Coalition for Community Entrepreneurship (C4CE) Launch

The Coalition for Community Entrepreneurship (C4CE) Launches To Help Realize The Potential of Public-Private Entrepreneurial Training

Founding members of the Coalition include: the Local Initiatives Support Corp (LISC), the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC), the National Urban League, the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce (USPAACC), Oweesta Corporation, and International Rescue Committee.

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 28 2023 - The Coalition for Community Entrepreneurship (C4CE), a collective effort of organizations dedicated to advocating for the continuation and expansion of the Community Navigator Pilot Program (CNPP) proudly announces its official launch. The coalition formed with a mission to increase awareness of the merits of community navigators and their role in empowering communities, advancing local entrepreneurship, supporting capital, and enabling new pathways to small business success.

Small businesses play a vital role in driving economic growth, job creation, and community

development. However, they often face numerous challenges and barriers. Recognizing this and the role community navigators play in meeting these businesses where they’re at, C4CE has been formed to advocate for the Community Navigator Pilot Program and underscore the vast impacts the program has had on historically underserved small businesses and entrepreneurs.

“The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is pleased to be a charter member of the Coalition for Community Entrepreneurship”, said Matt Josephs, Senior Vice President of Policy for LISC. “LISC supports over 170 Business Development Organizations throughout the country, each of which are providing critical technical and financial assistance to entrepreneurs in underserved rural and urban neighborhoods. LISC appreciates C4CE’s focus on continuing funding for the SBA’s Community Navigator Pilot Program. With our Community Navigator grant, LISC will be able to expand the capacity of 30 BDOs in seven markets to provide 3,200 under-resourced businesses with access to planning support, financial coaching, new revenue streams and more. The capacity building funding for BDOs through Community Navigators is not replicated in any other federal program and is an essential tool for ensuring long term support for small businesses in communities that are too often left behind.”

“As a tier one Community Navigator, the U.S. Black Chambers is thrilled to be a founding member of the Coalition for Community Entrepreneurship (C4CE). We have seen firsthand the far-reaching impacts our spokes have achieved when connecting entrepreneurs to much-needed capital and entrepreneurial development opportunities. We know that while immensely impactful, two years was simply not enough time to ensure that the Community Navigator program can achieve its maximum impact and continue to break down centuries of systemic barriers - that is why we look forward to working alongside these great partners in ensuring that the needs of entrepreneurs in Black communities can be met. We know that the road ahead is not easy and that Black entrepreneurs still need our help, therefore we look forward to continuing our great work of fostering a greater Black business community and a stronger economy as a result.” Ron Busby, Sr. President & CEO, U.S. Black Chambers, Inc.

“The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce exists to support all Hispanic, small, and minority- owned businesses in America. The C4CE represents key stakeholders committed to supporting these businesses who are the bedrock of our economy. For many years, the Hispanic community has seen economic growth at an unparalleled rate, and we believe that this community is the key to our nation's success and will be the main driver of our country’s wealth creation and market expansion.” Ramiro A. Cavazos, President & CEO, United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

“One of the National Urban League’s priorities to ensure small businesses have an opportunity to thrive in the communities in which they exist, which is why we partnered with SBA to create the Community Navigator Pilot program,” said Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League. “As a Tier 1 hub, we are excited to celebrate the launch of the Coalition for Community Entrepreneurship (C4CE) program that not only would help with the expansion of the Community Navigator Program but continue to support underserved small businesses with industry training, financial assistance and other resources they may need.”

“Oweesta Corporation is proud to represent the needs of Native entrepreneurs in the Coalition for Community Entrepreneurship (C4CE). As a Community Navigator, our team has been able to provide increased support and guidance for Native communities seeking to take control of their economic destiny. We look forward to working with other organizations in the Navigator network that remain critical to ensuring equity in entrepreneurship across the nation. Through our work in C4CE, we will work to reinforce the needs of our community to provide increased resources, support, and guidance for thriving Native communities.” Chrystel Cornelius, President and CEO, Oweesta Corporation.

“The US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce EF (USPAACC) is honored and humbled to have been selected as one of the SBA’s eight National Tier One Community Navigators. Through this partnership, we have reached and provided much needed business training, development, and advisory services to thousands of underserved and unserved Pan Asian American/AANHPI businesses. We helped them restart, retool, retrain and adjust to the new business environment during Covid and continuing to now. However, there is much more to do to help them pivot, grow and succeed. We are pleased to join the Coalition for Community Entrepreneurship (C4CE) to share our experiences, tell our Community Navigator success stories and the positive impacts on our community, to leaders in the nation’s capital, the governor’s mansion, the mayor’s office, and the city council.” Susan Au Allen, CEO, US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce EF

“IRC believes in the power of all entrepreneurs and especially as a national partner of the SBA on the CNPP initiative, we are excited to join the Coalition for Community Entrepreneurship to highlight not only how these small business owners contribute to our nation’s economy, but to also to highlight what we as a nation can do to continue to ensure that America is a land of equitable opportunity for - and investment in - the diverse Americans who are building the businesses or today and tomorrow.” Erica Bouris, IRC Director Economic Empowerment

C4CE actively seeks partnerships with organizations and individuals who share the vision of empowering entrepreneurs and strengthening the small business ecosystem. By leveraging collective expertise, C4CE aims to create a collaborative network that propels entrepreneurship forward.

For more information about the Coalition for Community Entrepreneurship (C4CE) and how to get involved, please visit www.communityentrepreneurship.org.