Socially or economically disadvantaged, women and minority entrepreneurs in four Cleveland neighborhoods have an opportunity to apply for a spot in an incubator aimed at helping them launch retail businesses.
ECDI, a nonprofit based in Columbus, Ohio, is partnering with Cleveland on the Set Up Shop incubator for 40 entrepreneurs in the city's Glenville, Buckeye-Shaker, Clark-Fulton and Slavic Village neighborhoods.
The incubator is accepting applications through Aug. 31.
Those accepted by the incubator will go through a one-year entrepreneur boot camp to develop their business plans and sharpen skills needed to succeed, according to ECDI's press release.
Entrepreneurs will receive training through the organization’s Women’s Business Center and have access to capital such as loans, stipends and grants, ECDI said.
And beginning in October, the entrepreneurs will test their business concepts at rotating pop-up markets in the Glenville, Larchmere, Clark-Fulton and Slavic Village neighborhoods.
"The City of Cleveland is taking steps to assure all residents have sustainable and equitable opportunities to find meaningful employment and build wealth," said Briana Butler, manager of Mayor Frank Jackson's Neighborhood Transformation Initiative, in the release.
