An Innovation Challenge to Revitalize a Vulnerable Community

About the Program

Category: Community and Economic Development (Best in Category)

Year: 2018

Wake County, United Way, City of Raleigh and Southeast Raleigh Promise in partnership with a community Co-Design Team sponsored the Southeast Raleigh Innovation Challenge. The Challenge’s purpose was to bring skill-building, resources and networks for innovation to fuel the economic engine vital to this historic yet vulnerable community. The Challenge invited community residents, small businesses, nonprofits, faith-based groups and youth within the specified area of the county to identify community-defined solutions to economic and social issues that were innovative yet practical. Fifty-three community members applied for participation in the Challenge with 42 pitching ideas to a live audience on July 22, 2017. A six-week accelerator program, managed through United Way and the Carolina Small Business Development Fund helped 24 semi-finalists develop their ideas and ability to pitch which culminated in a final public pitch event on October 20, 2017. Five finalists and five seed capital winners were awarded funding from the $120,000 pool. First year success measures included community engagement, ideation for economic vitality and authentic skill building. The Challenge ignited financial, human and intellectual capital development in this underserved community. The Challenge celebrated community development driven both by and for residents who live and work there.