Civic News

The city just awarded $104K in grants to these 6 entrepreneurship projects

The initiatives are focused on making entrepreneurship reach across Philadelphia — from the Latino community to youth to refugee women.

Alan Greenberger (foreground), whose office runs the StartUp PHL program, and Mayor Nutter at a recent pier opening on the waterfront. (Photo by Mitchell Leff for the City of Philadelphia)

The latest round of StartUp PHL “Call for Ideas” grants are helping turn Philadelphians of all ages and races into entrepreneurs.
The city just announced $104,000 worth of grants to six organizations, including the youth-focused Public Workshop, TechGirlz and Schoolyard Ventures (formerly Startup Corps) and Asociacion Puertorriquenos En Marcha, which serves the Latino community.
See the awards below, with descriptions supplied by the city:

  • Asociacion Puertorriquenos En Marcha ($20,000): APM will convert a parcel of land at 6th and Susquehanna into a pop-up market place and provide entrepreneurial training to aspiring and nascent entrepreneurs, creating a gateway for entrepreneurial activity in this community.
  • Corzo Center for the Creative Economy at the University of the Arts ($15,000): In January 2016, the Center — in partnership with the Philadelphia Free Library — will offer an interactive, program to those considering a business based in the creative economy. Participants will also receive two hours of one-on-one consulting and the opportunity to apply for seed grants.
  • Refugee Women’s Textile Initiative ($18,548): The RWTI will empower refugee women with sewing and textile skills and manufacturing contacts to create independent businesses, develop a cooperative store, and merge traditional textiles with new art forms to overcome poverty and gain economic mobility.
  • Schoolyard Ventures ($6,000): Schoolyard Ventures will create a marketplace where teens with great ideas can connect with those who wish to fund them. After helping over 800 middle school and high school aged students launch businesses providing over $70,000 in direct micro-capital to them, Schoolyard Ventures has learned that as little as $250 can help a young person launch a business, as well as build skills and improve the lives of others in the city.
  • TechGirlz Charitable Foundation ($19,990): TechGirlz will provide a stipend or college credit for high school and college students who teach the TechShopz in a Box Program in workshops throughout Philadelphia. TechShopz in a Box is a TechGirlz-developed curricula for middle school girls.
  • Tiny WPA ($25,000): The Building Hero Project is a design, leadership and entrepreneurship incubator for individuals ages 16 and up who want to be a part of a diverse community of civic change agents. Participants will learn how to design and build products for sale and manage an eCommerce store.
Companies: Corzo Center / Free Library of Philadelphia / Public Workshop / Startup Corps / TechGirlz

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