ConnCORP/Quinnipiac Community Entrepreneurship Academy and Clinic

First cohort of minority-owned businesses from Greater New Haven
selected for ConnCORP/Quinnipiac University Community Entrepreneurship Academy and Clinic

HAMDEN, CT - Connecticut Community Outreach Revitalization Program (ConnCORP) and Quinnipiac University have announced the first cohort of minority-owned businesses from Greater New Haven that have been selected to be part of the newly created ConnCORP/Quinnipiac University Community Entrepreneurship Academy and Clinic (CEAC).

The entrepreneurs and businesses that were selected are:

• Alisha Crutchfield of BLOOM
• Shakeema Burke of Waterfront rentals
• Silvia Loney of Vegan Chef Sil
• Erica G. Bradley of Crimson World Travel
• Novella Atkinson of Asantewaa Fitness and Wellness
• Kimberly Griffith-Artis of Kimberly Consulting Inc.
• Shenira Billups of Mental Growth & Internal Healing, LLC
• Candice Dormon of Ekow Body
• Tanisha M. Hill of Plant and Tea
• Evelyn Massey of Noir Vintage & Co.
• Cherryll LaFond of Caribbean Home-Style Products LLC
• Letitia Charles of Sankofa Interior Design and Professional Organizing, LLC
• Caysi Morgan, MBA and Jovan Lomax of Royal Roots Solutions, LLC
• Melissa L. Singleton of Unique Mobile Notary Services
• Winter A. Carson of Blush Beauty & Wellness
• Lillian Pearson of Elle dot Kay LLC
• Tabari Hashim of Love Vegan Bakery
• Quiana Tanner of Try This Pie
• Darian Duah of CheB

“The first cohort will go through a rigorous and transformational program,” said Tuvana Rua, associate professor of management at Quinnipiac and director of the program. “They will receive a tremendous amount of support from Quinnipiac faculty and students in key areas to help with their stability and growth.”

The entrepreneurs will take place in a 14-week program that will use a blended format of both in-person workshops and virtual coaching. Quinnipiac faculty from across its nine schools will serve as teachers, coaches and mentors. The Lab at ConnCORP, the organization’s business incubator, will host the in-person workshops and virtual business clinics for the program.

“Our vision at The Lab is rooted in the spirit of entrepreneurial and educational opportunity,” said Aya Beckles Swanson, executive director of The Lab at ConnCORP. “The Lab was created to be an institution to support and develop minority and Black-owned businesses in Greater New Haven. We are all eager to aid these entrepreneurs in the pursuit of lasting success and prosperity. I am excited about this partnership with Quinnipiac University and for the cohort of businesses that will thrive through this program.”

The program will offer wrap-around business accelerator resources for minority-, women- and veteran-owned small businesses working with ConnCORP. Each entrepreneur will create a business plan along with a list of business support resources to utilize to showcase the continued development and growth of their business.

The Community Entrepreneurship Academy and Clinic was created with a $406,000 grant Quinnipiac received from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

“Congratulations to all the entrepreneurs who have been selected for this outstanding program,” said Erik Clemons, CEO of ConnCORP. “This is an opportunity for them to lay the first bricks of a foundation towards building sustainable success and long-term wealth generation. I want to also thank Quinnipiac University for its vital resources and trusted partnership in this endeavor. We are in the business of creating success and wealth in our community and CEAC will be a benefit to minority small business owners within this cohort and those that will come after it.”

About ConnCORP
ConnCORP seeks to drive economic development in the Dixwell and Newhallville sections of New Haven by investing in local commercial and residential real estate. The objective is to deliver well-planned multi-use real estate investment, which can help stabilize the local economy, provide affordable goods and services, and create local jobs.