DURHAM — More resources are on the way for Durham County’s small businesses. Durham County is excited to announce that $2.25 million has been awarded to two Durham nonprofits to provide a network of resources to support small businesses. Forward Cities, recipient of a $1.5 million award, will administer E3 (Equity for Every Entrepreneur) Durham, an emergent ecosystem of entrepreneurial support organizations that provides assessment and referral to partner organizations, strategic coordination of the service providers, monthly convening events, and supplementary services through a Learn to Earn model. Knox Street Studios, awarded $750,000, will also offer direct services to small businesses through accelerators, incubators, and counseling, while bringing awareness to the technology sector through educational programs. All services offered by both nonprofits will be provided at no cost to eligible small businesses. Funding for these nonprofits has been allocated by the Durham County Board of Commissioners using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
“Durham County continues to make significant investments to support our diverse collection of local entrepreneurs, with a particular focus on Minority and Women Business Enterprises (MWBE)”, said Andrew Miracle, Durham County Economic Development Director. “With these investments, we hope to advance an acclaimed start-up community by structuring an entrepreneurial ecosystem that connects small businesses to identified service providers and resources. While the goals of the funding are to help founders grow and be successful over time, it’s also important to build a sense of community through monthly networking events. We are excited to work with both organizations, as well as our institutional partners and entrepreneurial support organizations, in coordinating quality support services to Durham’s small businesses.”
Initially supported by the Small Business Administration’s Community Navigator program, E3 Durham will continue to build a more diverse and equitable entrepreneurial landscape in Durham by specifically providing support to underrepresented, non-traditional, and historically excluded entrepreneurs. It will engage a broader set of support organizations and service providers to level up support for the entrepreneurs who need it most. The Durham E3 Alliance, an advisory council of ecosystem partners, will elevate the support system for Durham’s entrepreneurs, ensuring they receive the vital resources and services needed to thrive. In addition, the E3 Durham initiative will provide supplementary services for entrepreneurs including counseling, ecosystem navigation, a digital platform, and educational and technical assistance offerings in partnership with local service providers. Most notably, the program will offer Durham entrepreneurs the opportunity to earn up to $2,000 each in vital, free business services.
Forward Cities President and CEO Fay Horwitt added, “For existing and aspiring entrepreneurs, the top three challenges are often a lack of affordable business development support, limited professional networks, equitable access to capital and market opportunities. With this innovative program, we’re offering a way to access them all through a central pathway, with wrap-around support from the entire local ecosystem. We are excited to work in partnership with Knox Street Studios, and hope this will position Durham as a model for equitable entrepreneurial ecosystems of the future.”
Contributing to the network of service providers, Knox Street Studios will help start-ups and growth-stage businesses gain access to skill-building programs, capital, and trusted advisors. Pivotal among these objectives is proactively identifying and prioritizing historically underrepresented businesses for support. Additionally, in recognizing the significance of the technology sector to individual businesses as well as the region, the industry will be promoted through workshops and technical training curriculum. This strategy highlights the importance of equipping small business owners and their employees with essential digital skills in today’s rapidly evolving landscape as well as featuring the opportunities within this growing market.
Knox Street Studios Executive Director Talib Graves-Manns added, “Since our founding in 2018, we have been dedicated to equipping current and aspiring entrepreneurs with training, tools, connectivity, and community. Our mission is to foster a thriving and dynamic business environment in Durham, reflecting the diverse talents of its community members. Through our cohorts, accelerators, and access to capital, we equip entrepreneurs to take their next step. We are thrilled to continue this important work and work alongside Durham County and Forward Cities.”
Small businesses, entrepreneurial support organizations, and community members are invited to attend the kick-off event on July 18 to learn more about the E3 Durham program by registering here.
Once E3 Durham becomes operational in late July 2024, eligible small businesses can schedule business counseling appointments, attend trainings and workshops, and other networking and coaching opportunities. Interested parties can learn more here. More information on Knox Street Studios programming can be found here. All services provided are free, and the programs will run through June 2026.
For further details about these ARPA awards, contact Andrew Miracle, Durham County Economic Development Director, at [email protected]. For questions about the E3 Durham Program, contact Jacinta Walker, E3 Durham Program Director, at [email protected]; and for questions about Knox St. Studios, contact Talib Graves-Manns, Executive Director, at [email protected].
