Creating Employment Opportunities For The Under-Employed
Access Ventures is launching a program to incubate a new social enterprise or enterprising non-profit that is focused on creating employment opportunities for historically under-employed segments of the population. Our incubator is designed to foster the creation of social enterprises or enterprising non-profits in Louisville or Southern Indiana that are intentional about who they hire and how they support those they hire by creating a work environment and employment model that provides the additional support they need to be successful. The Supportive Employment Program will invest $100,000 as well as offer business development workshops for the creation of an enterprise that restores a job, restores hope, and restores opportunity to the individuals they support.
Through our investments into Scarlet’s Bakery in Shelby Park as well as Hot Chicken Takeover in Columbus, Ohio, we have seen the importance of supportive employment firsthand. We want to create a culture in our city that encourages and normalizes the idea of supportive employment because we recognize that employment plays a big role in ending the cycle of poverty. Whether an individual has struggled with addiction, incarceration, chronic poverty, or any other barrier to employment, we believe that everyone deserves a chance to succeed, and for some, that may require a creative and intentional work environment. Stability is essential in creating a more inclusive and creative economy, and employment is a major component to stability.
There are many members of our community that require additional support in the workforce to help them reach that point of stability. We believe that a chance at stable employment is a right that belongs to everyone. Giving employees the tools they need to be successful helps the employee receiving those services but also helps the employer and the community at large.
Mallory Sanborn | Associate, Access Ventures
Eligibility Information
- Each proposal will be submitted by an entry team. An entry team can be one person or a number of people and has no limit on size. The entry team creates the proposal but is not necessarily the entire management team of the enterprise.
- All entry teams should be located in the Louisville MSA (Louisville and Southern Indiana).
- At least one member of the entry team must have experience working with the population you are serving.
- You can apply on behalf of an existing non-profit organization that works with the population you intend to hire but new ideas are also accepted.
Timeline
Registration Phase - December 6th, 2018 - February 1st, 2019 (Registration will be reviewed on a rolling basis.)
Application Phase - Eligible registrants will receive the application with one week of submitting their registration. (Dec 13th, 2018 - February 8th, 2019.)
Application Deadline - February 28th, 2019
Selection Announcement - March 18th, 2019
