City Startup Labs is one of 18 organizations nationwide to receive funding from Michael Jordan and Jordan Brand's inaugural Black Community Commitment Grant Program.
The Jordan Brand grants program provides micro-funding awards to grassroots nonprofit organizations with a total operating budget under $3 million, a proven track record of success and demonstrated paths to sustainable change. A total of $1 million was distributed to 18 organizations with missions rooted in social justice, economic empowerment and education and awareness.
City Startup Labs, a Charlotte-based accelerator and incubator for Black millennial founders, was chosen out of more than 600 applicants. It is the only organization from North Carolina to make the cut. The organization received $37,000 that Henry Rock, founder and executive director, said will be used in its ReEntry Entrepreneurship Program.
Rock established CSL in 2014 to share valuable education tools and resources with aspiring Black entrepreneurs. In early 2019, through City Startup Labs, Rock launched The ReEntry Entrepreneurship Program, or REEP, which aims to give formerly incarcerated citizens the tools they need to earn a living wage through innovation and entrepreneurship.
"We’re right in Michael’s backyard, and the selection committee was looking for organizations doing something unique that was addressing socioeconomic mobility issues facing their community," he said. "Because of the type of work we’re doing, we probably stood out as something unique, and I think that was a bit of a feature in our cap."
Rock said the funds, combined with another grant for $25,000 through an Ally Financial award earlier this year, were put toward REEP's third phase, called Build. The program has three phases: Learn, Earn and Build. City Startup Labs partners with the Charlotte Area Fund, Mecklenburg County Criminal Justice Services Office and Wells Fargo & Co. on REEP.
"We will provide those who have met our mark, who demonstrate they’ve generated a bit of traction or done customer discovery, a business-in-a-box kit that includes set of back-office services, additional coaching and some kickstarter capital," he said.
