Genesis Block Foundation

Provided capacity assistance for Block Eatz a ground breaking partnership to foster innovation and entrepreneur support for aspiring local entreprenuers in the culinary industry. Block eatz a food hall incubator was established at the McKeithan Center on the Nort Campus of Cape Fear Community College. Grand opening occured on 09/19/2023. Assistance included purchase of all kitchen equipment and facilitation of all programming elements including training,and onsite assistance.

The vocation to entrepreneurship (V2E) program advances entrepreneurship access for students and graduates of vocational training programs. Vocational school porgram graduates receive active support to convert their training either by career ladders to become middle-level employees or to pursue self-employment. Developed technical and virtual program, developed workforce placement program.

Block Academy in collaboration with Cape Fear Community College builds pipelines of diverse and qualified minority owned businesses to support the Cape Fear Region and beyond. Block Academy also provides entpreneurial training services to these companies through the Jumpstart Academy and Wits Begin programs. In 2023 90% of the founders that participated in Jumpstart Academy were referred from CFCC Small Business Center as part of the collaboration. Over 80% of the founders that particpated in the Wits Begin Incubator were referred from same. We graduated (2) cohorts of 7 companies for Jumpstart Academy and (1) Cohort of 8 Wits begin companies. We also participated in business expansion of (8) companies through our accelerator program.