[from Philanthropy News Digest] JumpStart America, an initiative of Cleveland-based JumpStart, has announced a $1 million challenge grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation (http://www.knightfdn.org/).
The grant will help JumpStart America raise an additional $14 million to expand the program to twenty additional cities over the next three years. Part of the Startup America Partnership, the community-focused effort will build on regional partnerships to spur the creation of new jobs by developing, identifying, and supporting high-impact entrepreneurs.
In communities hit hard by job loss, JumpStart works to bring traditional economic development groups together with an array of entrepreneurs and other public, private, philanthropic, and institutional partners and leaders. The group then conducts research, develops frameworks and strategies, and helps raise resources and support for the entrepreneurs.
"JumpStart's approach is based on one simple truth: to succeed in creating an environment for innovation, we must deliberately focus on engaging the community in determining the best way forward," said Paula Ellis, the Knight Foundation's vice president for strategic initiatives. "Its focus on empowering transformational change while leveraging technological solutions like the online community IdeaCrossing demonstrates the type of innovative approaches we encourage."
“JumpStart to Promote Entrepreneurship in 20 New Cities With $1 Million in Support From Knight Foundation.” JumpStart Press Release 2/07/12.
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A nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, the RCWE’s mission is to connect people with jobs through collaborative workforce development efforts and strong partnerships with economic development, business, education, and government sectors in the Northwest Pennsylvania region.