Molly Hulsey //December 17, 2021//
The Greenville Chamber’s Minority Business Accelerator program recently graduated 2021 program participants and named its 2022 class.
The Minority Business Accelerator supports and scales high-potential minority-owned firms by providing targeted training, access to business coaches, and access to large corporations, according to a news release. To qualify, businesses must be based in the Upstate, socially or economically disadvantaged (minority, veteran or woman-owned, as well as those serving lower-income communities), and a member of the Greenville Chamber.
The program was recently adopted by the Columbia and Charleston chambers of commerce through a $500,000 grant from Bank of America.
Participants undergo intensive training for the first six months following the Interise StreetWise ‘MBA’ curriculum led by instructor Wendell Jones. Participants then work with financial experts, coaches and MBA peers on a three-year strategic growth action plan and how to implement what they learned over the last six months.
Since its inception, the program has graduated more than 120 participants and created 250 full-time jobs while participants have seen a combined $26 million in new revenue, according to the release.
During a Dec. 9 graduation ceremony, Summer Lee of Flying Biscuit Café was honored with the MBA Excellence Award; Scott Whelchel and Louise Connell, longtime supporters and volunteers with the program, received the MBA Champion Award; and the S.C. Small Business Development Corp. was recognized with the MBA Partner Award.
Graduates of the 2021 program include:
The 2022 class will kick off their program in January: