Josh Troy
The Press Register
Higher Purpose Company, a local non-profit organization to help African-American entrepreneurs grow their businesses, announced its spring 2020 cohort will assist 24 individuals in their efforts with a six-month course.
The 2019 spring cohort assisted eight entrepreneurs from Coahoma County. This year’s program is focused on the Delta with entrepreneurs from Coahoma, Leflore, Washington and Bolivar counties. There are 20 businesses with four husband and wife teams and half of them are from Coahoma County.
The focus is on food, health, education and arts and culture. The businesses include health and wellness, restaurants, party planning, a consulting firm, fitness and photography.
Higher Purpose Co. meets with the entrepreneurs once a month during the six-month period with a culturally relevant curriculum. Each entrepreneur receives a $1,000 stipend that allows them to have the necessary resources and connect with others in the business industry.
“Our goal is to get out there as much as we possibly can so that people will know about the work that we are doing,” said Jarquita Brown, Higher Purpose Co. communications and development coordinator.
Ryne Gipson, Higher Purpose Co. COO, said the course was scheduled to start early in the spring, but everything was pushed back due to the coronavirus. As of now, it is scheduled to start in June.
Three of the lessons, including the first orientation meeting in New Orleans, are scheduled to take place outside of Clarksdale. The other two are in Jackson and Montgomery, Ala.
“We set it up so it’s more than a typical classroom or setting,” Gipson said. “It’s more of a hands-on. Everybody gets to come in. We learn from each other.”
Gipson said the businesses are in different phases. Some of them are new while others have been in operation for years, but all receive the same training.
Angela Williams, Higher Purpose Co. community wealth coordinator, said entrepreneurs will be able to have one-on-one training and other business support during the week. There will be opportunities for FaceTime calls to discuss business plans.
“If they’re stuck on a business plan, I’ll give them insight on how to handle a business plan,” Williams said.
Gipson said one thing business owners will recognize after being a part of the program is they have a higher level of accountability than they would have if they were an employee to someone else.
As a business owner, Gipson said, each individual is responsible for checking their own work.
“Being your own boss, it doesn’t mean you’re going to have more time. It doesn’t mean you’re going to have more money. The person that runs the business is going to have to work harder.”
Gipson said the accountability level sinks in for most entrepreneurs after being part of the program. He said many entrepreneurs say, “’I knew it, but I didn’t want to believe it.’”
