How can the minority-owned business community in the Oklahoma City area enter into a new American economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic? Progress OKC, a local community development organization and the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG) have upcoming webinars discussing financial and non-financial entrepreneurial resources and broader ecosystem strategies.
“As we rebound from the pandemic, it is imperative that we focus on cultivating a resilient and inclusive economy,” said Maurianna Adams, Executive Director of Progress OKC, “When opportunities are available at all levels of the community, we can create economic productivity for the area as a whole.”
“It is crucial that that our region’s small business owners and entrepreneurs receive the support they need to bounce back from the pandemic,” Mark W. Sweeney, AICP, ACOG Executive Director said. “This engaging webinar series promises to equip our small business leaders with tools they can use to emerge stronger and ready to tackle this new economy.”
On Thursday, August 26th, Dr. Dell Gines, Lead Community Development Advisor for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, co-author of the Small Businesses of Color Recovery Guide and a certified economic developer will facilitate a 2-part “Effective Economic Development Through Entrepreneurship for OKC’s BIPOC Community” and “Black Entrepreneurship and Community Growth in Oklahoma City” webinar series. During these presentations, Dr. Gines will discuss ways entrepreneurship can be leveraged for economic growth in Oklahoma City’s BIPOC community and economic and community empowerment through Black entrepreneurship in Oklahoma City.
While Dr. Dell works across the community development spectrum, his specific area of expertise is small business. “I am proud of the work our Bank has done in entrepreneurship-led development,” Dell said. “Over the past six years, the Kansas City Fed has become one of the national thought leaders for this model and has helped many communities envision a new way to grow their local economies.” His publications detail models that focus on the notion that entrepreneurship is an effective way to establish sustainable wealth from employment and ownership, which results in thriving markets and a healthy society.
Register for this free, educational series to gain insights on entrepreneurship, capital strategies and a how to achieve and participate in a resilient economy. URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DzVz8FE0TkakZ5kGsPAfMQ
About Progress OKC: Progress OKC was created to support and revitalize Oklahoma City communities that have experienced significant disinvestment. A privately funded nonprofit organization, we build community wealth through attainable homeownership, small business lending and transformative, place-led projects. To learn more about program eligibility, visit https://www.progressokc.org/.
About the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments: ACOG was established in 1966 and is the leading voice for regional collaboration in Central Oklahoma. Comprised of local governments that include 37 cities and four counties (Canadian, Cleveland, Logan, and Oklahoma), ACOG is the designated regional planning agency for Central Oklahoma and provides a forum for elected officials to come together and solve common problems. ACOG is an official Economic Development District and is home to the Capital Area Economic Development District (CAPEDD).
About Dr. Dell Gines: Dr. Dell Gines is a national thought leader in entrepreneurship ecosystem building, a local economic development strategy that leverages entrepreneurship’s power to create local economic growth. His specific focus is on communities of color and economically distressed small rural communities. He has authored six guides and one eBook on the subject. His most notable work is a 2018 research report on Black women business startups, cited in PBS, Forbes, Black Enterprise, CNN Business, and Entrepreneur magazine. https://www.iamdellgines.com/
