Last year Karl Williams, the owner of Society Coffee and 67 Orange Street in Harlem, like many other small business owners, was struggling with high financing costs and flat growth. As a first time restaurateur faced with a difficult economy, Karl turned to the Clinton Foundation's Clinton Economic Opportunity Initiative (CEO). He enrolled in CEO's Entrepreneur Mentoring Program (EMP), a partnership with Inc. magazine which pairs small business owners with successful entrepreneurs and business leaders who serve as mentors. Karl was partnered with Richard Coraine, President of New Business for the Union Square Hospitality Group, the restaurant group that owns establishments like Gramercy Tavern and the Shake Shack.
Working with his mentor and CEO, Karl has restructured his financing, developed a new marketing strategy with the help of Union Square Hospitality Group's marketing team, and even launched a new artisanal coffee business. As a result, he has seen his revenue grow each month since the beginning of the year. Over 50 EMP entrepreneurs in five cities nationwide have been matched with successful business leaders like Richard Coraine, who volunteer to help small business owners in underserved communities succeed and compete in the marketplace.
To read the full, original article click on this link: Parisa Sabeti: Promoting Entrepreneurship: Creating Lasting Economic Development in Underserved Communities
Author: Parisa Sabeti
