On January 21, 2020, the Wells Fargo Foundation awarded Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (ACE) a $2.8M grant to spark small business growth. ACE partnered with Morehouse College’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (MIEC) to offer leadership development training to diverse, established, growth-oriented businesses for leadership development over a two-year period.
To continue this work in 2022, Wells Fargo’s provided additional funding, through its Open for Business fund, directly to the MIEC to assist entrepreneurs of color in the Metropolitan Atlanta area whose business operations have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic by providing management support, technical assistance, and capital for these businesses.
For 2023, Access for Capital for Entrepreneurs (ACE) is funding Cohort IV. This accelerated program is designed to be the catalyst to support businesses in securing funding that ignites economic growth by accessing capital, contracts, and 1:1 coaching. Business Owners also pay it forward by coaching, mentoring and/or offering internships to Morehouse scholars.
Cohort IV will focus on businesses in Metro Atlanta who are interested in learning how to do business in the Aviation Industry in the following industries:
o Facilities Management
o Professional Services
o Construction (i.e., HVAC, Welding, Roofing)
o Business Services
Business must have $1M+ in annual revenue and B2B Customers/Contracts.