{"id":25892,"date":"2024-03-06T15:24:42","date_gmt":"2024-03-06T20:24:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vivafallriver.com\/support\/?p=25892"},"modified":"2025-01-24T11:39:49","modified_gmt":"2025-01-24T16:39:49","slug":"new-program-for-minority-businesses-and-entrepreneurs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vivafallriver.com\/support\/new-program-for-minority-businesses-and-entrepreneurs\/","title":{"rendered":"New Program for Minority Businesses and Entrepreneurs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Interise<\/a> has partnered with the Urban League of Massachusetts<\/a> to launch NextStage MBE Academy, powered by the award-winning Interise curriculum. The 1st cohort begins at the end of March\/early April and 10 slots remain open. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the past 20 years, Interise has worked to create an inclusive economy by supporting established small businesses that are in low-income communities or are minority- or women-owned. The program has over 9,600 graduates, employing 150,000+ people, is offered in more than 85 markets, and has helped businesses grow by an average annual revenue growth of 38%. In addition, 97% of alumni businesses recommend the program, and Gains in employment, revenue growth, and access to capital are persistent over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Interise Alumni Testimonial:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I started this program, I was struggling. It didn\u2019t matter if it was a good or bad economy. Our sales were flat. We couldn\u2019t increase sales and were always in the hole. I entered the program, and the instructor made a lot of promises that I didn\u2019t believe were going to be true, but she assured me they would. I would go into class every session thinking I had all the answers, and I would leave, wondering how I was still in business. Every class I went to I always left thinking and trying to figure out what I was doing wrong, and I would always get my answers from my other classmates. After graduating I finally understood how to run a business instead of how to do my job. Sales increased, doubled, doubled, and doubled to a point where we got 7 or 8 full-time employees. Most of the employees have been with me since I took the Interise class 10 years ago. Most of them were hourly employees and now they\u2019re all homeowners.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Businesses in the S Coast region are encouraged to apply, especially in the New Bedford and Fall River surrounding areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Criteria:<\/p>\n\n\n\n