The City of Jamestown’s Department of Development is set to launch its inaugural JTNY eLab Business Accelerator Cohort. The City began development of the JTNY eLab in March 2022 with Community Development Block Grant funding provided by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Later in December 2022, Jamestown was selected to participate in the National League of Cities’ (NLC) City Inclusive Entrepreneurship (CIE) Network which provided technical assistance through the Kauffman FastTrac program to develop the JTNY eLab Business Accelerator Program with grant funding in the amount of $15,000 for program launch and implementation.
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation provides access to opportunities that help people achieve financial stability, upward mobility, and economic prosperity – regardless of race, gender, or geography and, in 1993, established the now renowned Kauffman FastTrac program to equip aspiring entrepreneurs with the business skills and insights, tools, resources, and peer networks necessary to start and grow successful businesses. It is with this same passion that JTNY eLab invites entrepreneurs, startups, small business owners, artisans, makers, and anyone who identifies as an early-stage operation to apply to participate in the first ever cohort class to be facilitated by subject matter experts, Rahsaan Graham of Banner & Battle Consulting, and Shannon Greenland of Green Sprout Consulting.
The inaugural JTNY eLab Cohort sessions will take place every Tuesday and Thursday, from 5:30-7:00 pm, beginning September 12, 2023 and running for ten weeks. Sessions will be presented both virtually and in-person. There will be an informational session held on Thursday, August 17th from 6-7pm in the 2nd floor Pre-Function Space of the Reg Lenna. Anyone interested in learning more or applying for the 2023 JTNY eLab Cohort Class should visit https://www.jamestownny.gov/departments/department-of-development/economic-development/jtny-elab-2/. Small business owners, start-ups, makers, artisans, organizational directors, are all encouraged to attend and learn how FastTrac can support their efforts in preparing for a new venture, or gaining knowledge to increase the viability and successes of their current operations. More information on Kauffman FastTrac can be found at https://www.fasttrac.org/.
Mayor Eddie Sundquist shared, “I am excited to announce the launch of the JTNY eLab Business Accelerator. This initiative which will give those interested in starting their own businesses, the tools necessary to successfully invest in their local community, with a particular focus on growing minority, women, and veteran business ownership in Jamestown.
I am grateful for our partnerships with and support from the National League of Cities (NLC), the Kauffman Foundation, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation, and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Additionally, I’d like to recognize Banner & Battle Consulting, Greensprout Consulting, and Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency (JURA) staff for their hard work to develop this fantastic resource for potential, current and future small
business owners right here in Jamestown.”
For more information about JTNY eLab or to register for the launch event, visit the City’s website at www.jamestownny.gov to submit an online form, or contact Ellen Shadle, Principal Planner, at the Department of Development at 716-483-7657 for the launch event, or shadle@jamestownny.gov. Registration to attend is not required, but highly recommended.
