Small Business Empowerment Center

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911 Washington Ave Suite 805 St. Louis, MO 63101
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SBEC helps entrepreneurs overcome the challenges of starting businesses in distressed and undeserved neighborhoods and urban “Main Street” business districts through workshops, access to capital, and consulting. We provide black entrepreneurs with coaching, counseling, and training.

The consultants currently assist the entrepreneurs with business planning, access to capital, strategic growth management, and succession planning in the areas of marketing, networking, government contracting, and finance. We have a plethora of programs to achieve these goals. Here is an example: Our 10-week comprehensive training course assisting MBE/DBE certified companies helping them increase their sales, job growth and capacity by creating a growth plan and assisting them in getting their back office in order (accounting, HR and legal). In addition, we offer credit counseling and lending through our loan fund.

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Mission

Our mission is to serve as a one stop shop to help Black entrepreneurs start and grow their own business. Our mission is to provide economic initiatives focused on assisting entrepreneurs to sustain and grow their businesses and thus create wealth within their communities.

Our Impact (2022)

400 individuals served

20 training programs or workshops offered

5 funding partners

Use the icons to explore our impact metrics.

Access to Capital

Providing entrepreneurs capital in order to start and/or grow their business. (i.e. direct lending or grant programs for small businesses)

Removal of Barriers

Providing support to entrepreneurs to empower them and become more educated business owners (i.e. general business support, training in accessing procurement).

  • 20 Total number of loans awarded

  • 12,301,000 Total dollar amount of loans dispersed

  • 10 Total number of grants awarded

  • 50,000 Total amout of grants dispersed

  • 150 Total number of individual (1:1) technical assistance sessions conducted

  • 450 Total number of hours spent providing technical assistance

Type of Organization

  • Nonprofit Organization
  • Small Business Development Center

Locations Served

  • St. Louis, Missouri
  • East St. Louis, Illinois

Key Programs and Initiatives

  • Supplier Diversity/Government Procurement Program

Types of Offerings

  • Financing
  • Entrepreneurial Training
  • Workshops
  • Mentoring/coaching
  • Advisory/Consulting Services

Program Delivery

Members of the Black Community Served

  • Returning Citizens/Formerly incarcerated
  • Women
  • Veterans
  • 65+/Senior Citizens

Locations of Members of the Black Community Served

  • Low-income areas
  • Urban areas

Targeted Entrepreneur Segments

  • Business Services
  • Construction
  • Manufacturing
  • Wholesale & Retail Trade
  • Accommodation & Food Services
  • Transportation & Logistics
  • Media & Publishing
  • Health Care & Social Services
  • Technology & Software Development

Business Stage

  • Start Up : a young business that is just beginning to develop and determine a market fit.

  • Stay Up : a business that has determined its market fit, but its product/service has not been validated nor has it achieved sustainability.

Cost of Programs

  • Free