The Stark County Minority Business Association (SCMBA) was formed in 2008 as a volunteer organization by Will Dent, Bob Fisher, and Mel Gravely for minority businesses to network and discuss business opportunities and challenges. Today, with over 300 member businesses, the association positively impacts the growth of minority-owned businesses in Stark County.
In 2021, SCMBA recognized the effects of the pandemic on schools and student attendance, and partnered with the Canton City School District to implement Innovation Academy - Youth Entrepreneur Program (YEP). The eight-week program, offered at Crenshaw Middle School, is designed to engage students, cultivate youth entrepreneurship, and encourage student attendance.
Based on an interest survey, twelve students (divided into four teams) are selected each year to participate in YEP. These students receive education and training in financial literacy, marketing, and business planning. Local business leaders – recruited from SCMBA membership – coach each session, and students receive industry-based rewards aligned with the goals of the program. The program culminates with a “YEP Pitch Challenge” where each team presents their business plan to a panel of judges, school administrators, family, and friends.
SCMBA expanded Innovation Academy by partnering with McKinley Senior High School to bring Innovation Academy-McKinley (IA-McK) to 60 eleventh-grade students. The goal is to help students build a personal plan, as well as provide knowledge that can lead to career-connected opportunities such as internships, mentorships, apprenticeships, and entrepreneurship. Over the course of ten weeks, students engage in a speaker series where they receive invaluable discussions that meet the goals of the IA-McK program. The program culminates with a networking event that includes SCMBA business members and community participants who engage the students in a discussion with panelists.
