It is the thinkers, doers, and makers who shape a community, and the YCEA and Downtown Inc are here to help those who are brave enough to make the leap into entrepreneurship.
“Those who live, work, and play in a community have a unique perspective and investment in their towns,” says Kevin Schreiber, President and CEO of the York County Economic Alliance. “They are often the first to identify a need or opportunity, and we want to support bringing their ideas to fruition. This is economic development at its core.”
It takes a lot of planning, a calculated risk, and a deep passion for one’s craft to take that journey, Schreiber adds.
That’s why his goal is to make that leap more tangible and realistic, to make the risk less and the support greater than before. In doing so, it’s important to shine a light upon the novel, innovative, niche, and incredibly cool work going on right here in York County.
From launch to succession
YCEA and Downtown Inc support the entire life cycle of a business. It can start with the Bloom Empowerment Center, which includes Bloom Grants, Bloom Loans, and Bloom Business Classes.
Beyond the startup, these two organizations aim to enhance tools in the founder’s toolbelt, such as partnerships with Susquehanna SCORE for business mentorship, programs through the Women’s Business Center Organization, and the Pathways to Prosperity countywide workforce plan, among many other endeavors.
“Success begets success, creativity begets creativity, and all of this leads to the growth, health, wealth, well-being, and competitive advantage of our community,” Schreiber says. “Ultimately, it is a win if we can further connect individuals and ideas to opportunities, we strive to do that daily, and believe The Founder Beat will as well.”
Thank you
The Founder Beat would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the YCEA for being a Benefactor of The Founder Beat. Our Benefactors financially support our mission to uplift and celebrate founders in our community.