This month, Greater Ohio Policy Center recognizes The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber and their Minority Business Accelerator in the Good Ideas repository. GOPC’s Good Ideas webpage lists exemplary initiatives and programs happening around the State of Ohio.
The Minority Business Accelerator housed within Cincinnati’s local Chamber of Commerce is an impressive and multifaceted program designed to help grow minority businesses of size in Cincinnati. The program provides tailored advisory support and connections to the region’s corporate giants, like Proctor & Gamble and Kroger Company. Though most small cities will not have as many large corporations and anchor institutions to draw from as Cincinnati does, the example of the Cincinnati Chamber’s Minority Business Accelerator highlights the power of leveraging existing anchors to yield more significant equity impacts.
“The Accelerator provides individually-tailored advisory support and coaching to help Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) acquire the things they need to excel: A strong business strategy, access to capital, and connections within corporate organizations.” (Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, 2019). The Chamber also connects MBEs to corporate leaders for business opportunities. The leaders also benefit because the Accelerator acts as an extension of the corporation and helps them meet their diversity and inclusion goals.
To learn more about The Minority Business Accelerator and other good ideas, visit: https://www.greaterohio.org/good-ideas-initiative