United States Affiliates
Regional Overview
The United States is the wealthiest nation the world has ever seen. At the same time, more than 40 million people live below the poverty line. The economic downturn of recent years has exacerbated the plight of people mired in generational poverty, and the ranks of the new poor—the former middle class who now frequent food lines and have lost their homes—are growing.
Partners Worldwide connects the skills of business and professional people with the great need for opportunity and innovation. Creative solutions include new business training and launch, rural business development, successful prisoner re-entry, youth entrepreneurship, and urban community revitalization. In these and other contexts, business people in the Partners Worldwide network are a part of the solution to ending poverty in the United States.
LAUNCH
Chattanooga, Tennessee
LAUNCH empowers entrepreneurs from underserved communities with business training, support and mentoring to better their lives and attain self-sufficiency. LAUNCH works from inside underserved communities of Chattanooga, Tennessee, providing access to the business support services for entrepreneurs.
Beginning with a 10-week business-planning course, participants develop their idea into a viable business. Graduates participate in monthly roundtable groups and meet with experienced mentors, both of which provide support. Finally, LAUNCH provides a layer of affordable business services to support the business owner with legal, accounting, marketing, asset-building and loans. Part of the early success of LAUNCH is developing partnerships with nearly 30 different local, regional and national organizations. LAUNCH is building a local, replicable model in Chattanooga, Tennessee which is viable for any city in the U.S. LaunchChattanooga.org
Stories
Business owners lead change in Chattanooga
Tuesday July 31, 2012
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CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.—- After decades of church-planting in Australia and discipleship training in Florida and Tennessee, Hal Bowling’s heart “kept being drawn back to business.”
Charmane Goins - Owner & General Manager of The Bistro at the Beth
Wednesday April 11, 2012
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Long before Charmane Goins was introduced to LAUNCH and the Bethlehem Center, he experienced the entrepreneurial itch. However, a 15 year prison sentence loomed over his desires to open his own business.
Videos