ATLANTA — During Black History Month, WSB is shining a spotlight on Black entrepreneurs.
Channel 2′s Karyn Greer introduces us to a man committed to educating, inspiring, and supporting aspiring business owners.
In the five years since its creation, the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE) is already making history.
“There are very few times in life where you get to be a part of something, you know that will outlast you,” Jay Bailey said. “We transitioned to become the largest city in the world dedicated to growing, scaling, and developing Black businesses. In honor of one of the greatest entrepreneurs the city of Atlanta ever created, the great Herman J. Russell, Sr.”
RICE’s mission is clear, to build Black businesses.
“Black businesses stabilize black communities. Black communities that are more stabilized. You have better schools. You have better neighborhoods,” Bailey said.
The institute in southwest Atlanta provides support throughout the entire process - from the seed of an idea to getting a business off the ground and running.
You can think of it as a Shark Tank on steroids.
“We’re in the readiness business or one of the axis business. Our job as an institution is to create the platform that makes sure that you’re ready for the opportunity, and then giving you the access to fly,” Bailey said.
RICE exposes entrepreneurs to movers and shakers from the business and political worlds and provides valuable training for business owners, including information sessions and workshops.
“They not only help us with finance, they not only help us with operations and provide us with resources, but they put us in the room with executives, they put us in the room with people that are gonna hear us and that make decisions,” Mirah Young said.
The institute has already touched thousands of lives.
They support more than 350 entrepreneurs a year.
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