At HANDS, we support economic development initiatives that seek to strengthen and sustain family and neighborhood wealth and well-being by assisting local stakeholders to identify, launch, and grow businesses that serve their community—thereby creating a positive feedback loop of economic growth and community revitalization. 

The mission to empower small businesses took on an increased urgency during the pandemic, with many local retailers struggling to stay afloat. In response to an increased need for resources and technical support, we partnered with Rising Tide Capital to create a grant-supported small business coaching program: Sustain and Thrive. 

Entrepreneurs selected into the STEP UP! program are paired 1:1 with Dedicated High-Growth Coaches who are themselves successful business owners. The Coach identifies the business's most pressing needs and works individually with selected entrepreneurs to enact a targeted 90 Day Business Action Plan, build their knowledge base and professional network, and improve the growth potential of their business.

To increase the impact of the coaching, the selected entrepreneurs are also granted $9,000 to use for business operations, online presence & marketing, and bookkeeping & accounting. 

Through this initiative, we aspire to empower small-business entrepreneurs with both knowledge-based and financial resources to improve their long-term business performance. We also hope this initiative inspires our entrepreneurs to work with each other and with other stakeholders to improve the neighborhood’s economic and social conditions.