Align Small Business Support and Metrics

Description

Support entrepreneurial and small business assistance programming across multiple partner agencies while aligning priorities and streamlining reporting.

Why is This Important

Akron has a strong network of organizations helping small businesses, and they work better when they are coordinated. By aligning priorities and tracking shared outcomes, the City ensures its investments in small business support are delivering real, measurable results.

Initiative Wins

Provided annual operating support in 2025 for small business programs with six partner organizations: Bounce Innovation Hub, Akron Urban League, Summit Medina Business Association, Akron Black Pages, Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce, and Black Chamber of Commerce Summit County.
Deployed $750,000 in ARPA funding (2024-2025) through the Small Business Initiative – a partnership to boost Akron Urban League, Western Reserve Community Fund, and Bounce Innovation Hub in supporting 150+ small businesses through technical assistance, access to capital, and professional services.

Impact Spotlight

What We’ve Done This Quarter

Provided annual opperating support for Black Chamber of Commerce Summit County.

What We’re Working on Next Quarter

Supporting the business assistance provider ecosystem by providing $495,000 in operational and programmatic funding to non-profit partners.
Tracking and dashboarding annual impacts and number of businesses served.