The Founders of the Jackson Ward Collective and the JWC Foundation are excited to announce the launch of the Community Business Academy (CBA), a 12-week course featuring hands-on training to teach business fundamentals. Targeting aspiring entrepreneurs with a strong business idea or current entrepreneurs looking to improve, strengthen or significantly expand their current business, the Community Business Academy will be the only offering of its kind in the Richmond Region.
The Community Business Academy aims to be a resource for “main street businesses,” small businesses that serve as the backbone of the local economy in the Richmond Region and encourages these owners to enroll in the 12-week course. The purpose of the academy is to equip new businesses with the tools to succeed during the early stages of development and strengthen the operations of more established businesses through weekly in person instructor-led sessions. The weekly sessions will focus on fundamentals like budgeting, marketing, bookkeeping, financing and more. The Community Business Academy’s curriculum is being licensed through New Jersey based organization, Rising Tide Capital, a non-profit organization whose mission is to transform lives and communities through entrepreneurship. For 18 years, Rising Tide Capital has provided business development services designed to transform lives by helping individuals start and grow successful businesses; they have built communities through collaborations with other nonprofits, higher education institutions, corporations, and public agencies; and have created a scalable program model with measurable impact which can be replicated in communities of need across the U.S.
“We are incredibly excited about our partnership with Rising Tide Capital, and the opportunity to fill the educational gap and invest in entrepreneurs in the Region that employ our neighbors, provide products and services that the community needs and ultimately ensure a strong local economy,” says Melody Short, Director of Programs for the JWC Foundation. The Community Business Academy launch includes a series of Information Sessions taking place June 28th, June 30th and July 14th that will be offered both virtually and in person. CBA participants will be required to attend one of the information sessions. The inaugural CBA will kick off Wednesday, September 7th and run for 12 weeks at the 1717 Innovation Center in Shockoe Bottom, thanks to Community partner, Capital One. Participants will meet weekly with sessions presenting them the opportunity to explore their passion for starting a business or better manage their current business.
“We understand the importance of developing a solid, inclusive, resourceful and sustainable small business community,” shared JWC Foundation Director of Programs, Melody Short. “We are committed to providing a premier business program that will deliver tangible and meaningful results.”
The JWC Foundation is grateful to sponsors of the Community Business Academy to include Altria, Capital One and Dominion Energy. The generosity of our funding partners will allow entrepreneurs the opportunity to enroll in the Community Business Academy using a sliding scale with the fee not to exceed $250 (The 12-week program is valued at $3,000). Aspiring and current entrepreneurs interested in enrolling in the Community Business Academy are encouraged to attend an upcoming information session. For more information on the upcoming information sessions, please visit: https://jacksonwardcollective.com/cba/
