 |
 |
 |
Special Section Sponsored by Target Markets Program Administrators Association TMPAA Establishes Charitable Arm The Idea Village—supporter of New Orleans entrepreneurs—is this year’s charity recipient By Bob Bloss At this year’s mid-year meeting, the Target Markets Program Administrators Association created TMPAA Charities to serve as a vehicle that provides its members the opportunity to share their financial success with others in the business community who may need assistance. TMPAA Charities will work to support entrepreneurs in communities that need economic stimulation, revitalization and investment. Appropriately, this year TMPAA Charities has chosen the New Orleans-based The Idea Village (www.ideavillage.org) to be the first recipient of its award. Tim Williamson, president and co-founder of The Idea Village, describes his organization’s mission thus: “Small businesses were the economic backbone of New Orleans, accounting for 90% of businesses in the metropolitan area. These small businesses have faced seemingly insurmountable challenges. One hundred percent of all businesses were legally closed for a minimum of eight weeks after Katrina and in the storm’s aftermath. About 18,000 businesses in New Orleans Parish were shut down, dislocated or disrupted. Approximately 250,000 jobs were interrupted. There has been little federal, state or city relief distributed to small businesses.” Williamson says that the first people back to New Orleans were small business entrepreneurs whom he calls “courageous souls with few assets beyond a fierce determination to rebuild.” He says that, inspired by these individuals, The Idea Village provided triage cash grants and strategic guidance to entrepreneurs who “displayed guts, staying power and an intense desire to restore the city.” Says Williamson: “We are grateful to have been given the opportunity to continue this program through generous donations.” The Idea Village began in 1999 on a cocktail napkin at a stylish bar in New Orleans. A group of young professionals put up $10,000 to launch a business plan competition that drew more than 75 plans from local entrepreneurs. Almost $150,000 in cash and services was awarded to the winner by individuals and businesses that had the spirit and saw the need. That spirit grew into The Idea Village, a network of business professionals, academics, investors, political leaders and entrepreneurs who are focused on accelerating the development of early-stage, high-potential companies. Since its formal inception in 2002, The Idea Village, Inc., a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit corporation, has become the primary driver for entrepreneurship in New Orleans. It is supported by more than 500 individuals, corporations, local foundations, Tulane University, the University of New Orleans, Greater New Orleans, Inc., the City of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana. The Idea Village is governed by a board of directors that includes some of the city’s most accomplished and respected business, civic and academic leaders. The Idea Village has a database of more than 600 local entrepreneurs. It has assessed more than 400 “ideas,” reviewed 212 applications and provided direct service to 65 entrepreneurs. In January 2006, The Idea Village refocused its partnership with Tulane University and connected MBA students with entrepreneurs to help them rebuild after Hurricane Katrina. Says Williamson: “This program can truly make a difference in the lives of many deserving New Orleanians. They have shown faith in our city by returning and, through plans such as this, we can show faith in them in return.” But businesses without customers will not last long. For this reason, last August The Idea Village launched a new program, which will establish “Innovation Centers” throughout New Orleans. Says Idea Village Co-Founder Allen Bell: “A sustainable New Orleans recovery is based on developing economic recovery solutions that stimulate simultaneous reinvestment by both home owners and business owners, to ensure that one recovery drives the other. To address the physical and resource issues faced by recovering businesses, The Idea Village is developing community Innovation Centers with the pilot center under development in the Upper 9th Ward, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity, Mercy Corps, Regions Bank and Tulane University. “The Idea Village will secure strong community anchors to further develop a robust, sustainable commercial corridor,” Bell continues. “The momentum from developing business anchors promises to fuel private investment throughout New Orleans neighborhoods, giving residents a sense of confidence, ownership and participation in their communities.” As for TMPAA Charities, the operational concept is to select one or two specific charitable organizations each year to support. Information about the selected organizations will be made available at the association’s mid-year meeting, with fundraising to be completed following he annual summit. The TMPAA Charities board of directors will be responsible for choosing beneficiaries. Any member of the Target Markets Program Administrators Association may suggest beneficiaries. The board will also suggest and approve fundraising methods for this charitable arm of Target Markets. → Individuals interested in learning more about, or supporting TMPAA Charities, can contact the Association Executive Director at ray.scotto@targetmkts.com or (877) 347-5700. |
 |
|
||||||
|
||||||||
