Main Street Launch is proud to have been accepted as a Community Progress Maker by Citi Foundation. Joining this national cohort of high-impact community organizations who received core operating support has enabled us to grow and develop new programs and services to meet the needs entrepreneurs we serve face.
January 28-February 4, 2019, Main Street Launch is participating with the other organizations selected in an online campaign: “What Progress Looks Like.” Follow #ProgressMakers to see stories from across the country of the great work done by dozens of high-impact organizations.
Our small business clients show us What Progress Looks Like every day. Fernay McPherson, owner of Minnie Bells Soul Movement, started her business by doing small catering gigs and teaching cooking classes to young people. She formalized her business in 2011 after joining Urban Solutions’ Enterprising Women program. After that, she joined La Cocina’s program for food entrepreneurs. In 2016, Fernay joined Main Street Launch’s Entrepreneurs-in-Residence Program, looking to accelerate her business’ growth. Now Minnie Bells still offers catering services and is operating from The Emeryville Public Market. Click here to learn more about Minnie Bells Soul Movement, and visit her location for the best bite of mac & cheese you’ve ever tasted.
“Core operating support from the Citi Foundation has allowed us to pursue a big vision faster. We are quickly expanding programs and deepening our impacts in the communities we serve, thanks to the flexibility of this funding. It means a lot that Citi Foundation trusts us to develop the right programming and services to meet the needs of the entrepreneurs we support.” – Robert Lattimore, Executive Vice President – Diverse Markets
Funded in part by Citi Foundation, Main Street Launch has expanded our Entrepreneur-in-Residence Program. Our first three cohorts featured two companies each, and our current fourth cohort includes four African American owned companies looking to scale. Visit our blog throughout the year for stories of our EIRs and loan clients, and support small businesses that support our local communities.
Thank you to Citi Foundation for your support of our work. Follow us on Twitter for more stories of What Progress Looks Like @mainstlaunch.
