Because I have the privilege of serving as the president of the Community College of Baltimore County, I had a marvelous experience this summer. I shared the stage with philanthropists Warren Buffett and Michael Bloomberg as well as Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and Baltimore City Mayor Catherine Pugh as the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses initiative was announced in Baltimore.
Goldman Sachs and Bloomberg Philanthropies are committing $10M in capital and philanthropic support to help create jobs and generate economic growth in local small businesses. And along with Johns Hopkins and Morgan Universities, CCBC has been selected as one of three local educational partners.
The 10,000 Small Businesses initiative is comparable to an accelerated, customized MBA program for small business owners selected through a competitive process. They will receive hands-on education for business growth, access to lending capital, and Business Support Services.
This prestigious affiliation offers CCBC the opportunity to advance the innovative work of its own Center for Business Innovation, funded by the Ratcliffe Foundation for our popular Business Plan Competition. This connection is just one more way for CCBC to strengthen its impact as a workforce development engine for the region and our state.
You will often hear me say that everything we do at CCBC is workforce development, whether we are educating dancers, poets, engineers, nurses or HVAC technicians. Our reputation as a leader in training today’s workers for 21st century jobs and providing customized training for 21st century businesses is solid. And our good work, has led to the recognition that CCBC should be at the table when important initiatives such as 10,000 Small Businesses are being forged.
We are grateful to Goldman Sachs for including us in this important collaboration. And, CCBC is excited to play a role in educating local, small business owners who hold great promise in bringing new jobs and ingenuity to our state.