Portsmouth Public Schools Goes All In for Minority and Women Entrepreneurs

Hold onto your hats, Portsmouth, because things are about to get REAL entrepreneurial around here! This past Saturday, [Date of Event], Portsmouth Public Schools (PPS) threw a massive launch party at the very happening Bide-A-Wee Golf Course Pavilion. Why, you ask? They unveiled not one, but TWO game-changing pilot programs aimed at boosting minority and women-owned businesses. We’re talking about the Small Business Assistance Pilot Program and the Youth Entrepreneurship Pilot Program – both the brainchildren of the awesome PPS Minority & Women Business Enterprise Advisory Committee. Let’s just say, over two hundred fired-up attendees later, it’s safe to say Portsmouth is officially pumped about its future business moguls!

Show Me the Money: Investing in Portsmouth’s Future

Okay, let’s get down to brass tacks. These pilot programs aren’t just some pie-in-the-sky idea. We’re talking serious investment here – a cool million-dollar grant to be exact. Now, this didn’t happen overnight. It took three years of blood, sweat, and a whole lotta bureaucratic wrangling. Initially proposed back in good ol’ , the funding proposal hit a few legislative snags (because, you know, that’s how these things go). But hold up, PPS ain’t one to back down. Thanks to some strategic budget maneuvering and a thumbs-up from the Big Guy himself, Governor Glenn Youngkin, the grant finally got the green light in the Biennium Budget. Talk about a win for Portsmouth!

Leveling the Playing Field: Support Where It Matters

Now, let’s talk about the Small Business Assistance Pilot Program. This bad boy is all about giving minority and women entrepreneurs in the Hampton Roads region the leg up they deserve. Think of it as a crash course in all things business, but tailored specifically for those who’ve been historically shut out.

“For real, we’re zoning in on women and minority business owners because, let’s be honest, they’ve gotten the short end of the stick for far too long,” says Gwendolyn ‘Gwen’ Davis, the powerhouse Administrator of the PPS Minority & Women Business Enterprise Advisory Committee. “The feds even classify them as disadvantaged business enterprises. But guess what? We’re changing the game, one business at a time.” You tell ’em, Gwen!

Double Whammy: Education and Mentorship, Baby!

This program ain’t messing around, folks. They’re coming at you with a two-pronged approach: education AND mentorship. Because who doesn’t love a good one-two punch, am I right?

  1. New Business Start-Ups and Nonprofits: So, you’ve got a killer business idea but no clue where to even start? This five-week boot camp, running from September to October , is your jam. They’ll school you in everything from writing a business plan that doesn’t make your eyes glaze over to marketing your heart out. Consider it Business for the real world.
  2. Business Master Class for Existing Small Businesses: Already got your business up and running but feel like you’re stuck in a rut? This master class, kicking off January and wrapping up February , is here to shake things up. It’s all about upping your business game, honing those leadership skills, and, most importantly, raking in the big bucks.

And the best part? Both tracks are happening at the super convenient Tidewater Community College-Portsmouth Campus. No excuses, people!

Catch ‘Em Young: Nurturing Future CEOs

Now, let’s talk about the Youth Entrepreneurship Pilot Program. This one’s all about planting those entrepreneurial seeds early, because who says you gotta wait till you’re old and boring to be a boss? PPS is teaming up with all those awesome businesses in the program to give high schoolers a taste of the real deal – internships, people!

“We’re hooking up our amazing business owners with these bright young minds, giving them hands-on experience and showing them what it REALLY takes to run a business,” says LaKeesha ‘Klu’ Atkinson, PPS Board Vice Chair and the visionary Chair of the PPS Minority & Women Business Enterprise Advisory Committee. “Forget those stuffy classrooms – this is learning in the trenches!”

And just how many future moguls are we talking about? This summer alone, a whopping high schoolers are rolling up their sleeves, soaking up knowledge, and earning some sweet, sweet cash – up to five grand a pop! Yeah, you heard that right. These kids are learning, earning, and probably already planning their first million-dollar venture. Watch out, world!

Building a Brighter Future, Brick by Brick

This launch event wasn’t just some low-key affair, folks. It was the place to be, drawing in a who’s who of Portsmouth’s finest, including Delegate Jeion Ward ( representin’ the 87th!), the ever-so-stylish Portsmouth Vice Mayor Lisa Lucas-Burke, Councilman Mark Hugel (always rockin’ that bowtie), and, of course, the dynamic duo of LaKeesha ‘Klu’ Atkinson and Gwendolyn ‘Gwen’ Davis. Their presence just goes to show how seriously Portsmouth is taking this whole empowering-entrepreneurs thing.

“Let’s be real, minority-owned and women-owned businesses are the heart and soul of our communities,” remarked Vice Mayor Lucas-Burke, and who are we to argue with that?

Atkinson couldn’t agree more, stressing that women and children are the secret sauce to building strong, vibrant communities. “We’re not just talking the talk; we’re walking the walk,” she proclaimed. “We’re the leaders, the glue that holds everything together!”

Portsmouth: The Land of Opportunity (and Delicious Food)

But wait, there’s more! The launch event wasn’t all business talk and inspirational speeches. Attendees got to nosh on some seriously tasty grub from – get this – minority and women-owned food trucks! Talk about putting your money where your mouth is. From savory BBQ to melt-in-your-mouth soul food, there was something to tantalize every taste bud.

Food trucks at the event

The atmosphere was electric, buzzing with the energy of possibility, collaboration, and a whole lotta entrepreneurial spirit. It was clear that this wasn’t just another event; it was the start of a movement.

Ready, Set, Launch!

So there you have it, folks. Portsmouth Public Schools is pulling out all the stops, investing in its people, and betting big on the power of entrepreneurship. With these two groundbreaking pilot programs, they’re not just creating businesses; they’re creating a legacy. A legacy of empowerment, innovation, and, dare we say it, some seriously impressive profits. Get ready, world, because Portsmouth is about to be put on the map!