RI’S BIPOC ENTREPRENEUR + BUSINESS OWNER NEEDS
additional approach might include some type of coworking passport that allows BIPOC entrepreneurs to access multiple coworking spaces. In addition, interviewed entrepreneurs report a shortage of commercial kitchen space and processing capacity at existing culinary spaces like the Millrace Kitchen. Efforts to expand the availability of such spaces and equipment are also needed. This step is also a key plank in Rhode Island’s current Food Strategy. 16 A final set of potential programs combine entrepreneurship training with neighborhood redevelopment initiatives. A number of regions are testing new approaches that support the creation and expansion of Main Street retail and ‘micro-producer’ businesses as a means to build community wealth and to revitalize commercial corridors. Tech Town Detroit’s Retail Boot Camp program has been successful, and was previously offered in Rhode Island by the Center for Women and Enterprise (CWE). Pittsburgh Catapult’s Startup to Storefront Program offers another excellent model.
The Tech Town incubator in Detroit, MI began as a traditional incubator that morphed to focus on technology-led opportunities for entrepreneurs in Southeast Michigan. Supported with investment from the New Economy Initiative (NEI), a unique project of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Tech Town’s core programs include technology startup, small business, and entrepreneurial education programs. In addition to technology-based businesses, Tech Town offers support for retailers through their Retail Bootcamp. This is a 11-week course that helps new businesses situate themselves in the shifting retail landscape and prepare for the opening of a brick-and-mortar location. It targets businesses seeking to open in core commercial business districts across Detroit. The Retail Boot Camp curriculum has also been used by Rhode Island’s Center for Women and Enterprise. TechTown’s impacts are impressive. In 2019 alone, TechTown served 583 companies and 683 tenants and companies used TechTown’s coworking services. The strong base of support services was especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this period, the TechTown team worked with more than 1,700 entrepreneurs, with BIPOC businesses accounting for 86% of this total.
Community Culture Entrepreneurs and business owners want to feel a sense of belonging and community support. Yet, our interviews and focus groups with BIPOC business owners suggest that many of Rhode Island’s BIPOC entrepreneurs feel isolated and un-connected to business networks and support organizations. Business owners report that they are uncertain about how to access services, or even where to go to connect with and hear about what else their peers are doing in the RI entrepreneurship community. They also report that most of their business information comes from friends and family in the community. This pattern aligns
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“Relish RHODY: Rhode Island Food Strategy”, Rhode Island Commerce Corporation. May 2017. Available at: http://dem.ri.gov/relishrhody/.
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