Benedict College Women’s Center receives $2 million federal grant

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The Benedict College Women’s Center will receive a $2 million grant from the Minority Business Development Agency Capital Readiness Program.

The Women’s Center is one of 43 organizations nationwide to receive one of the grants. Over the next four years, the grant will enable the Center to expand its mission and services focused on empowering entrepreneurs from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

“We are thrilled and humbled to be chosen as a recipient of this grant,” said Shauna R. Cooper, executive director of the Women’s Center. “With this funding, we can further our commitment to supporting under-resourced entrepreneurs, especially women, veterans and those from rural communities in South Carolina. Our goal is to emphasize diversity and inclusion in the business world. This grant will enable us to make a lasting impact on the entrepreneurial landscape.”

Under the grant program, the Center will develop initiatives designed to address the unique needs of under-served entrepreneurs. The program will offer both virtual and in-person resources, including agnostic and retail-specific accelerator programs, mentoring, consultation services and networking events tailored to the diverse needs of the participants.

“We applaud the Minority Business Development Agency for their commitment to supporting incubators and accelerators that are providing critical services to South Carolina’s underserved businesses,” said Roslyn Clark Artist, president and CEO of Benedict College. “I am proud that our Center is one of the first awardees under the program especially since it is the only statewide Women’s Business Center at an HBCU.”