The Mobile Chamber is a private business organization with more than 1,700 members and the economic developer for the City of Mobile and Mobile County. The Mobile Chamber provides members with networking, marketing and professional development opportunities while also expanding jobs in the area, developing the local workforce, advocating for legislative priorities, and offering resources to help small businesses grow. The Mobile Area Chamber Foundation is the non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that partners with the Mobile Chamber sharing expertise, resources and staff to convene, lead and fund strategic economic and community development initiatives.

Innovation Portal is a 501(c)(3) business incubator and accelerator supporting entrepreneurs and growing organizations in the Coastal Alabama region. Since its founding in 2016, the Portal has supported the efforts of more than 400 companies, educating thousands of community members, and serving as a funding partner for 10 high-growth potential businesses. As an economic development partner in the region, Innovation Portal focuses on creating a diverse, resilient entrepreneurial community where individuals from all places in our community have access to the resources needed to grow their business.

The University of South Alabama is a global teaching and research university that provides students with an exceptional education in business, the liberal arts, education, engineering, computing, the sciences and health care. USA’s commitment to student success includes small class sizes and hands-on research opportunities in more than 100 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs offered through 10 academic colleges and schools. USA offers advanced and innovative healthcare through the USA Health system of hospitals and clinics, as well as the College of Medicine.

The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce focused on promoting the growth and competitiveness of minority-owned businesses. MBDA’s Capital Readiness Program (CRP) is funded by the Department of Treasury’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) and was reauthorized under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. CRP is a $125 million technical assistance program to help minority and other underserved entrepreneurs grow and scale their businesses. CRP is designed to help minority entrepreneurs and businesses gain access to the capital necessary for their growth and development.