The Russell Innovation Heart for Entrepreneurs (RICE) took one other step to changing into essentially the most full place within the nation for the expansion of entrepreneurs with the opening of the Wells Fargo Studying Lab.
A $1.5 million grant to RICE made the state-of-the-art middle attainable. It’s going to develop sources for Atlanta’s booming entrepreneur neighborhood.
The revealing was attended by U.S. Rep Nikema Williams (Fifth-D), Fulton County Fee Chairman Robb Pitt, Michael Russell of the Russell Corporations, a number of elected officers, and enterprise and neighborhood leaders.
“Small companies are the spine of our communities—creating jobs, constructing generational wealth, and driving alternative the place it’s wanted most. When Black companies succeed, all companies succeed, and our communities thrive. I commend Wells Fargo for investing in that imaginative and prescient, and the Russell Innovation Heart for Entrepreneurs for persevering with to be the mannequin for the way we uplift and scale Black entrepreneurship,” stated Rep. Williams.
RICE is a mannequin that ought to be utilized in different main cities, Williams added.
RICE President/CEO Jay Bailey famous that Wells Fargo was one of many first firms to donate to RICE earlier than its headquarters had been even accomplished.
“This collaboration with Wells Fargo strikes past philanthropy—it’s a strategic funding within the folks constructing Atlanta’s future. The Studying Lab is the place concepts flip into enterprises and potential turns into progress.” Bailey stated. “That is Atlanta constructing its future from the bottom up, and RICE is proud to be the inspiration.”
At present, RICE is aiding 64 small companies, that are internally often known as stakeholders, within the metro Atlanta space, Bailey stated.
“The launch of the training lab is one other instance of how Wells Fargo is making a significant influence on small enterprise progress throughout the nation,” stated Tai Roberson, Group Relations Senior Supervisor for the Southeast at Wells Fargo. “Serving to Atlanta entrepreneurs succeed strengthens the neighborhood and contributes to a thriving financial system.”
Picture by Stan Washington/The Atlanta Voice
Twenty million {dollars} in small enterprise grants from Wells Fargo had been awarded final yr in metro Atlanta, she added.
The lab is a part of a multimillion-dollar renovation and growth RICE has been present process this yr. RICE is the biggest establishment of its kind on this planet serving to small black and minority businessses. RICE is situated within the former headquarters of the Herman J. Russell Corporations south of Downtown Atlanta on Northside Drive.
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