Through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the Small Business Administration established the Community Navigator Program to support small businesses with a focus on those owned by veterans, women, and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals - including in rural and urban communities. The program is designed to reduce barriers that underrepresented and underserved entrepreneurs often face in accessing the programs they need to recover, grow, or start their businesses. Join us to learn about the South Carolina statewide program and the organizations involved in supporting small businesses through financial assistance, access to capital, business development, technical assistance, and more.

Speakers:

• Katy Davenport, Chief Program Officer, CommunityWorks

• Evelyn Lugo, President, SC Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

• Sam Skardon, Director of Operations & Development, CLIMB Fund

• William Furman, Senior Area Manager, South Carolina District Office, U.S. Small Business Administration

• Ingrid Tugwell, Increasing HOPE Financial Training Center

Community Development Institute (CDI):

CDI is an initiative of SCACED which offers professional organizations and their staff an opportunity to build skills, learn from peers and connect to existing state, regional and national resources. CDI offers professional organizations and their staff an opportunity to build skills, learn from peers and connect to existing state, regional and national resources. We offer structured training sessions throughout the year and cover a broad range of topics pertaining to Community Economic Development and Nonprofit Management.