The Emerging Leaders Initiative is an intensive executive-level series intended to accelerate the growth of high-potential small businesses in America’s underserved cities.  Developed by SBA and drawing on the experiences of advisors and business leaders in urban communities across the country, this comprehensive curriculum provides the tools to catapult your company to the next level and help it emerge as a force in your community.

This training is for established business owners and is not for start-ups or people who are thinking about starting a business. The Emerging Leaders Initiative advanced training series is open to small business owners and executives that:

• Have annual revenues of at least $250,000
• Have been in business for at least 3 years
• Have at least one employee, other than self

• Customized training for “C” (CEO, COO, etc.) level executives with demonstrated business sustainability of at least 3 years in business and annual revenue of at least $250K 
• Participant recruitment begins in February through SBA’s local district offices and classes typically begin in April
• A three-year strategic growth action plan with benchmarks and performance targets to help the participant emerge as a self-sustaining business that creates jobs and builds communities
• Includes 100 + hours of professional specialized training and peer-to-peer counseling delivered over the course of seven months
• Specialized areas of training include:
  • Growth Strategies Plans
  • Financing and Access to Capital
  • Government Contracting
  • CEO Mentoring

There are currently no restrictions on the types of businesses that can participate. Some examples of participating businesses include:  manufacturers, retail/wholesalers, contractors, professional services and food service.

The training is specifically designed to stimulate and support the expansion of your business. The curriculum provides strategies to help you access new avenues of capital. It offers practical tools to pursue new paths for business development. It surrounds you with a network of government resources and local business leaders prepared to invest time and energy in your business.

The end result of the executive education prepares and encourages small businesses to move to the next level on their growth trajectory and to help them emerge as self-sustaining businesses that create jobs and build communities.  At the conclusion of the training, entrepreneurs produce a three-year strategic growth action plan with benchmarks and performance targets that will help them access the necessary support and resources to move forward.  

The only cost is your time and commitment to complete the curriculum over the course of seven months. All other costs are covered by SBA and our local partners. 

Register Your Interest In The Program

Emerging Leaders Initiative provides free entrepreneurship education and training for executives of small, poised-for-growth companies that are potential job creators.  This intensive executive entrepreneurship series includes nearly 100 hours of classroom time. It also provides opportunities for small business owners to work with experienced coaches and mentors, attend workshops, and develop connections with their peers, local leaders, and the financial community.

Since its inception in 2008, the SBA’s Emerging Leaders Initiative has trained over 5,000 small business owners, creating over 6,500 jobs, generating over $300 million in new financing, and securing over $3.16 billion in government contracts. 

Given the success of SBA’s Emerging Leaders, the SBA has expanded the initiative to include 60 locations to help growing entrepreneurs in emerging markets.

• AL, Birmingham
• AL, Mobile
• AR, Little Rock
• AZ, Phoenix
• CA, Fresno
• CA, Irvine
• CA, Los Angeles
• CO, Denver
• DC, Washington
• FL, Miami
• FL, Orlando*
• GA, Atlanta
• HI, Honolulu
• ID, Boise
• IL, Chicago
• IN, Indianapolis
• KS, Wichita
• MA, Springfield*
• MD, Baltimore
• ME (Portland), Brunswick
• MI, Detroit
• MN, Minneapolis
• MO, St. Louis
• NC, Charlotte
• ND, Fargo
• NJ, Newark
• NV, Las Vegas
• NY, New York City
• NY, Syracuse
• OH, Columbus
• OH, Dayton*
• OH, Youngstown
• OK, Oklahoma City
• PA, Philadelphia
• PA, Pittsburgh
• PR, Ponce
• PR, San Juan
• SC, Charleston
• SD, Sioux Falls
• TN, Memphis
• TN, Nashville
• TX, Austin/San Antonio
• TX, Dallas
• TX, El Paso*
• TX, Greater Houston
• TX, Houston
• TX, Weslaco
• UT, Salt Lake City
• VT, Williston
• WA, Spokane
• WI, Milwaukee
• WV, Fairmont*

*New for 2020/2021

Business executives interested in participating should complete the online registration form.  For registration follow up questions, contact your local participating SBA District Office.

For information, contact emergingleaders@sba.gov.