FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—February 27, 2025
CONTACT
Carly V. McCoy
Director of Communications | Bridgeway Capital
310 Grant Street, Suite 2800 | Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Local Office | 290 W. Market Street, Warren, OH 44481
Phone: 412.201.2450 x 150
Applications Open for Bridgeway Capital’s Business Growth Accelerator
Program offers specialized support to help small business entrepreneurs build capacity
WARREN, OH — Bridgeway Capital’s Business Growth Accelerator, a program that provides comprehensive support for entrepreneurs through expert-driven education, coaching, and business-building services, is now accepting applications for its 2025 cohort. The program, which is offered at no cost to participants, will accept applications through March 31.
Facilitated by industry experts in strategy, finance, legal, marketing, and more, the Business Growth Accelerator helps emerging and established business owners from the Mahoning Valley refine their fundamentals to achieve operational excellence and pursue entrepreneurial opportunities. These entrepreneurs will graduate with clear goals—especially financial ones—and a thoughtful business plan to make those goals a reality.
The Business Growth Accelerator is the second business readiness program Bridgeway Capital has offered to entrepreneurs in the Mahoning Valley in partnership with The Intentional Development Group (IDG).
Through the application process, Bridgeway Capital will select up to eight entrepreneurs for an established business cohort and twelve participants for an emerging business cohort. Applicants who have been in business for more than four years, have $20,000 to $30,000 in annual revenue, and work full-time for their business are encouraged to apply to the established business cohort. The emerging business track is applicable for those entrepreneurs who do not yet meet those criteria.
Together, the cohorts will participate in two months of weekly sessions that cover key business topics, including: marketing, legal, accounting, and business planning. These educational and networking sessions led by industry experts in entrepreneurship, including those from the IDG, are ideal for both emerging and established business owners to refresh their knowledge, discover new practices, and add resources to grow their business.
Designed for entrepreneurs with an interest in securing capital funding to elevate their businesses, the established business cohort will receive one-on-one business coaching prior to the educational sessions, receiving personalized guidance to assist them in creating a strong business plan and strategies with clear, actionable goals.
Bridgeway’s Senior Programs Manager Maria Brown will lead this year’s cohorts. Brown collaborates closely with these business leaders to connect them with Bridgeway’s six elements of capital readiness to aid in their entrepreneurial journey: space, capital, markets, peers, capacity, and guidance. Brown also manages a network of trusted coaches and consultants in finances, legal, strategy, and marketing to refer to participants, as needed.
“I’m excited to work with business owners on the pathway to upward mobility,” Brown said. “This newly restructured program allows for more participation from emerging entrepreneurs, preparing them for future development opportunities. We have also retooled the journey for the established business track; the new sequencing will better assist participants in understanding the elements of a strong business model and with developing plans to guide their decision making. They’ll graduate with the entrepreneurial confidence and capital readiness needed to thrive!”
During the final phase, ongoing support is provided to the established business cohort to assist them in applying these best practices to their small businesses. Technical assistance is available to help with financial projections, credit repair, and more. Participants can also pursue funding to reach goals that require capital.
Lisa Resnick, who was a part of the inaugural cohort in 2024 reflected on the impact on her business, Dandelion – Inc.: “This experience has highlighted the wealth of creativity and innovation within our local network, and it has been inspiring to see so many individuals commit to making a positive impact. Participating in this program has increased our focus on execution and consistency, helping us transform plans into tangible results.”
The IDG were essential partners for the launch of the 2024 program and will once again participate in 2025 by providing their expertise in leadership, business development, operations, and marketing.
“Our collaboration with Bridgeway Capital’s Accelerator Program has provided our participants with transformative mentorship and peer support, enabling small business clients to forge meaningful connections and gain critical knowledge,” said Carmella M. Williams, Chief Engineer of Visionary Leadership for IDG. “This empowerment has elevated their leadership impact across the Mahoning Valley.”
In addition to Carmella M. Williams, TaRee Avery, IDG’s Chief Operations Alignment Specialist, and Candice Dukes, IDG’s Chief Marketing Strategist, will provide business consultation services.
Accelerator session locations include The Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County in Youngstown and the Raymond John Wean Foundation Offices in Warren, Ohio.
A virtual information session will be held for interested applicants on March 21, 2025, to learn more about the 2025 Business Growth Accelerator Youngstown / Warren. To apply or sign up for the information session, visit the 2025 Business Growth Accelerator Youngstown / Warren page in Entrepreneurship Hub at BridgewayCapital.org.
###
About Bridgeway Capital
Bridgeway Capital is a mission-driven lender, a nonprofit alternative to banks that lends to small businesses, nonprofits and real estate projects that have a positive community impact. As a Community Development Financial institution (CDFI), Bridgeway is certified by the U.S. Treasury. Since 1990, Bridgeway has invested more than $300 million in communities across the region, with more than 90% of the funding provided to low-income communities. As a social impact investor, Bridgeway focuses on equitable economic growth in underserved areas by providing impact-driven lending and programs to grow businesses and revitalize places. For more information, visit bridgewaycapital.chemistry.digital.
About The Intentional Development Group
The Intentional Development Group is focused on uniting for impact. We are a champion for collaborative community development and economic empowerment.