SBA Emerging Leaders Program is a 7-month online course designed for business owners to create a strategic plan to grow their business
Business owners or chief executives interested in growing their existing business are invited to attend a free one-hour information session about the 2021 Emerging Leaders Program.
SBA Emerging Leaders Initiative
Eligibility and requirements
The Emerging Leaders Initiative is an intensive executive-level series intended to accelerate the growth of high-potential small businesses in America’s underserved cities. Developed by SBA and drawing on the experiences of advisors and business leaders in urban communities across the country, this comprehensive curriculum provides the tools to catapult your company to the next level and help it emerge as a force in your community.
Do I qualify to participate?
This training is for established business owners and is not for start-ups or people who are thinking about starting a business. The Emerging Leaders Initiative advanced training series is open to small business owners and executives that:
Have annual revenues of at least $250,000
Have been in business for at least 3 years
Have at least one employee, other than self
What are the key program highlights?
Customized training for “C” (CEO, COO, etc.) level executives with demonstrated business sustainability of at least 3 years in business and annual revenue of at least $250K
Participant recruitment begins in February through SBA’s local district offices and classes typically begin in April
A three-year strategic growth action plan with benchmarks and performance targets to help the participant emerge as a self-sustaining business that creates jobs and builds communities
Includes 100 + hours of professional specialized training and peer-to-peer counseling delivered over the course of seven months
Specialized areas of training include:
Growth Strategies Plans
Financing and Access to Capital
Government Contracting
CEO Mentoring
What types of businesses participate in the program?
There are currently no restrictions on the types of businesses that can participate. Some examples of participating businesses include: manufacturers, retail/wholesalers, contractors, professional services and food service.
In what ways does the training help my business?
The training is specifically designed to stimulate and support the expansion of your business. The curriculum provides strategies to help you access new avenues of capital. It offers practical tools to pursue new paths for business development. It surrounds you with a network of government resources and local business leaders prepared to invest time and energy in your business.
What are the overall benefits of participation?
The end result of the executive education prepares and encourages small businesses to move to the next level on their growth trajectory and to help them emerge as self-sustaining businesses that create jobs and build communities. At the conclusion of the training, entrepreneurs produce a three-year strategic growth action plan with benchmarks and performance targets that will help them access the necessary support and resources to move forward.
Is participation in the Emerging Leaders Initiative free?
The only cost is your time and commitment to complete the curriculum over the course of seven months. All other costs are covered by SBA and our local partners.
Training overview
Register Your Interest In The Program
Emerging Leaders Initiative provides free entrepreneurship education and training for executives of small, poised-for-growth companies that are potential job creators. This intensive executive entrepreneurship series includes nearly 100 hours of classroom time. It also provides opportunities for small business owners to work with experienced coaches and mentors, attend workshops, and develop connections with their peers, local leaders, and the financial community.
Since its inception in 2008, the SBA’s Emerging Leaders Initiative has trained over 5,000 small business owners, creating over 6,500 jobs, generating over $300 million in new financing, and securing over $3.16 billion in government contracts.
Given the success of SBA’s Emerging Leaders, the SBA has expanded the initiative to include 60 locations to help growing entrepreneurs in emerging markets.
2021 Locations
AL, Birmingham
AL, Mobile
AR, Little Rock
AZ, Phoenix
CA, Fresno
CA, Irvine
CA, Los Angeles
CA, Sacramento
CO, Denver
DC, Washington
FL, Miami
FL, Orlando*
GA, Atlanta
HI, Honolulu
ID, Boise
IL, Chicago
IN, Indianapolis
KS, Wichita
MA, Springfield*
MD, Baltimore
ME (Portland), Brunswick
MI, Detroit
MI, Grand Rapids*
MN, Minneapolis
MO, St. Louis
NC, Charlotte
ND, Fargo
NJ, Newark
NV, Las Vegas
NY, New York City
NY, Syracuse
OH, Columbus
OH, Dayton*
OH, Youngstown
OK, Oklahoma City
PA, Philadelphia
PA, Pittsburgh
PR, Ponce
PR, San Juan
SC, Charleston
TN, Memphis
TX, Austin/San Antonio
TX, Dallas
TX, El Paso*
TX, Greater Houston
TX, Houston
TX, Weslaco
UT, Salt Lake City
VT, Williston
WA, Spokane
WI, Milwaukee
WV, Fairmont*
*New for 2020/2021
Registration
Program results? Here’s the link to view the national Impact Report of the program: https://interise.org/2019impact/
WHAT: Learn About SBA’s Emerging Leaders StreetWise MBA Program
WHEN: Friday, March 5, 2021 from 12:00 – 1:00 PM
WHERE: Online (webinar)
RSVP: Click HERE (no cost)