M&T Bank Corporation, a New York-based financial holding company, is seeking participants for its first Capital Region Multicultural Small Business Innovation Lab.
The lab is a free program designed to provide multicultural business owners with guidance and skills to spur economic growth in the Harrisburg region, build strong businesses, and help build generational wealth for families.
The bank seeks as many as 40 entrepreneurs for the six-week program. Sessions run weekly from May 5 through June 9 and focus on business planning, establishing credit, accessing capital, marketing, branding, and networking. At the end of the program, participants can pitch ideas for the opportunity to win grants totaling up to $5,000.
“The program’s curriculum was intentionally developed to create an environment that helps multicultural small businesses overcome obstacles to success, and we look forward to partnering with Harrisburg University to offer it in the Capital Region,” Nora Habig, M&T Bank regional president for Central and Western Pennsylvania, said.
The program is held in partnership with Harrisburg University of Science and Technology’s Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurs interested in participating in the program must be Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, or Asian American and have been in business for three years or less with annual business revenue totaling $350,000 or less.