StartGrow Navigators inaugural class to help guide Greenwood entrepreneurs on business start-up and growth
August 18, 2022
Greenwood has a new way to help people start and grow their businesses. The first class of StartGrow Navigators finished their studies in late July and are equipped with the tools and resources to help entrepreneurs in the community by connecting them to the resources they may need to be successful. A graduation will be held August 31 at 8:00am, at Two Girls and an Oven, 318 Main Street in partnership with The Brew, a quarterly event where businesses discuss their ideas and challenges and receive feedback from the audience.
The First graduating class of Greenwood Certified StartGrow Navigators are Kay Self, Executive Director of VisionGreenwood; Lara Hudson, Community Development Director, City of Greenwood; Boyd Yarbrough, Vice President, Student Affairs, Lander University; Rusty Denning, Associate Vice President, Economic Development and Continuing Education, Piedmont Technical College; Charity Martin, owner of Sweet Indulgence. Steve Riley owner of Emerald Ink and Stitches and Maxwell Axe Company.
“When VisionGreenwood had the opportunity to bring the StartGrow Navigator pilot program to Greenwood, we knew it would be helpful in sparking and encouraging further innovation in our community,” said Kay Self, Executive Director at VisionGreenwood.
The Greenwood StartGrow Navigators learned from over twelve organizations that provide funding, training, and guidance about the importance of connecting aspiring and existing business owners to the right resources throughout their program. These ranged from a Small Business Development Center consultant for Hispanic businesses to CommunityWorks with their microloan program, to the South Carolina Research Authority and SC Launch, Inc., which support entrepreneurs in advanced manufacturing and materials, information technology, and life sciences with guidance and potential funding.
“The Navigator Program is an excellent addition to our community and the entire upstate region. Having this type of resource at our fingertips will allow us to assist an entrepreneur through every phase of starting, opening and growing a start-up business,” said Lara Hudson, Community Development Director City of Greenwood.
“This program has given myself and others the tools necessary to help connect individuals who may be starting their own business yet don’t know how to connect to all the resources available. These resources will definitely give potential entrepreneurs in Greenwood the tools and connections to be successful,” said Rusty Denning, Piedmont Technical College.
Ten at the Top’s resource platform, StartGrowUpstate.com serves as the digital backbone for the program with information about over 300 programs for potential and existing business owners to access as they start and grow their businesses.
“The StartGrow Navigators are an important resource for Greenwood. The number of organizations in the Upstate that help founders is substantial. The challenge is finding and connecting to resources. This program is designed specifically to address that,” says Erin Ouzts, Upstate Entrepreneur Ecosystem Director with Ten at the Top.
“Being a small business owner myself, this program is going to be an absolute benefit to those in need. Having this program in the community will provide avenues for existing small businesses to find guidance and new small businesses to find their start,” said Charity Martin, owner of Sweet Indulgence.
The State Department of Commerce awarded Ten at the Top with a Relentless Challenge grant to connect rural innovators to the innovation ecosystem. The grants are designed to ensure innovation exists, starts, and grows in South Carolina. VisionGreenwood and Flywheel were instrumental in bringing the program to Greenwood in support of the growth in locally-owned businesses and in local innovation.
