Beverage Co. (Larry Ferguson) – Organic, alkaline and herb-infused juices teas and detox cleanses.
- Test Taking Task (Harlecia Jenkins) – Book/workbook on test taking strategies using academic concepts and examples.
- Springreens @ Community Cafe (Muhammad Jihad) – Healthy soul food with a Mediterranean twist.
- WorshApp (Jocelyn Johnson) – Mobile application for faith-based events and activities.
- Skinkulture Essentials (India Little) – Chemical peels and skin treatments for multicultural skin.
- Bamboo Services (Tamara Lucas) – On-demand concierge service providing screened and vetted Personal Assistants on Demand Anytime (PANDA).
- The Neighborhood Sprouts (Jan O’Shaughnessy) – A kids’ club educating children on giving back and community service.
- Blank Canvas Massage (Caroline Padgett) – Massage therapy and art from local artists.
- Life Chef/ Betty Rose (Asata Reid) – A healthy farm to table meal prep/delivery service.
- Bullseye Creative Agency (Justin Schaeffer) – One stop shop for graphic design, web design, social media and sign design.
- Write For You Business Services (Tanisha Smith) – Personalized service crafting resumes, cover letters, complaint letters and other custom content.
- Puncho’s (Brandon Williams) – Loaded fries specializing in non-traditional poutine dishes.
- MamaWunderlust (Katecia Wilson) – Affordable fitness programs promoting healthy lifestyles for single moms.
South Atlanta Participants
- Kaprius Farm (Charles Berry) – A hydroponic farm selling locally grown, pesticide free lettuce, spinach and herbs.
- Tutu Maniac (DeAndrea Byrd) – A kids birthday party company and boutique.
- Breezy Spot (Bryanna Carter-Martin) – Italian ice made with all natural ingredients and organic fruit.
- Be Bold Coaching and Consulting (Tanisha Corporal) – Community-based social enterprise specializing in transformative developmental support for individuals, organizations and communities.
- Next Level Freedom (Thomas Cotton) – Training and supportive services to help people overcome barriers to obtain a family living wage in Atlanta.
- The Good Day Box (Amber Hunter) – Fresh meals in sustainable packaging for eating on the go.
- RYSE Creative Village (Jay Jackson) – Resource hub and co-working space for creatives in the film, music, gaming and digital media industries.
- Deal Shack Foundation (LaDonna Jones) – Provides basic necessities including toiletries, cleaning supplies and household goods to independent senior living communities in Metro Atlanta.
- Beyond the Sky Catering Service (Sonya King) – Mobile on-site catering.
- Breathe Balance Energize (Lorriane McCall) – Holistic care services as an alternative to western medicine for illness caused by stress.
- Styles by Aprillove (April Payne) – Professional hair care, skincare and make-up services.
- GreenTec (Guillermo Quezada) – Construction products created with soil and recycled glass.
- James & Co. Interiors (Courtney Scott) – A full-service staging, interior design and home decor company.
- Immense DC (Kimberly Starks) – An esports consultancy providing public relations, marketing and digital marketing for gaming development and gaming studios.
- Velvet Storm Coffee Company (Monique Thomas) – A retail boutique coffee shop opening soon in Pittsburgh Yards.
- Bake-N-Jam (Joshua Westover) – Bringing people together through freshly baked bread and fruit jams.
- Travelsist (Veronica Woodruff) – Online service providing baby essentials and accessory rentals to parents with small children.
- Yogaskills (Iyabo Kiyaa Lawrence) – Kemetic yoga classes and trainings.
Start:ME also engages 75+ volunteer mentors with significant professional business and/or entrepreneurial experience to provide coaching support for entrepreneurs participating in the program.
Visit startmeatl.org for more information.
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About Goizueta Business School
Emory University’s Goizueta Business School believes that business schools need to do more than simply train the workforce. Goizueta goes beyond class work and research to be of service in the boardroom and on Main Street. Together with our partners, we build ecosystems, support small businesses, and strengthen local communities. Start:ME is made possible through the generous support of signature supporter Regions Foundation along with champion investors Emory University, The Goizueta Foundation, SunTrust Foundation and the PNC Foundation.
About Start:ME Clarkston
Goizueta Business School works with Friends of Refugees and a local coalition of partners to support entrepreneurs in Clarkston, GA. The Clarkston program has graduated 99 ventures since 2013.
About Start:ME East Lake
Goizueta Business School works with the East Lake Foundation and a local coalition of partners to support entrepreneurs in the East Lake, Edgewood and Kirkwood communities of Atlanta. The East Lake program has graduated 77 ventures since 2015.
About Start:ME Southside
Goizueta Business School works with Focused Community Strategies (FCS), Purpose Built Schools Atlanta and a local coalition of partners to support entrepreneurs in the Southside of Atlanta. The Southside program has graduated 32 ventures since 2018.
About Regions Foundation
Regions Foundation is committed to making a positive, meaningful difference in the communities served by Regions Bank. The Foundation’s approach to community engagement involves the investment of time, talents and resources in causes and partnerships that support its strategic priorities: economic and community development; education and workforce readiness; and financial wellness. Regions Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization funded primarily through contributions from Regions Bank.
About Regions Financial Corporation
Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF), with $128 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation’s largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank, operates approximately 1,500 banking offices and 2,000 ATMs. Regions Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at www.regions.com.
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Kim Speece (404) 849-6579, kim@leffassociates.com
