The Partnership for the Minority Business Accelerator (PMBA) recently achieved national recognition for its outreach and collaborative efforts. PMBA is a collaboration between the Akron Urban League, Kent State University and Akron SCORE and is funded by the GAR Foundation. PMBA provides education, mentoring, networking and training to increase the success and growth of minority-owned businesses. The partners received awards from the University Continuing Education Association’s Outreach and Engagement division and the Marketing and Publications division.

Dr. Patricia Book, vice president for regional development, says it’s an honor for Kent State to receive this national recognition which helps validate the university’s position as a leader in continuing education. 

“At the state and national level, there is significant interest and focus on continuing education,” Book says. “Both President Obama and Ohio’s governor recognize the importance of continuing education for future economic prosperity. For Kent State to be recognized nationally puts us at the forefront of continuing education.”

PMBA earned the Outreach and Engagement Community of Practice Innovations in Outreach award. The award is given to association members who originate or enhance successful outreach programs that prioritize social, educational and economic issues. PMBA strives to improve economic inclusion, urban assimilation and individual entrepreneurship for minority-owned businesses.

Bernett Williams, president and CEO of Akron Urban League, says, “The Akron Urban League is excited about the impact PMBA has already made in supporting the sustainability and the acceleration of African-American and Hispanic-owned businesses in our community. The partnership between Akron Urban League, Kent State University and SCORE has proven to be such a valuable resource in these tough economic times.”

Gary Sutherland, chairman of Akron SCORE, says, “Akron SCORE is extremely proud of the success achieved by PMBA in such a short time period. The strength of the partners and achievements of the program contribute to the viability of these minority-owned businesses.”

Along with the Innovations in Outreach award, the Kent State Outreach Marketing team won the Marketing and Publications’ Visual Identification: Logo Implementation bronze award for the PMBA logo. The award examined the development of the logo and the manner in which it was applied to different media, such as postcards, Web sites and posters. 

K. Marie David, director of outreach marketing, says it is rewarding to be recognized at a national level.

“The recognition helps reflect the quality of work that Kent State is doing in terms of marketing, design and advertising,” David says. 

In addition to the University Continuing Education Association honors, the PMBA program received a Departmental Service Recognition award from Kent State’s Division of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs. The award is given to programs that involve different university departments and community partners in their creation and implementation. 

The 19 businesses currently enrolled in the PMBA program will be honored during a PMBA Showcase on May 20. The showcase will celebrate their success from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Akron Urban League and is free and open to the public. Additionally, the event will explain how other businesses may take part in the program or provide assistance to the program. 

Applications are now available for individuals interested in joining PMBA for the fall. To become a client of PMBA, an organization must be a for-profit company that is at least one year old, located in Medina, Portage or Summit County, have gross revenue of $50,000 to $2.5 million and be majority African-American or Hispanic owned. Applications are due by June 30.

Individuals who are interested in attending the event or applying to the program may visit www.pmba1.org or call 234-542-4497. 

 ###

Media Contacts:

K. David, 330-672-8661, kdavid@kent.edu

Lindsay Kuntzman, 330-672-9776, lkuntzm1@kent.edu