LAUNCH PAD: LAUNCHING DREAMS, LANDING OPPORTUNITY
Strengthening Financial Futures
Empowering LMI Communities, Rural Enterprises & Women Entrepreneurs
Common Ground serves as the nexus where community stakeholders converge to end social and economic disparity by strengthening financial capability. We empower families, emerging businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies through collaborative relationships that drive transformative growth and impact.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Launch Pad is an intensive 8-week entrepreneurship incubator transforming business ideas into sustainable enterprises for low-income residents of Atlantic and Cape May Counties. Operating three cohorts annually (Spring, Summer, Fall), our hybrid approach includes:
- Weekly online learning modules
- Bi-weekly workshops at community locations
- One-on-one business mentoring with local entrepreneurs
- Mobile-optimized business planning tools
- Peer mastermind groups for accountability
Our curriculum addresses regional economic challenges through an eight-week sequence covering:
- Entrepreneurial mindset| Market research | Business modeling
- Financial planning | Marketing | Operations
- Pitch development | Launch strategy
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
Launch Pad Program key personnel has designed and implemented entrepreneurship programs in southern New Jersey for 10+ years, including:
- 6-week micro-enterprise accelerator
- Digital marketing workshops
- Youth entrepreneurship training
Key Personnel:
- Rodrick L. Green, Program Director – 10 years in small business development
- Joe Wilson, Business Finance Coach – 15 years in business financing
UNIQUE VALUE PROPOSITION
Launch Pad offers five distinctive elements:
- Micro-Enterprise Focus: Development of viable businesses with minimal startup capital
- Seasonal Economy Integration: Curriculum addresses the region’s tourism economy
- Resource Navigator System: Comprehensive mapping of entrepreneurial support resources
- Banking & Capital Access: Partnerships with financial institutions for microlending and credit building
Digital Marketplace Access: Knowledge and tools for online business development
PROGRAM COMPONENTS
- Entrepreneurial Readiness Assessment (ERA) Evaluates mindset, skills, concept viability, and resource networks to create personalized development plans.
- Mobile Hotspot Connectivity Program Addresses digital divide through carrier partnerships, hotspot lending, data subsidies, and connectivity training.
- Free Business App Instruction Training on smartphone applications for design, point-of-sale, accounting, marketing, and project management.
- Integrated Business Mentorship value add sessions during the program.
- Micro-Business Showcase Culminating event providing pitch experience, market validation, community connections.
PARTICIPANT ELIGIBILITY & COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Launch Pad welcomes aspiring entrepreneurs from diverse economic backgrounds, with a focus on serving families within 200% of federal economic guidelines through:
- Community outreach in underserved neighborhoods
- Collaborative partnerships with local business networks
- Inclusive multilingual services (English and Spanish)
- Focus on industry sectors with growth potential
Launch Pad transforms entrepreneurial aspirations into economic reality for low-income residents, creating pathways to self-employment, business ownership, and long-term financial independence.