CAPITAL ACCESS AND MENTORSHIP PROGRAM (CAMP)

PROJECT OF MOBILE CHAMBER

With a CAMP mentor who is a banker or financial expert, participants will receive guidance to prepare for business growth and expansion. Through assessing current financial situations, establishing capital-based goals, and determining the barriers that may exist mentors will work with participants to help them become capital access ready. Sign up to learn more.

Finance
Education
Mentoring

Access to capital has been identified as one of the top needs for underserved small business owners such as women, minorities, and veterans. The Capital Access Mentorship Program (CAMP) is a one-on-one financial mentorship program to help small business owners get capital for business growth and expansion. Through CAMP, small business owners are connected to a financial mentor – either a lender at a local bank, an SSBCI-enrolled bank, or Operation HOPE – to help them meet their capital goals. This program is funded by the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and is provided at no cost to the participant.

Quick Facts

The Capital Access Mentorship Program is for eligible small business owners at any stage. When a business owner enrolls in business navigation services, they have the opportunity to share their unique capital needs and challenges. If any barriers to success are identified, such as needing a relationship with a banker or guidance on how to leverage loans to expand their business, the business navigator will determine if CAMP is a right fit for them, or if they are better suited for one of our other capital readiness programs.

A CAMP mentor will guide participants in preparation for business growth or expansion. Together, participants and their mentor will complete steps such as assessing current financial situations, establishing capital-based goals, identifying barriers (if any) to obtaining capital, establishing specific and actionable steps for growth and/or expansion, and will meet once a month for up to six months.

To increase the success rate of disadvantaged small business owners obtaining required capital such as loans from the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), and other programs while helping business owners develop a relationship with a banker if needed, and identifying and addressing additional support needs to help small businesses thrive.

If interested in CAMP, please sign up for a Business Navigation meeting. During a Business Navigation session, the Business Navigator will discuss the current situation/needs and determine if CAMP is a good fit. If it is, an application will be provided and the participant will be connected to a mentor. Please note that CAMP requires all participants to be committed to participating in a once-a-month meeting with their mentor for 6 months. Information provided remains strictly confidential. CAMP is accessible year-round and is provided at no cost to the participant.