Black founders in Ohio just received some great news.
Lightship Foundation, the $50M fund for underrepresented Midwestern founders recently announced plans to expand its free entrepreneurship education program “Lightship Bootcamp” to six cities across Ohio in 2023.
In a news release shared with ESSENCE, the program will be supported by Lightship’s partnership with JobsOhio, the state’s private economic development organization.
“Lightship Foundation was founded in Cincinnati with the purpose of supporting remarkable Ohio-based entrepreneurs and innovators— so we are thrilled to be expanding our Lightship Bootcamp programming to other forward-thinking cities throughout the state of Ohio,” said Candice Brackeen, CEO of Lightship Foundation in a news release. “We are grateful to be supported by an organization like JobsOhio, which has the statewide reach and network of business and industry partners needed to bring the expansion of this important program to life.”
This is an effort that lends to the continued growth of a booming Black business ecosystem across the state of Ohio. According to “The Economic Impact of Black-Owned Businesses in Southwest Ohio Communities” report, Black-owned companies have made a $2.1 billion economic impact on four counties.
“This partnership with the Lightship Foundation complements our shared vision to ensure Ohio is more inclusive and accessible for businesses throughout the state,” said J.P. Nauseef, JobsOhio president and CEO in a news release. “By assisting the Lightship Bootcamp program, we are investing in innovation, creating jobs, and attracting new talent that can bring more opportunity for underserved members of our business community.”