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Forward Cities and Knox Street outline ARPA‑funded small‑business supports and tech certificates
Summary
Forward Cities (E3 Durham) and Knox Street Studios described ARPA‑funded programs to strengthen Durham’s entrepreneurial ecosystem: a navigator‑led 'learn‑to‑earn' credits marketplace and cohorts/accelerators, plus Google career certificate cohorts and tech workshops aimed at increasing business revenue and local hires.
Forward Cities and Knox Street Studios presented ARPA‑supported small‑business programming intended to strengthen Durham’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and provide direct technical assistance. Magaly Smith and Jacinta Walker of Forward Cities described E3 Durham’s navigator network, a learn‑to‑earn credit system redeemable for business services, cohorts and a bilingual outreach platform; they noted nearly 240 active clients and hundreds of credits earned since launch.
Knox Street Studios described startup weekends, a 15‑week LaunchLab accelerator, and Google career certificate cohorts in cybersecurity, data analytics and digital marketing. Knox Street said participants receive cohort support and stipends and that programs are intentionally designed to build social capital and practical skills. Forward Cities and Knox Street framed ARPA awards and NC IDEA support as catalytic to scale and noted projected local economic impacts if cohort participants increase revenues and hire staff.
Speakers asked commissioners for continued partnership to expand capacity; commissioners thanked presenters and asked staff to stay engaged on outreach and evaluation.
