Good news! The U.S. Small Business Administration has launched its 2015 Emerging Leaders executive-level training series in 48 cities and communities across the country. ??
To date, the initiative has trained more than 2,400 aspiring small business owners in underserved communities, and its impact continues to expand in helping small businesses to grow and create jobs throughout the country. There are 22 new cities joining the initiative for the first time, including Birmingham, Charlotte, Salt Lake City, Puerto Rico and Providence.
SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet released the following statement about the program: ?The Emerging Leaders Program is a resource that can open lucrative doors for America?s small businesses. The addition of over 20 new cities in 2015 will help serve even more entrepreneurs. Graduates of the initiative have measurably increased their revenue, and helped create jobs and drive economic growth in their local communities,? she says. ?
Those affiliated with the program say it has been key to underserved communities. And numbers don’t lie. Graduates have secured more than $1 billion in government contracts and accessed $73 million in new financing. Graduates also reported having created nearly 2,000 new full-time jobs since the program?s inception. Sixty-two percent of surveyed participants reported an increase in revenue while 70 percent of those surveyed reported maintaining or creating new jobs in their communities.
For a related article about the SBA, CLICK HERE.
