PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – Portsmouth Public Schools is investing in women- and minority-owned businesses or nonprofits and the next generation of entrepreneurs.
The Portsmouth Public Schools Minority and Women’s Business Enterprise Advisory Committee launched the Small Business Assistance Pilot Program and the Youth Entrepreneurship Pilot Program Saturday morning at the Bide-A-Wee Golf Course Pavilion.
The launch will help Hampton Roads small businesses with a $1.5 million grant to train entrepreneurs during a three-year pilot program. Program organizers have been trying to secure this type of funding since 2020. It was originally introduced during a budget amendment in the Virginia General Assembly, but was removed during a special session in 2020, according to a statement.
However, a $1.5 million budget amendment was introduced in 2021 and passed through the General Assembly for the 2022-2024 budget before being approved by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, according to a statement.
Delegate Jeion Ward (D-87), Portsmouth Vice Mayor Lisa Lucas-Burke, Councilman Mark Hugel, and PPS Board Vice President LaKeesha ‘Klu’ Atkinson attended the launch.
“We are reaching out to women and minority business owners because they have been greatly disadvantaged,” said Gwendolyn ‘Gwen’ Davis, administrator of the Portsmouth Public Schools Minority and Women’s Business Enterprise Advisory Committee. referring to the procurement disparity study. “Under the federal definition, they are considered disadvantaged business enterprises. We are improving”.
More than 200 small business and nonprofit owners packed the hall to register for five weeks of classes at Tidewater Community College-Portsmouth Campus, including:
- Creation of new businesses and non-profit organizations: from September 10, 2024 to October 5, 2024
- Business Masterclass for Existing Small Businesses – January 7, 2025 – February 6, 2025
“From my perspective, minority- and women-owned businesses are the lifeblood of communities,” said Lucas-Burke, during opening remarks.
“I know that women and children are the heart of every community. We are the leaders. We are the ones who keep communities strong, and even my male counterparts will agree with that,” said Atkinson, who serves as chair of the Portsmouth Public Schools Minority and Women Business Enterprise Advisory Committee.
The youth entrepreneurship pilot program will match students with an internship opportunity through the program.
“We’re going to use these business owners to take our kids on as interns and provide them with on-the-job assistance,” Atkinson said.
This summer, 45 high school students are interning at small businesses, earning up to $5,000, according to school leaders.
“The young people are now in internships. We want [students] not only do internships but also follow disadvantaged companies because they will learn the difficulties. They will learn what we must go through to be successful and walk away with a better understanding of how it is done,” Davis said.