ATLANTA — An Atlanta business-focused initiative is set to launch in August.
It’s aimed at providing start-up funds for Black entrepreneurs to succeed in metro Atlanta and beyond.
Channel 2′s Audrey Washington spoke with business owners and program staff at the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs in Southwest Atlanta to learn more about the new initiative.
Starting a business is not an easy thing, and there are often added challenges when you are a Black entrepreneur.
But the initiative starting up at RICE aims to help, and in a big way.
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One business owner about to benefit is Chef Chrissy Hinton, and she knows Creole southern food.
Hinton opened her own business, Epic Flavors Catering, and thanks to the help of RICE, business is growing.
Hinton said “It’s very hard to start from the bottom with no funds, so giving that boost not only with finances but the guidance on how to use those resources,” from RICE came with even more guidance, including how to make your company grow.
Friday, Channel 2 Action News got a first look at a new multimillion-dollar initiative launching in August to help more Black entrepreneurs like Hinton become successful.
Jay Bailey, president and CEO of RICE, said growth can help change the city of Atlanta.
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“We only participate in 8% of the growth, if that number changes, everything changes for this city,” Bailey said.
Many Black entrepreneurs struggle with finding seed money or getting bank loans to start and run a company, Bailey said.
The initiative starting in August is aimed at changing how business owners start.
“Literally looking at how to provide the resources, the access, the exposure, the mentorship,” Bailey said.
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Channing Baker, who owns a commercial roofing and construction company, told Channel 2 Action News he has gotten help from the RICE stakeholder program.
“I gained a lot of access to information,” Baker said. “They helped me get a loan and they helped me in my first year of business to the tune of where I currently have $3 million in booked revenue this year.”
Hinton put it a different way.
“What would you say to other young, Black entrepreneurs?” Hinton said. “Keep going.”
The initiative official starts in August, which is National Black Business Month.
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