The Urban League of Greater Cleveland is Proud to Partner with the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program in Cleveland, OH

Media Contact:  N. Michael Obi
(440) 212-2567,  mobi@ulcleveland.org


Cleveland – The Urban League of Greater Cleveland announced today that the organization will partner with the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program in Cleveland, OH.  In Cleveland, Goldman Sachs and the Goldman Sachs Foundation will invest a combined total of $15 million, including $5 million in grants to support business education and $10 million in capital to support the small businesses located throughout Northeast Ohio.
 
“We are certain there are many minority small business owners in a wide spectrum of industries who will take advantage of these resources,” said Marsha A. Mockabee, President & CEO, Urban League of Greater Cleveland.  “Through the Urban League’s programs such as the Entrepreneurship Center, Cuyahoga Small Business Development Center, and the Minority Business Assistance Center, we can provide a
pipeline of candidates to the 10,000 Small Businesses program in Cleveland. These businesses in turn will make Cleveland a more vibrant community.”
 
The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses education program is a 100-hour curriculum that was built by Babson College, which is the leading school on entrepreneurship education in the U.S., to be modular, adaptive, and scalable with strong ties to business support services and access to capital.  The curriculum will be delivered at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C), in partnership with Babson College. Classes will begin at Tri-C on Friday, September 7, 2012.  In addition to Babson College, the 10,000 Small Businesses program partners in Cleveland include Cuyahoga Community College, Council of Smaller Enterprises, JumpStart, the Northeast Ohio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Urban League of Greater Cleveland.
 
“The Cleveland community is fortunate to have been selected as one of the chosen cities to be a part of such an excellent program,” said N. Michael Obi, Strategic Business Consultant, The Multicultural Business Development Center at the Urban League.  “The Urban League's Entrepreneurial Center is excited to roll out this much needed learning experience to our clients that are serious about growing their business and creating jobs in our community.”

The Multicultural Business Development Center is funded through the National Urban League and Goldman Sachs.  Within this umbrella there are two direct service offerings, Cuyahoga Small Business Development Center (supported by funding from SBA and ODOD) and the Northeast Region Minority Business Assistance Center, also supported by funding from ODOD.
 
To learn more about the program and how your business can apply please join the Urban League of Greater Cleveland for an information session on Thursday, May 17, 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm or Friday, May 18, 9:30 am – 11:00 pm.
 

About the Urban League of Greater Cleveland

The Urban League of Greater Cleveland is a non-profit social service organization, connected to the National Urban League as one of 97 affiliates in 36 states.  As a funded community partner of United Way of Greater Cleveland, the League seeks to improve the economic, cultural, social and educational conditions affecting all citizens of Cuyahoga County.  10,000 Small Businesses is funded by Goldman Sachs and The Goldman Sachs Foundation. For more information about the program, visit www.tri-c.edu/10ksb or visit www.ulcleveland.org and click on the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses link.