Inclusive Ventures Program

Are you a small business owner with immediate plans

to grow to the next level?

Inclusive Ventures Program

The Inclusive Ventures Program (IVP) seeks to help small, minority-owned, woman-owned, and Veteran-owned businesses in Anne Arundel County succeed and grow.  The program offers a robust menu of resources including business education, mentorship, and access to capital. The goal is to help small businesses maximize opportunity, create jobs, and grow our local and state economy.

Due to the personalized atmosphere of the program, each cohort is limited to 10-12 participants. Businesses must be located in Anne Arundel County and business owners must complete an application and interview to be considered for admission to the program.  The company should be in business for at least two years and have employees. Applicants whose business is in a commercial space are preferred.

Upon acceptance, entrepreneurs will participate in the program’s signature component, the Virtual Entrepreneurship Cohort. This online experience is a three-hour class once a week for eight weeks. Participating businesses also receive exclusive, complimentary consultations with legal, human resources and accounting experts.

After attending all sessions and completing all assignments and required meetings, participants receive a $10,000 grant to be used for working capital, paid in two installments. $5,000 will be provided upon completion of the program. The remaining $5,000 will be available approximately 18 months later. To receive the second installment, a participant must respond to an impact survey and his/her business must be still operating and be in good standing with the State of Maryland. The survey will be an opportunity for the participant to provide a written statement explaining how the initial grant was used and actions he/she have taken that have improved business operations as the result of the training program.

Graduates may apply for additional funds through two of AAEDC’s financing programs, the VOLT Fund or the VOLT Microloan Fund.

View our one-page IVP flyer in English here.

View our one-page IVP flyer in Spanish here.

APPLY TODAY! To request the application, please contact Barbara Quaye, Business Development Director, at bquaye@aaedc.org. 

¡APLICA HOY! Para solicitar la solicitud, comuníquese con Barbara Quaye, Directora de Desarrollo Comercial: bquaye@aaedc.org

Sign up for the monthly AAEDC newsletter here.

Listen to Barbara Quaye, AAEDC Business Development Director and IVP Manager, and IVP Facilitator Will Holmes discuss the value of and power of IVP on a recent episode of the My ArundelBiz Podcast on YouTube or Facebook.

Listen to Peake Social co-owner Jeremiah Batucan discuss how participating in IVP has helped him grow his business on Facebook or YouTube.

Listen to Jaron Rice, owner of Magothy Payments, Inc. reflect on his experience as a member of the September 2022 IVP cohort on Facebook or YouTube.