Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into contract with Robert M Maccabee (dba Naventive Brand Strategy) in an amount up to $50,000.00 for the purpose of administering the Accelerate Columbus: Scale Up and Grow program targeting small businesses. Programs and services offered under Accelerate Columbus: Scale Up and Grow are aimed at increasing the quality of local small business. Through Accelerate Columbus, the City seeks to nurture a pipeline of entrepreneurs and small businesses that reflects the talent and diversity of Columbus. The ultimate objective of Accelerate Columbus is to provide structured qualitatively and quantitatively measurable programs that add value to and strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem. In alignment with the Columbus Small Business Agenda, programs should have special consideration for minority and women owned businesses, and businesses in low to moderate income areas.
In 2019, the City of Columbus launched Accelerate Columbus Small Business as part of a branded set of small business training, technical assistance, mentoring, and advisement programs targeting aspiring entrepreneurs and existing small business owners. Initially offered as a pilot program, the goal of the program was to provide structured as well as on-demand training, one-on-one advisement, and technical assistance to both aspiring and existing entrepreneurs and small businesses.
During the pilot year, the City selected and contracted with two organizations to administer the program on behalf of the City. The consultants administered the program in both classroom and small group settings over two tracts targeting businesses at particular stages of the business lifecycle. Accelerate Columbus: Start-Up and Launch targeted individuals in the exploration, ideation, and pre-revenue business lifecycle stages and Accelerate Columbus: Scale Up and Grow will target those businesses in a revenue-generati...
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