Leveraging funding and relationships to fund capital access for minority-owned contracting businesses

2022 NACo Achievement Award Winner

Summit County, Ohio, OH

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About the Program

Category: Community and Economic Development (Best in Category)

Year: 2022

The Minority Contractor Capital Access Program (MCCAP) is a collaborate initiative to provide financial and technical assistance to minority, women, veteran, disabled, and LGBTQ+ owned businesses in the construction industry in Summit County. The program is operated by the Akron Urban League and the Western Reserve Community Fund (WRCF), which serves as Summit County’s Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). MCCAP is funded by Summit County and the City of Akron. Applicants to the program are evaluated based on need, experience, and potential for growth. Businesses accepted to the program are provided the opportunity for short-term credit to pay for costs related to specific construction contracts, as well as training and certification programs. The program is purposefully designed to connect disadvantaged business-owners with opportunities for long-term growth and stability. As of January 2022, 14 MCCAP participants collectively won more than 101 new contracts totaling more than $1.97 million in revenue and created 32 new jobs since entering the program.