Business Center for Women's Entrepreneurship, WISE, secures grant from Empire State Development and commemorates Entrepreneur of the Year honoree.
The WISE Women's Business Center, under the guidance of Syracuse University's Whitman School of Management, is set to expand its services to women entrepreneurs in Central New York. This expansion is made possible by a three-year grant from Empire State Development [1][2][3].
The grant aims to broaden access to resources, mentorship, and business development opportunities for Central New York entrepreneurs, with a focus on women. This expansion is expected to include workshops, training, and financial guidance, with the ultimate goal of empowering female entrepreneurs and stimulating local economic growth.
One of the beneficiaries of this expansion is Arteika Hunter, managing director and founder of Clean & Glo Cleaning Services LLC, who launched her business in August 2022. Hunter has over a decade of experience in the cleaning industry and has been navigating the challenges of ownership and scaling her small business. She was honoured with the EAC Entrepreneur of the Year award by Empire State Development [1][2][3].
Hunter received support from the WISE Women's Business Center and other community resources for her business. The center's renewal as an Entrepreneurial Assistance Center (EAC) through the Empire State Development EAC program will further support Central New York entrepreneurs in building strong businesses [1][2][3].
The WISE Women's Business Center's expansion includes the growth of its Accelerate: Business Plan Intensive program, which is in its fifth year. This program provides expert guidance, peer collaboration, and personalized support to entrepreneurs in the early stages of their business. The outputs of the program can be used for loan applications, finding business partners, and more [1][2][3].
With the expanded program, the center will offer one-on-one, no-cost business counseling to entrepreneurs. This will help them navigate NYS certification processes and access capital, thus facilitating their growth and sustainability [1][2][3].
The Accelerate: Business Plan Intensive program kicked off its ninth cohort in April, demonstrating the center's ongoing commitment to supporting entrepreneurs in Central New York. The renewal of the WISE Women's Business Center as an EAC designates it as one of 26 Entrepreneurship Assistance Centers in the state of New York [1][2][3].
This expansion is a testament to the WISE Women's Business Center's ongoing success in advancing entrepreneurs in business and fostering economic growth in Central New York. The center's efforts continue to play a significant role in supporting local entrepreneurs, particularly women, and contributing to the region's economic development.
[1] https://www.esd.ny.gov/ [2] https://wise-wbc.org/ [3] https://whitman.syr.edu/
- The expansion of the WISE Women's Business Center includes the growth of its Accelerate: Business Plan Intensive program, which offers expert guidance, peer collaboration, and personalized support to women entrepreneurs in Central New York, aimed at empowering them and stimulating local economic growth.
- Arteika Hunter, a beneficiary of the WISE Women's Business Center's services, used the resources and mentorship provided to her to successfully launch Clean & Glo Cleaning Services LLC, earning her the EAC Entrepreneur of the Year award by Empire State Development.
- The WISE Women's Business Center offers one-on-one, no-cost business counseling to entrepreneurs, helping them navigate NYS certification processes and access capital, facilitating their growth and sustainability in their small businesses.
- With the expanded program, the WISE Women's Business Center continues to support education and self-development for entrepreneurs in Central New York, providing lifelong learning opportunities in finance, business, careers, and learning about small-business development.
