BRAC Drive Minority Business Accelerator powered by ExxonMobil Graduates 2023 Cohort
Baton Rouge, La. (July 20, 2023) – The Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) yesterday concluded its inaugural year of the Drive Minority Business Accelerator powered by ExxonMobil, graduating 11 participants that collectively represent approximately $54.3 million in annual revenue.
Drive powered by ExxonMobil is an annual program designed for minority small business owners who want to take their business to the next level within the Capital Region. Using Interise’s StreetWise ‘MBA’ curriculum, the program provides minority business owners with the knowledge, resources, and networks necessary for their businesses to scale, including tools to advance their business operations, financial management, marketing and sales, human resources, business strategy development, access to capital, and contract development.
Graduates of the 2023 cohort include:
- Joshua August, Chicken Shack
- Jelani Clark, Trendsic Corporation
- Billy Duncan, Real Property Management Premium, LLC
- Norisha Glover, NRK Construction
- Nenette Gray, Lemonade Creative Marketing, LLC
- Rodney Greenup Jr., Greenup Industries, LLC
- Xavier Hoskins, DXI Health Solutions, LLC
- Lakeisha Robichaux, Chief of Minds
- Evon Roquemore, Bright Enterprise
- Craig Stevens, Genesis 360, LLC
- Collis Temple, III, E.P. Breaux Utility Services, LLC
Applications for the 2024 cohort are open now through July 28, 2023. Preferred characteristics of applicants include being minority-owned with a minimum of $500,000 in annual revenue within the last five years, at least three full-time employees and at least 51% owned and operated by a minority. Participants will be selected by an advisory council and the program will begin in September 2023.
To learn more about Drive powered by ExxonMobil and apply for the program, interested individuals can visit brac.org/drive. Questions regarding the program can be directed to BRAC’s Manager of Economic Inclusion Davorio Stevenson at davorio@brac.org.
About the Baton Rouge Area Chamber
The Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) is an aggressively ambitious regional economic development organization with a bias for action. BRAC seeks to push Baton Rouge beyond the status quo, unleash its potential, and support a vibrant business community that believes the finish line does not exist. BRAC seeks to accelerate economic opportunity in the Baton Rouge Area, for everyone, through BRING IT! Baton Rouge, its five-year, regional strategic plan. Learn more about BRAC at brac.org.
About Interise
Interise builds an inclusive economy through small business development, supporting the growth of minority-owned small businesses and small businesses located in low- and moderate-income communities. Interise’s award-winning StreetWise ‘MBA’™ uses a peer-learning method to provide business owners with the knowledge, know-how, and networks necessary to grow and scale. As Interise companies grow, they contribute to local job creation and build community wealth. Interise companies historically create new jobs at 5x the rate of the private sector, and are responsible for the creation of over 30,000 new jobs. Interise partners with government agencies, anchor institutions, and business associations to make locally branded StreetWise ‘MBA’™ programs available in 75+ cities, nationwide. Strategic Growth Partners include the Kauffman Foundation, the Surdna Foundation, and the Prudential Foundation. More information can be found at interise.org, @StreetWise_MBA and facebook.com/Interise.
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