Moms as Entrepreneurs is expanding with help from Etsy Maker Cities, Open Works

A program from Etsy that looks to help creative entrepreneurs in local communities will help mom entrepreneurs in Baltimore get access to the tools at Open Works next year.
According to a post from Etsy, the Brooklyn-based company’s Maker Cities program awarded a grant that will bring the Moms as Entrepreneurs academy to the Station North makerspace.
Moms as Entrepreneurs cofounder Tammira Lucas said the 10-member cohort will start in April, 2017.
The academy, which was launched by Lucas and Jasmine Simms last year, provides entrepreneurship and business resources to moms who already have a business in their home, and want to grow. The three cohorts held so far helped 27 businesses. Lucas said that some of the entrepreneurs who took part in the program in the past are “maker moms,” and realized having more access to tools could help grow their businesses and introduce technology.
“We saw that it would really be beneficial if the moms knew about Open Works and could also utilize the services that they have,” Lucas said.
The April academy at Open Works will support 10 entrepreneurs, Lucas said. Additionally, the academy program will expand to 16 weeks from its current eight weeks.
Along with the Open Works access, the members of the cohort will learn how to build a business on Etsy with help from the Baltimore Etsy Seller team, led by Keisha Ransome.
Lucas said the application process for the cohort will begin in January. In the meantime, Moms as Entrepreneurs will have a fall academy.