The Emerging Leaders Initiative is a federal training initiative that specifically focuses on executives of businesses poised for growth in historically challenged communities. The initiative has shown significant employment growth among participating companies with over 900 new full-time employees.
Andrew Schmidt, Senior Vice President and Partner, at Core Roofing + Solar, Inc. was accepted through a detailed selection process and is one of 15 graduates from the Denver class of 2013. Andrew is an active member of the community through his church, the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, the SBA and various non-profit organizations.
Over the course of seven months, participants are given the opportunity to work with experienced mentors, attend specialized workshops and develop connections with their peers, city leaders, and the financial community. The Initiative incorporates a curriculum that is research-based and nationally scalable, enabling participating businesses to engage in focused development and expansion strategies, including options for accessing new capital and securing government contracts.
Government statistics confirm that under-served small businesses are the engines of sustained economic growth and job creation. Small businesses in under-served cities added close to three times as many jobs to their local economies as large companies over the last decade. SBA launched the Initiative to capitalize on this proven capacity for stimulating jobs and growth in America’s cities. Each year, at least 200 businesses are expected to participate in the training.
