Entrepreneurship Center Initiative

The Entrepreneurship Center Initiative (ECI) is a national program designed to encourage entrepreneurship in urban areas, particularly among minority entrepreneurs. In Cincinnati, the program is sponsored by the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati and is operated as the Cincinnati Economic Empowerment Center (CEEC). Nationally, the founding partners are the National Urban League, National Economic Council of the White House, and the Business Roundtable.

The program has two key components: The Resource Navigator- a referral network to business assistance programs, and the ECI Coaching Program, an intrusive coaching component for high-potential minority entrepreneurs.

What is the Resource Navigator?

The Resource Navigator is a community referral network which links minority business owners in the Greater Cincinnati area to local Resource Partners who provide services to help small businesses grow and prosper.

The Resource Navigator provides

• Easy access to a specialized network of service providers offering a broad range of expertise
• Quick links to the appropriate resources to assist in starting or growing a business

How does it work?

• When the Resource Navigator is contacted through the Hotline or via the Web, information is gathered about the business and the business challenges being faced
• CEEC staff go to work to research the best area resources that can help meet the challenges and provide the appropriate referral to the minority business owner
• CEEC staff follow up with everyone who accesses the network to find out how things are going

 What is the ECI Coaching Program?

The ECI Coaching Program is designed to assist high-potential minority entrepreneurs with intensive, one-on-one coaching designed to help that entrepreneur meet the goals he or she has set.

While the Entrepreneurship Center Initiative assists all categories of entrepreneurs and businesses, from micro to large, the focus of the coaching component will be on those small and medium-sized companies that meet specific criteria for direct assistance.

We will identify firms that have the highest growth potential and are likely to have the greatest impact in terms of job creation and urban economic development.  The coaching process will prepare those firms for expanded financing, procurement opportunities and help them develop business relationships with major corporations.