2022 EmPOWER Mentorship Program Application |
Thank you for your interest in the Frederick County Office of Economic Development (FCOED) 2022 EmPOWER Mentorship program.
Applications must be submitted no later than Friday, August 19 at 5pm.
The EmPOWER Mentorship Program is a facilitated mentoring model designed to help underrepresented businesses generate ideas, identify blind spots, troubleshoot problems, and grow their networks in Frederick County. Discussion themes will be set for every session and include subjects such as Access to Capital, Small Business Operations, Marketing & Social Media, Building Your Network, Strategic Planning, Commercial Real Estate, Legal Matters & Taxes, and Human Resources/Workforce Development. Seasoned business leaders and a facilitator will guide the mentorship program throughout its 8-week duration.
The program will begin on September 16 and will meet weekly (for 1.5 hours) until November 4, 2022. Weekly sessions will be held on Friday mornings from 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Up to 10 growth-stage business owners will be selected for the 2022 EmPOWER Mentorship Program.
Any questions may be directed to Shana Knight, Senior Business Development Manager – Diversity & Inclusion, at sknight@frederickcountymd.gov
Requirements: To participate in the FCOED EmPOWER Mentorship program, applicants must qualify in the following ways:
1. Businesses must be 51% underrepresented - For this program, “underrepresented” is defined as identity groups whose percentage of the business community is lower than that of the dominant identity subgroup. This program considers this to include business community members who are: American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian American, Black or African American, Biracial, Hispanic, Latino, Middle Eastern, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, People of Color; People with Disabilities; those who identify as Intersexual, Gender-Fluid, Nonbinary, Transgender, or Women; and those who identify as Asexual, Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Queer or Questioning.
2. Businesses must be in the growth-stage status - Growth Stage - businesses that generate revenue under $5 million annually and have been in business for over two years. Business must be located in Frederick County and must be in good standing with the State of Maryland (https://egov.maryland.gov/BusinessExpress/EntitySearch).
Applicants must commit to attending all eight in-person meetings unless an emergency or unforeseen circumstance arises.
Applicants who are selected to participate will be required to pay a $100 program fee prior to the start of the class.
Applications must be submitted no later than Friday, August 19 at 5pm.
The EmPOWER Mentorship Program is a facilitated mentoring model designed to help underrepresented businesses generate ideas, identify blind spots, troubleshoot problems, and grow their networks in Frederick County. Discussion themes will be set for every session and include subjects such as Access to Capital, Small Business Operations, Marketing & Social Media, Building Your Network, Strategic Planning, Commercial Real Estate, Legal Matters & Taxes, and Human Resources/Workforce Development. Seasoned business leaders and a facilitator will guide the mentorship program throughout its 8-week duration.
The program will begin on September 16 and will meet weekly (for 1.5 hours) until November 4, 2022. Weekly sessions will be held on Friday mornings from 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Up to 10 growth-stage business owners will be selected for the 2022 EmPOWER Mentorship Program.
Any questions may be directed to Shana Knight, Senior Business Development Manager – Diversity & Inclusion, at sknight@frederickcountymd.gov
Requirements: To participate in the FCOED EmPOWER Mentorship program, applicants must qualify in the following ways:
1. Businesses must be 51% underrepresented - For this program, “underrepresented” is defined as identity groups whose percentage of the business community is lower than that of the dominant identity subgroup. This program considers this to include business community members who are: American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian American, Black or African American, Biracial, Hispanic, Latino, Middle Eastern, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, People of Color; People with Disabilities; those who identify as Intersexual, Gender-Fluid, Nonbinary, Transgender, or Women; and those who identify as Asexual, Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Queer or Questioning.
2. Businesses must be in the growth-stage status - Growth Stage - businesses that generate revenue under $5 million annually and have been in business for over two years. Business must be located in Frederick County and must be in good standing with the State of Maryland (https://egov.maryland.gov/BusinessExpress/EntitySearch).
Applicants must commit to attending all eight in-person meetings unless an emergency or unforeseen circumstance arises.
Applicants who are selected to participate will be required to pay a $100 program fee prior to the start of the class.