A group of minority-owned businesses and entrepreneurs will get a boost in building their businesses thanks to a new partnership between Quinnipiac University and the Connecticut Community Outreach Revitalization Program, or ConnCORP.
The first cohort of minority-owned businesses and entrepreneurs hail from the Greater New Haven area and were selected to be part of the newly created ConnCORP/Quinnipiac University Community Entrepreneurship Academy and Clinic, or CEAC.
The new program is being funded by a $406,000 grant which Quinnipiac received from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Those selected to participate include:
- Alisha Crutchfield of BLOOM
- Shakeema Burke of Waterfront Rentals
- Silvia Loney of Vegan Chef Sil
- Erica G. Bradley of Crimson World Travel
- Novella Atkinson of Asantewaa Fitness and Wellness
- Kimberly Griffith-Artis of Kimberly Consulting Inc.
- Shenira Billups of Mental Growth & Internal Healing, LLC
- Candice Dormon of Ekow Body
- Tanisha M. Hill of Plant and Tea
- Evelyn Massey of Noir Vintage & Co.
- Cherryll LaFond of Caribbean Home-Style Products LLC
- Letitia Charles of Sankofa Interior Design and Professional Organizing, LLC
- Caysi Morgan and Jovan Lomax of Royal Roots Solutions, LLC
- Melissa L. Singleton of Unique Mobile Notary Services
- Winter A. Carson of Blush Beauty & Wellness
- Lillian Pearson of Elle dot Kay LLC
- Tabari Hashim of Love Vegan Bakery
- Quiana Tanner of Try This Pie
- Darian Duah of CheB
According to Quinnipiac officials, the entrepreneurs will take part in a 14-week program geared to help them build and grow their businesses.
“The first cohort will go through a rigorous and transformational program,” said Tuvana Rua, associate professor of management at Quinnipiac and director of the program. “They will receive a tremendous amount of support from Quinnipiac faculty and students in key areas to help with their stability and growth.”
The program will include both in-person workshops and virtual coaching courtesy of Quinnipiac faculty members, who will serve as teachers, coaches and mentors. The Lab at ConnCORP, the organization’s business incubator based in Hamden, will host the in-person workshops and virtual business clinics, according to The Lab’s Executive Director Aya Beckles Swanson.
“The Lab was created to be an institution to support and develop minority and Black-owned businesses in Greater New Haven,” said Beckles Swanson. “We are all eager to aid these entrepreneurs in the pursuit of lasting success and prosperity. I am excited about this partnership with Quinnipiac University and for the cohort of businesses that will thrive through this program.”
ConnCORP CEO Erik Clemons said he’s excited for what’s to come for the entrepreneurs.
“This is an opportunity for them to lay the first bricks of a foundation towards building sustainable success and long-term wealth generation,” Clemons said. “We are in the business of creating success and wealth in our community, and CEAC will be a benefit to minority small business owners within this cohort and those that will come after it.”
Entrepreneurs interested in being part of the academy’s next group may write to quentrepreneurshipacademy@qu.
