Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation Launches Grow Prince George's
"Economic Gardening" Initiative Programs Focus on BIPOC and Women-Owned Businesses
Largo, MD – Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation launched Grow Prince George's, an "Economic Gardening" initiative. The program is a comprehensive training series to support Black, Indigenous, Persons of Color (BIPOC) women and Latino entrepreneurs in Prince George's County. Participants will gain valuable knowledge and skills to enhance their entrepreneurial journey and achieve business success.
Grow Prince George's is not just another initiative. It's an "economic gardening" collective specifically tailored to meet the unique needs of established small to mid-sized firms that have surpassed the startup phase and are seeking strategies to propel their growth to new heights.
"Under the Grow Prince George's banner, PGCEDC has produced several training programs that have positively impacted the BIPOC, Latino and Women-owned entrepreneurial community of Prince George's County," said Ebony Stocks, PGCEDC Executive Vice President. "With a varied focus on multiple underserved areas of economic development, this initiative is how we Grow Prince George's. Expansion starts here."
List of current and past Grow Prince George's programs:
C-Suite Accelerator Company Showcase And Open House
Podcast Media Training Program
Latino Small Business Development Program
Website Essentials For Small Business
Economic Gardening® is the country's oldest and best-tested entrepreneurial economic development program. In 1987, Chris Gibbons and Jim Woods brainstormed a groundbreaking idea: develop an entrepreneurial approach to economic development. At the time, the standard practice was to recruit companies from other communities, called economic hunting. The unconventional thesis suggested that economic developers could stay home and help local entrepreneurs grow their companies, known as economic gardening.
"Grow Prince George's utilizes Economic Gardening which differs from Economic Hunting because it focuses on nurturing and growing existing local businesses rather than actively seeking out and attracting outside companies," said Kimberlee Andrews, PGCEDC Small Business Manager. "This approach fosters sustainable economic development by investing in the community's resources, talent, and innovation, leading to long-term prosperity."
The program's ultimate goal is to cultivate a thriving business ecosystem in Prince George's County, where small and mid-sized businesses of all backgrounds can flourish. We strive to provide inclusive growth opportunities, breaking down barriers that hinder access to technical support services and technology tools due to cost.
This program supports BIPOC and women entrepreneurs, ensuring everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.
About Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation
Celebrating 40 years, the mission of the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation (PGCEDC) is to cultivate and promote a strong local economy that supports the growth and prosperity of entrepreneurs and businesses dedicated to strengthening communities through business development and job creation.
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For more information contact:
Rhett Butler
240.427.7926 Direct
Marketing & Communications Manager
Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation