“Gig work” and “side hustle” are labels often used to describe the work done by today’s entrepreneurs. These self-employed individuals are a significant component of today’s workforce, and their number is growing. This segment of the workforce found new momentum during the pandemic, which led to 36 percent of the U.S. workforce freelancing in 2021 (Upwork, 2021). Businesses were shut down, workers were sent home, and unemployment compensation was slow coming in and sometimes insufficient. So, workers undertook the steps necessary to feed themselves and their families.

The rapid need to pivot into entrepreneurship came at a cost. In a span of weeks, full-time employees became entrepreneurs. There was no time for training or in-depth planning; there was simply a need to get financial resources into the home. Now, with time to breathe, reflect, and prepare, entrepreneurs are turning to higher education institutions for formal training to become successful business owners. The needs are wide-ranging, from fundamental business and literacy skills to operational and managerial understanding and everything in between. The opportunity to provide training for this growing segment of the workforce was the impetus for the creation of Cuyahoga Community College’s (Tri-C) Center for Entrepreneurs at Corporate College.

Wading Into the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

After working with Team NEO, a Cleveland-based economic development agency, Tri-C President Michael A. Baston sought ways to embed entrepreneurial learning in every program offered at the college. Following this initiative, in September 2023, we began developing a program to educate entrepreneurs, empower them to elevate their skill set, and encourage them to take the next step to move their business or idea along. We designed a curriculum that places a heavy emphasis on practical application, encouraging entrepreneurs to take out their laptops and apply for a federal employer identification number, LLC, and/or incorporation. We created a center that provides the tools and services for their business journeys. While our service area already had an entrepreneurial ecosystem in place, we realized we could fill in some of the gaps, thanks to our infrastructure and reputation for serving the community. We established a pipeline, utilizing the existing entrepreneurship ecosystem (see graphic below) while embedding the center’s unique programming, entrepreneur-led faculty, and expansive footprint into existing college programs.

Tri-C has established a solid community foundation encompassing our current students, alumni, community members, and institutional partners. We aim to educate entrepreneurs and help them to elevate their businesses. We move entrepreneurial efforts throughout the center’s programs as well as other programs offered in the community. We bring our students and community to our Huntington Bank Entrepreneur in Residence Program, then move interested students into the college’s curriculum-based programs. From there, they can participate in entrepreneurship programs sponsored by other business support organizations in the community. After further training, entrepreneurs who have reached $75,000 in annual revenue are handed back to Tri-C, where they can participate in Tri-C’s Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program. This 10-year-old program is offered in only 19 locations across the nation, and Tri-C's program alone has produced almost 1,000 graduates. These graduates can continue their education and training in the center’s Acceleration and Expansion programs, which are currently in development. Once they reach $1 million in revenue, additional training is available through a local Scalerator program. 

As the new player in the entrepreneurship ecosystem, the Center for Entrepreneurs carved out a niche to provide a hands-on, in-person delivery model that involves connecting our current Tri-C students, alumni, and community partners. We have an excellent community partner in Huntington Bank that funded the Entrepreneur in Residence program at the center—an early entry point in our pipeline. Students attend a four-week program, where they meet once a week in the evening for 3.5 hours. Here, they are exposed to other entrepreneurs and begin their educational journey, led each week by an Entrepreneur in Residence with other guest entrepreneurs, discussing topics such as Optimizing Your Pricing Strategy for Profitability, Marketing Essentials, Leveraging LinkedIn for Sales, Networking, Access to Capital: Funding Your Business Through Grants, Loans and Credit, and Mastering Marketing With AI. These quick-hit courses are designed to whet the entrepreneurs’ appetite for learning and introduce them to areas of business ownership that they may not have been previously exposed to or thought of. After this exposure, entrepreneurs are encouraged to transition into one of our curriculum tracks, where they go more in-depth into a structured, in-person classroom program.

Through hands-on courses and four tracks—Discovery, Foundation, Acceleration, and Expansion—we designed a curriculum to help entrepreneurs at any stage, from defining an idea to expanding their business operations. Successful entrepreneurs with real-world experience lead all the classes. The Discovery track covers topics such as business development and structure, brand establishment, marketing, and operations. The Foundation track takes the entrepreneur to the next level, providing a deeper dive into budgeting, managing cash flow, strategic marketing, and funding options.

