Annapolis Patch Covers Graduation of Fourth AAEDC Inclusive Ventures Program Cohort

November 10, 2022

Annapolis Patch reported on the fourth cohort graduating from AAEDC’s Inclusive Ventures Program (IVP) during the organization’s first-ever IVP Social on Friday, October 28, 2022 in the following article:

11 Business Owners Graduate from AAEDC’s Inclusive Ventures Program

The article lists the eleven business owners, along with their businesses, and includes the following commentary from U.S. Representative John Sarbanes, who attended the event; Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman; and AAEDC Interim CEO Jill Seamon:

“Congratulations to the members of this fourth IVP cohort and to each of the past IVP cohorts,” said Representative Sarbanes. “Maryland’s small businesses benefit greatly from programs – like IVP – that equip entrepreneurs with the skills, resources and mentorship necessary to grow and thrive. As the grandson of a small business owner, I know small businesses are the backbone of our economy and community. I will continue working to secure funding and support for initiatives that bolster small businesses.”

“Small and minority-owned businesses are the backbone of our local economy,” said Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman. “We have seen the impact the IVP program has made on these businesses and will continue to invest in their growth and expansion.”

“It’s been amazing to watch IVP establish itself as such a proven and impactful initiative in just two years,” said Seamon. “We look forward to watching twice as many business owners participate in and benefit from the program in the coming years.”

Introduced by AAEDC in January 2021, IVP aims to help small and minority-owned, woman-owned, and Veteran-owned businesses in Anne Arundel County succeed and grow by providing their owners with a wide array of resources such as business education and training, access to capital, and mentorship.

Including the fourth cohort, 42 total business owners have completed and graduated from the program.

To learn more, visit the Inclusive Ventures Program page.

 

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