News Summary
The 2023 Birmingham Small Business Week, running from May 4 to May 10, features 15 events aimed at supporting local entrepreneurs, including educational sessions and a Pitch Competition. Emondre Johnson, the winner of this year’s competition, shares how this opportunity transformed his business. The initiative continues to promote economic growth in Birmingham, highlighting success stories and various support programs for small businesses.
Birmingham, Alabama – Birmingham Small Business Week 2023 is set to take place from May 4 to May 10, featuring a total of 15 events designed to support local entrepreneurs. These events will include educational sessions, networking opportunities, and pitch competitions, providing a robust platform for small business owners to connect, learn, and grow.
This year’s highlight is the Pitch Competition, in which local business owners present their ideas to a panel, with winners receiving funding and support to further develop their initiatives. Emondre Johnson, the owner of The Bark Park, was crowned the winner of the 2023 competition. Following his success, he established a physical location for The Bark Park, offering services such as dog daycare, overnight boarding, grooming, pet photography, and a unique indoor park for dogs.
At just 26 years old, Johnson credits the Pitch Competition for boosting his confidence and guiding him through his entrepreneurial journey. The Birmingham Small Business Week aims to not only showcase local entrepreneurs but also to strengthen the local economy by highlighting success stories like Johnson’s.
The initiative started in 2020 as a series of virtual events but has since evolved into a multifaceted program focused on fostering economic mobility and community development within Birmingham. Cornell Welsey, the Director of Birmingham’s Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity, has emphasized the critical role small businesses play in driving job creation and innovation in the local economy.
Johnson’s background is particularly inspiring; raised in a single-parent household, he developed a passion for animals that ultimately led him to create The Bark Park. His story embodies the potential for success when underrepresented communities are provided with opportunities for entrepreneurship.
Other participants in the Small Business Week have also experienced growth since their involvement in the Pitch Competition. Jeddie Carnes, the founder of GLAAM Cosmetics, has launched new products and gained entry into the Target Accelerator Program, marking significant milestones in her entrepreneurial journey.
In addition to celebrating success stories, Birmingham has introduced various programs aimed at assisting small businesses. The VITAL program supports Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB), while the RISE Program offers financial incentives to new ventures. Furthermore, the Building Opportunities for Lasting Development (BOLD) program has facilitated access to over $2.4 million in funding to over 3,000 small businesses in Birmingham.
Recently, the Birmingham Entrepreneurship Center for Growth and Excellence received a substantial $5 million from the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Recompete Pilot Program, which will further enhance resources available to local entrepreneurs. The city also acknowledges legacy businesses, providing resources for succession planning and ways to address the racial wealth gap. To date, over 40 legacy businesses have received assistance through these initiatives.
A unique addition to this year’s Birmingham Small Business Week is Grounds, a coffee shop launched in December 2023 by Reggie Collier and Tyler Hatcher. Grounds focuses on community-building and fostering inclusivity, aligning with the overall mission of Small Business Week to encourage collaboration among local entrepreneurs.
Jeddie Carnes shared her remarkable personal story of resilience in the face of abuse when she won the 2024 Small Business Week Pitch Competition for GLAAM Cosmetics. She emphasizes that her business aims to empower women beyond the realm of beauty, focusing on self-confidence and personal strength.
This collaborative event has attracted a broad spectrum of local and national leaders, all committed to promoting an entrepreneurial spirit within the Birmingham community. The Birmingham Small Business Week provides an invaluable platform for business owners to share expertise, resources, and innovative ideas aimed at the collective improvement of the local business landscape.
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Additional Resources
- Birmingham Times: Local Entrepreneurs Get Boost From City’s Small Business Week
- Wikipedia: Small Business
- Birmingham Times: Grounds Coffee Shop Has Big Plans
- Google Search: Birmingham Small Business Week
- Birmingham Times: Jeddie Carnes Builds on Pitch Competition Success
- Google Scholar: Entrepreneurship
- Birmingham Times: Business Owner Jeddie Carnes
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Business
- Bham Now: Celebrate Small Business Week
- Google News: Birmingham Entrepreneurship
