ABOUT US

PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT

There are over 5,000 small businesses in gentrifying neighborhoods throughout Tacoma. Urban Business Support helps them to stay and thrive in their communities.

OUR VISION

Urban Business Support is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose vision is Development without Displacement. Investment in low-income communities should not push out the current residents. It should improve their lives.

OUR MISSION

Urban Business Support gives businesses in gentrifying communities the resources to adapt, survive, and grow in the changing marketplace emerging around them to retain diversity of business ownership.

OUR SERVICES

Urban Business Support does not just train businesses. We build leaders.  

We provide business training, personal credit counseling, and leadership skills. Courses are available in three flexible formats, depending on how deep you want to get and how far you want to go.  

Business Plan in a Day

The Business Planning App, from Centro Community Partners, is a free mobile business plan tool. In six hours, Urban Business Support walks entrepreneurs through a series of fun activities using the app to create a bare-bones business plan. The app is available in English, Spanish, Russian, and Portuguese. This program is free.

Entrepreneurship Program

The 30-hour Entrepreneurship Program teaches business owners about strategy, business finance, market analysis, operations, personal finance, products and services, and leadership skills, resulting in a robust business plan. The program is offered for a fee of $100.

The first step is to take the free Business Plan in a Day!

MBA Advisor Program

The 8-week Advanced Mentor Program pairs each graduate of the Entrepreneurship Program with a MBA student advisor and helps develop and implement their business plan. This mentorship is provided for free, but requires participation in the Entrepreneurship Program.

PARTNERS

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