Gwinnett County Public Library

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE, COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING, AND MISCELLANEOUS GRANTS

THE GWINNETT COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATIONEXPANDING ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN GWINNETT COUNTY GEORGIAAUGUST 1 2026 THROUGH JULY 31 2028THE GWINNETT COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS OF GWINNETT COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY (GCPL). GCPLS PROJECT PROVIDES UNIQUE SUPPORT TO ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS WHO ARE FROM DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUNDS AND FACE OBSTACLES TO LONG TERM SUCCESS INCLUDING TEENS FROM MINORITY OR LOW SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SERVED TIME IN JAIL OR PRISON.OUR RISE PROGRAM IS AIMED AT MINORITY STUDENTS FROM THE COUNTYS ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS AND IT INTRODUCES ASPIRING TEEN ENTREPRENEURS TO CORE BUSINESS CONCEPTS HELPS THEM TO CRAFT A BUSINESS PLAN AND TEACHES THEM HOW TO PITCH THEIR BUSINESS CONCEPT TO FUNDERS AND POTENTIAL CLIENTS. THE NEW START ENTREPRENEURSHIP INCUBATOR PROGRAM IS AIMED AT INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SERVED TIME IN JAIL OR PRISON. IT PROVIDES THOSE RECENTLY RELASED WITH TOOLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO HELP THEM SUCCESSFULLY START THEIR OWN BUSINESSES. PARTICIPANTS ATTEND MONTHLY WORK SESSIONS ONE ON ONE SUPPORT FROM A MENTOR AS WELL AS OUR PART TIME CONTRACT SOCIAL WORKER ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY AND LIBRARY RESOURCES AND THE CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN A SHARK TANK STYLE INVESTMENT BUSINESS PITCH COMPETITION.IN THIS PROJECT GCPL WILL REPLENISH AND EXPAND THE PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL RESOURCES THAT INFORM SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INCLUDING BOOKS AND DATABASES. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO FUND THE STAFF AND INSTRUCTORS WHO ADMINISTER AND TEACH THE PROGRAMS DESCRIBED ABOVE. THIS FUNDING WILL ADDITIONALLY ENSURE THAT ELEMENTS OF THESE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE PROVEN CRITICAL TO PARTICIPANT SUCCESS (INCLUDING SOCIAL WORKER SUPPORT AND TECHNOLOGY ACCESS) WILL CONTINUE TO BE OFFERED.^ACTIVITIES THAT WILL BE COMPLETED1. SUCCESSFULLY RECRUIT PARTICIPANTS FOR BOTH PROGRAMS2. PROVIDE PARTICIPANTS WITH MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY TO FACILITATE LEARNING AND SUCCESS BOTH DURING AND AFTER THE PROGRAMS END EACH YEAR3. ENGAGE QUALITY SPEAKERS TO ADVISE INSTRUCT AND INSPIRE PARTICIPANTS4. FOSTER C

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