E3 Durham

E3 Durham logo

The Equity for Every Entrepreneur (E3) Durham program employs a community-centered model that reduces the cost of doing business for Durham entrepreneurs. Local Navigators — trusted advisors who have extensive relationships in the community — provide guidance to enrolled entrepreneurs at no-cost.

 

LEARN TO EARN

 

E3 Durham features a Learn-to-Earn (L2E) program where entrepreneurs can accumulate entrepreneurial education and network connection credits that can be used to procure up to $2,000 in subsidized professional services from local Business-to-Business (B2B) service providers.

Additionally, enrolled entrepreneurs also have the opportunity to participate in cohort accelerators and receive support for capital access, certifications, and procurement. They’ll also have access to a vibrant physical hub of activity based in a culturally-rooted downtown co-working community.

Enroll Today!

Durham County entrepreneurs are able to enroll via appointment at the new E3 Durham Center located in downtown Durham, or online. Once enrolled, a Business Navigator will help you set a launch or growth plan and connect you to support services and resources to meet your unique needs.

Inscríbase aquí para estar conectado a una red de organizaciones de apoyo que tienen servicios comprensivos de apoyo para satisfacer las necesidades de los dueños de negocios actuales y futuros. Haga clic aquí para ver esta página web en español.

Durham E3 Alliance

E3 Durham engages a broad set of support organizations and service providers to level-up support for entrepreneurs who need it most. Forward Cities has engaged several ecosystem partners that form an advisory council, the Durham E3 Alliance, that works collaboratively to assess the local entrepreneurial support ecosystem and identify opportunities to align efforts to more effectively support Durham businesses.

Meet the Team

Jacinta Walker headshot

Jacinta Walker

E3 Durham Program Director
Santiago Ramos headshot

Santiago Ramos

E3 Durham Bilingual Business Navigator

Join us for Third Thursdays

E3 Durham is hosting Third Thursdays, a series of free events on the 3rd Thursday of each month. Join us for food, networking, workshops, and an opportunity to meet other small business owners and resource partners.

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Stay up-to-date on the efforts of our community’s incredible entrepreneurs by subscribing to our monthly E3 Durham e-newsletter.

COMMUNITY NAVIGATOR PILOT PROGRAM

E3 Durham initially launched in November 2021 as part of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)’s two-year Community Navigator Pilot Program, which utilized a “hub and spoke” model with Forward Cities as the “hub” and community-based organizations as “spokes” to connect small businesses with resources and opportunities. Spokes included the following Durham-based organizations: Durham Tech Small Business Center, Echo, Infinity Bridges, Inc., Knox St. Studios, North Carolina Central University School of Business, and Provident1898.

The program was created to provide distinct recovery support for businesses negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and addresses the longer-term and systemic biases, barriers, and bureaucratic challenges that underserved entrepreneurs face. SBA funding for the Community Navigator Pilot Program concluded on November 30, 2023.

Connect with us

For updates on the E3 Durham program, upcoming events, and news about our amazing community of entrepreneurs and partners, connect with us on social media!

We're grateful to partner with the following organizations to make an impact in Durham:

 

Durham County logo
NC IDEA Logo

 

For more information about the Equitable Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Durham, NC, please contact us.

 

How can I view your website in a different language on a Chrome browser?

When in the Chrome browser, navigate to Settings > Languages. This will give you the option to select your Preferred language(s) and translate our website into your preferred language through the Chrome browser. There is also an option to toggle on the Google Translate feature which will offer to translate sites into your preferred language. It can also automatically translate sites. Learn more here.

Want to try another way? You can also use the Google Translate website.

Click here to view this page in Spanish.

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¿Cómo puedo ver su sitio web en un idioma diferente en un navegador Chrome?

Cuando esté en el navegador Chrome, navegue a Configuración > Idiomas. Esto le dará la opción de seleccionar su(s) idioma(s) preferido(s) y traducir nuestro sitio web a su idioma preferido a través del navegador Chrome. También hay una opción para activar la función Google Translate que le ofrecerá traducir sitios a su idioma preferido. También puede traducir sitios automáticamente. Obtenga más información aquí.

¿Quiere probar otra forma? También puede utilizar el sitio web de Google Translate.

Haga clic aquí para ver esta página web en español