MINNEAPOLIS - Oct. 8, 2021 - PRLog -- President and CEO of the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) Dr. Rebecca Corbin announced a new $250,000 grant to support community college student entrepreneurs at the organization's Future Building Summit, the first convening of the community college entrepreneurship ecosystem since March 2020 hosted in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

The $250,000, raised through private donations, will be distributed across the NACCE network to deserving community college student entrepreneurs. Each business will receive a $5,000, a significant and transformational amount for these young businesses. These funds can help a business purchase transformational tools and resources, secure staff and other support, or become cash positive by the end of the year.

Standing with Public Private Strategies Senior Advisor Renee Johnson and joined virtually by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Corbin pushed for further partnership and funding to support NACCE's burgeoning entrepreneurs:

"The national economy has recovered from the pandemic, but the small businesses and struggling entrepreneurs have yet to rebound," said Dr. Corbin. "In order to achieve a truly equitable future, we need additional support for these underrepresented entrepreneurs. Their success will mean a stronger economy for all."

"With more funding for community college entrepreneurship and skills training, we can tear down financial barriers for workers who beginning or transitioning into new careers," said Senator Klobuchar in pre-taped remarks delivered virtually, "This investment is not only good for our workers, it's good for the entire economy…and by making sure these programs are open and accessible to women and people of color, we can also create more equity in our workforce."

At the close of the Future Building Summit, Andy Stoll, a senior program officer at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, noted that, "What we were reminded about over and over again today, is that society is undergoing significant change and entrepreneurs will help our communities evolve." Stoll continued, "Entrepreneurs create jobs, build wealth, help address social issues and they move our communities forward. We must support entrepreneurs in inclusive and equity ways, if our economies are to grow and be sustainable."

Understanding that small businesses were devastated by the effects of the pandemic and that entrepreneurs are the job creators of the future, the first-ever Future Building Summit convened leaders from community colleges across the country, along with policymakers, venture capitalists, philanthropists and entrepreneurs to discuss how to build back better. This initial $250,000 grant will propel many young entrepreneurs forward, but further advancement in cultivating an equitable workforce will require greater coordination with public and private partnerships and federal government support.

Learn more about the Future Building Summit here.

About NACCE
NACCE is an organization of educators, administrators, presidents and entrepreneurs focused on igniting entrepreneurship in their communities and campuses. NACCE has two main goals: to empower college leaders to approach the business of running a community college with an entrepreneurial mindset and to grow the community college's role in supporting job creation and entrepreneurs in their local ecosystem. NACCE unites a dynamic network of community colleges. For more information, visit www.nacce.com. Follow us on Twitter at @NACCE, like us on Facebook, and join our LinkedIn group.

Contact
Anne Strickland, Vice President
***@nacce.com
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