Some minority and low-income business start-ups are finding help through a new program administered by the Housing Authority of Bowling Green.
Since August, the People's Opportunity Program for Underserved Populations or POP-UP, has awarded micro-loans, business consulting, and mentoring to three new businesses. The program’s goal is to level the playing field for members of underserved populations interested in becoming entrepreneurs.
Dawn Bolton is the small business consultant for the POP-UP program.
'The seed money was secured by Abraham Williams and Don Vitale. Don Vitale really had a vision for this because of the death of George Floyd, and he discovered that there were no black commercial lenders in Bowling Green or Warren County for that matter," Bolton said.
Abraham Williams is the director of the Bowling Green Housing Authority, and Don Vitale is a local businessman. The Housing Authority is hoping to secure a brick-and-mortar location to serve as a small business incubator for the program this year.
