SBA's Community Navigator Pilot Program Implemented at GBUL Receives Recognition by Senator Cardin, Administrator Guzman, & Associate Administrator Madrid

On Tuesday, April 19, 2022, Chairman Cardin and Madame Guzman, Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), celebrated the partnership of the SBA's Community Navigator Pilot Program as it came to fruition with the partnership of The National Urban League (NUL), Greater Baltimore Urban League (GBUL), and eight small minority businesses of the greater Baltimore region.

Chairman Cardin and Administrator Guzman highlighted the work on the ground in Baltimore through exploring The Raymond V. Haysbert Center for Entrepreneurship's program services, thriving businesses, and raising awareness to the coaching and tailored services and congratulated GBUL for their award and participation of the Community Navigator Pilot Program. "Today, Associate Administrator Mark Madrid and I are in Baltimore with Senator Cardin to highlight the Community Navigator Program, which helps organizations with deep community roots like National Urban League and Greater Baltimore Urban League to connect small businesses with critical resources they need to start and grow," stated Administrator Guzman. 

Greater Baltimore Urban League is grateful to Chairman Cardin for his leadership in bringing the Community Navigator Pilot Program to life, "nationally" and in his hometown of Maryland. If not for Administrator Guzman's experience, dedication, and leadership, the CNPP would not be possible for small minority businesses. GBUL thanks Marc Morial, President & CEO of NUL and Stephanie DeVane, VP of Entrepreneurship & Business Development NUL, for spearheading the Navigators Program at NUL. We celebrate Tiffany Majors, President & CEO of the Greater Baltimore Urban League for her work in the Navigators Program and long-standing support to entrepreneurs. Harford Business Center, Legacy Creators, HND Consultancy, Courted, casa de colores designs, Rice and Son's, Esteem Experience, and The Trend Lab for their consultant work on the ground to counseling and coaching small business owners to succeed and sustain their businesses.
GBUL's Raymond V. Haysbert Center for Entrepreneurship provides technical assistance, including helping entrepreneurs prepare for capital and contract opportunities, back-office management (accounting, legal, & marketing), financing (loan readiness, completing grant/loan applications) and procurement, as well as elements needed for winning contracts (contractor requirements & resources, bidding, certifications, bonding). Some of our customized workshops specifically for the CNPP are:  

• Business Credit Basics: provided fundamentals of building your business credit and how to separate from personal credit 
• Business Tax Basics: reviewed the types of entities and required income tax filings along with deadlines
• Business Procurement: outlined the elements needed for a winning contract and reviewed the contractor's requirement and list of resources to use when submitting a proposal; Clarify Your Business Idea & Decide Where to Take It; Ensure Strong Management of Your Company; Work on Your Network & Make it Work for You; and Manage Your Budget & Control Your Cash Flow 

Our spoke targets specific underserved populations in our service area, such as women, Black, Latinx, lower-income, and immigrant individuals, and individuals living in rural areas. Unsurprisingly, the predominant client was a low to moderate income, African American women in line with traditional UL constituents. Spokes primarily serve African Americans (82%), with average percentages of white (11%), Hispanic (5%), and Asian-American (2%) entrepreneurs, noting actual percentages varied by region. Modest veteran and disabled populations were served. 

• For Baltimore participants, 30% were men and 70% were women owned, 96% Black, 1% Asian, 3% white, 4% LGBTQIA+, and 7% Veterans. They reside in the Baltimore Metropolitan area. "We have provided coaching, webinars and in person workshops that assist business owners with proper business planning, marketing, etiquette, social media, as well as pivoting during adversity. Our weekly webinars on business have significantly increased our cohort and coaching participation. We are not surprised by any shift in clientele."
• Clients were generally industry agnostic, varying by region, and included food service, transportation and logistics, professional services, and consumer goods. Shifts in the labor market based on pandemic-induced workforce reductions and the reluctant rise in entrepreneurial activity led to increases in women-owned and early-stage businesses.