Last month, Prosperity Now celebrated an important milestone: the graduation of the first cohort of the Growth Business Accelerator (GBA). This program brought together 70 participants from 30 Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) across Atlanta, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Dallas to prepare small businesses, CDFIs, and support organizations for opportunities in emerging industries.  

“The GBA program was hands down one of the BEST professional education programs I have ever attended... I can't recommend this program enough and am excited to implement all the actionable training we learned!” — Toni V. Martin, Founder, Systems to Success

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Participating Organizations:  

• Latin American Association (Atlanta)

• Temple University Small Business Development Center (Philadelphia)

• North Branch Works (Chicago)

• Business and Community Lenders of Texas (Dallas)

Graduates by City:

• Chicago: 9 graduates, including 4 CDFIs ‍
• Atlanta: 29 graduates, including 13 CDFIs ‍
• Dallas: 16 graduates, including 7 CDFIs‍
• Philadelphia: 16 graduates, including 6 CDFIs

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Preparing Local Institutions to Support Business Growth

The GBA was designed to prepare CDFIs and Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) to better support small businesses pursuing opportunities in emerging sectors, such as climate tech, digital currency, and mergers and acquisitions. These sectors often require different kinds of capital, partnerships, and technical assistance than traditional small businesses. The BGA helped local institutions build the knowledge and relationships needed to meet those demands.  

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“The program was very eye opening.  It helps me to realize the potential for business owners occupying that space.” — Darlisa Diltz, Chief Entrepreneurship Strategist, Foundations Entrepreneur Development Company

The program offered:

• Specialized training to help CDFIs and ESOs design financial products, technical assistance, and advisory services that meet the needs of businesses in fast-growing sectors.

• Partnership-building opportunities connecting financial, government agencies, and industry experts to expand the resources available for small businesses exploring new markets.

• Embedded business navigators who worked directly with participating organizations to help entrepreneurs identify and secure contracts, grants, and financing tied to emerging industries.

‍Supporting Stronger Businesses, and Stronger Communities

For many, the GBA was not just a learning opportunity—it was a chance to grow, adapt, and build lasting success.  

“It was especially inspiring to see how aligned this work is with the values of our community, resilience, innovation, and a strong commitment to building a better future.”  - Erika Loaiza, Membership and Engagement Coordinator

“The GBA is a powerful example of how we can equitably equip more small businesses to thrive in this expected $3 trillion economy.” - Kyle Schulz, Chief Growth Officer at World Business Chicago

What’s Next

As the first group of graduates puts their training into practice, there’s growing awareness that both small businesses and larger institutions have a role to play in shaping what comes next.  

“For someone who works directly with small businesses, I think something like this may take some time to take off —but larger businesses and corporations should 100% take advantage of this whenever/wherever they can.” - Anya Chuyko-Yuhasz, Philadelphia Department of Commerce  

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This graduation isn’t the end – it's the starting line. These 70 professionals are already using what they learned to strengthen small businesses in their communities, laying the groundwork for broader economic growth across the country.  

To learn more about the Growth Business Accelerator and how to get involved, click here.  

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