Residents to receive $5,000 to turn business ideas into reality
Bentonville, Arkansas (August 20, 2024) – Applications are now open for Arkansas residents to participate in the Builders + Backers Idea Accelerator this fall. Anyone with novel ideas is encouraged to apply to the 90 day virtual program. Those who are accepted in the program receive up to $5,000 to help them turn ideas into potential businesses or ventures.
This statewide expansion is supported by Heartland Forward, Ford Foundation and Edward Jones, building upon local investment. This expansion is part of a multi-year commitment to help expand opportunities for entrepreneurs across the state.
Anyone in Arkansas can apply here by September 29, 2024. Residents with the most promising and innovative ideas will be selected to participate in a 90-day virtual program starting on November 7, 2024.
Since 2021, Heartland Forward has been committed to fostering early entrepreneurial ideas through the Builders + Backers Idea Accelerator. The Walton Family Foundation previously supported the program in Northwest Arkansas and will do so again in the upcoming Fall cohort. The additional spots made available in Arkansas with the support of Ford Foundation and Edward Jones will also ensure that anyone with a novel idea anywhere in the state can put it into action, adding to the goal of funding and supporting more than 1,000 Builders across the heartland by the end of 2024.
“Entrepreneurship is key to helping communities thrive and grow economically,” said Ross DeVol, president and CEO of Heartland Forward. “We’re excited to expand the program statewide across Arkansas, the headquarters of Heartland Forward. We believe the next cohort of Builders have the power and forward-looking mindset to better their communities and we can’t wait to see the progress they make throughout 2024 and beyond.”
“This new funding builds on the work that started and continues strong with our partners in the Walton Family Foundation as we strive to open a truly accessible, Universal Onramp to entrepreneurship and idea-stage funding to anyone in the state of Arkansas,” said Donna Harris, CEO of Builders + Backers. “Together with our partners and funders we can break down barriers to entrepreneurship and enable anyone to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.”
“For decades, the Ford Foundation has invested in local communities to strengthen the economy, build broader pathways to opportunity, and improve lives. We’re pleased to partner with Heartland Forward and Builders + Backers to support these aspiring entrepreneurs who are the future of American business and innovation,” said Roy Swan, Head of Mission Investments from the Ford Foundation.
“With this partnership, we’re glad to provide support for entrepreneurs in Arkansas who need help turning ideas into businesses,” said Dan Bosch, Market Leader from Edward Jones. “We’re excited to see what new ideas come to life through this program.”
To learn more about the Builders who have completed the Idea Accelerator program through the support of Heartland Forward and other partners, see here. For more information on how communities and businesses can support the statewide expansion of the Idea Accelerator Program, please contact Builders + Backers here.
About Heartland Forward:
Heartland Forward is a policy think-and-do tank dedicated to being a resource for states and local communities in the middle of the country. We do this by studying broad economic trends and building data-driven and community-tested partnerships, programs and policies to address the needs of the heartland – all while helping to change the narrative about the middle of the country and kick-starting economic growth.
About Builders + Backers:
Builders + Backers helps entrepreneurial dreamers become Builders who create and grow promising new companies. Our innovative, research-backed workshops, events, and programs, combined with our full stack of philanthropic and investment funds, work together to create a “Universal Entrepreneurship Onramp,” making it possible for anyone to bring their ideas to life and make a real impact in the communities they call home.
About Ford Foundation:
The Ford Foundation is an independent organization working to address inequality and build a future grounded in justice. For more than 85 years, it has supported visionaries on the frontlines of social change worldwide, guided by its mission to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement. Today, with an endowment of $16 billion, the foundation has headquarters in New York and 10 regional offices across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
About Edward Jones:
Edward Jones is a leading financial services firm in the U.S. and through its affiliate in Canada. The firm’s nearly 19,500 financial advisors serve more than 8 million clients with a total of $2 trillion in client assets under care at the end of March 2024. Edward Jones’ purpose is to partner for positive impact to improve the lives of its clients and colleagues, and together, better our communities and society. Through the dedication of the firm’s approximately 54,000 associates and our branch presence in 68% of U.S. counties and most Canadian provinces and territories, the firm is committed to helping more people achieve financially what is most important to them.