Since the launch of the center, we have provided instruction and application tools to 152 entrepreneurs over seven Discovery track cohorts (123) and three Foundation track cohorts (29). Each Discovery track cohort includes 32 hours of in-person class time and each Foundation track cohort includes 48 hours of in-person class time. The Acceleration and Expansion tracks are under development as we learn what is needed next from our entrepreneurs in the Discovery and Foundation tracks. Here are testimonials from entrepreneurs who participated in our Discovery track:

“I would absolutely recommend this program, especially to people who think they know how to run a business but maybe haven’t or to people who have never considered running a business and are thinking about it. This is an excellent way to get more information . . . and actually build your network so you have people supporting your business.”

— Candace, reentry services provider

“If you are a business owner or an aspiring business owner, you’ve got to know the foundation, and you’ve got to learn from the people who not only have knowledge but also have the experience of starting a business. They know what it’s like to struggle through your business and get to victory as successful entrepreneurs.”

— Deonna, IT consultant

As we developed the first two tracks, we realized that many people get their information through podcasts. According to Backlinko (2025), the number of podcast listeners worldwide reached 584.1 million in 2025, showing a 6.83 percent year-over-year increase. So, we created and launched a podcast studio. As a companion to the studio, we designed an in-person podcast course that gives individuals a level of comfort before they come in to record a podcast. It exposes would-be podcasters to all aspects of production, including creating a show and using audio equipment and lighting. This spring, the Center for Entrepreneurs will launch a biweekly podcast, Speaking of Entrepreneurship, to provide additional resources and practical advice for our entrepreneurship community.

Podcast studio taping with Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings from Earn Your Leisure

In addition to podcasting, we are empowering entrepreneurs by providing a workshop series featuring business owners who share their expertise and offer professional development. We will also offer a speaker series that allows entrepreneurs to hear from industry experts and motivational speakers.

We realize that a lack of financial resources can be a significant barrier for new entrepreneurs interested in enrolling in classes, so we removed finances as a barrier. To date, through the generous donations of local corporations and foundations, we have awarded $130,000 in scholarships to approximately 152 entrepreneurs. Also, in partnership with the Burton D. Morgan Foundation and PNC Bank, we hosted a pitch competition for participants in our programs. Prize money was awarded to three winners, and seed money was provided to other participants through microgrants to help fund their immediate needs. Entrepreneurs have used those funds to cover their incorporation fees and to purchase things like equipment and accounting software.

Winner of the Center for Entrepreneurs pitch competition

What’s Next?

The Center for Entrepreneurs’ facilities will include a build-out of space that will house a technology lab that offers access to computer hardware and business software, a coworking space for work and collaboration among entrepreneurs, and a resource center. These are all due to be completed by the end of 2025. Programmatically, we are in the process of developing a curriculum for an Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition program and a nonprofit curriculum for those interested in running their own nonprofit enterprise. Both programs will launch by midyear.

In summary, the Center for Entrepreneurs plays a critical role in supporting entrepreneurship by providing the knowledge, skills, and practical resources necessary for individuals to turn ideas into successful ventures. As an institution of higher education, we will continue to promote entrepreneurship and innovation through knowledge acquisition, skill development, access to networks, creative thinking and innovation, risk management, financial literacy, exposure to case studies and real-life examples, access to funding and resources, and cultural and global awareness.

References

Backlinko. (2025, March 25) Podcast statistics you need to know.  https://backlinko.com/podcast-stats

Upwork. (2021, December 8). Freelance forward economist report. https://www.upwork.com/research/freelance-forward-2021

Lead image: Inaugural Discovery track entrepreneurs

Renee Tramble Richard is President and CEO, Corporate Training and Entrepreneurship Center, and Senior Advisor to the President, and Ronna McNair is Executive Director, Center for Entrepreneurs at Corporate College, at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio.

Opinions expressed in Innovation Showcase are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the Leage for Innovation in the Community College.