Trusted financial advisors will guide emerging and existing small business owners with lessons on best practices for their business’ success. The County has awarded more than $300,000 to the three previous cohorts and provides participants the opportunity to enter a “shark-tank” style pitch competition.
Enrollment is based on a competitive application process. The 10-week program begins on Wednesday, April 19, and will meet weekly on Wednesdays from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Maryland Innovation Center, located at the Kenneth S. Ulman Innovation Hub in Columbia.
Applications can be found online here, and to be eligible to apply, applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:
- At least two years in business operations, and
- Be a Howard County-based business and in good standing.
“In this session, we are excited to integrate our BRITE and MIC program offerings into the curriculum, which will add new opportunities for local businesses,” said EDA President Larry Twele. “We appreciate the County Executive’s continued leadership and foresight in spurring on this critical program that supports our local small business owners.”
Entrepreneurs selected for the program will follow a curriculum curated by M&T Bank, the region’s top small-business lender. The curriculum will include lessons on legal business formation, getting certifications, developing business plans, managing business and personal finances, sourcing capital, pricing strategies, risk management and business insurance, marketing strategies, and more.
M&T Bank is excited to continue its partnership with Howard County with the fourth cohort of HoCo Higher entrepreneurs, and we look forward to inspiring a new set of business owners. This is a proven program that has helped to fuel the growth of several businesses owned by minorities, women, and people of color, contribute to the generational wealth of those entrepreneurs and their families, and spur economic activity throughout Howard County.