Small Business Launchpad
Rural communities thrive when homegrown businesses succeed. Our Launchpad provides entrepreneurs across Tishomingo and Prentiss counties with free hands-on coaching, business plan modeling, access to capital, and digital toolkits to launch or scale.
42
New Small Businesses Launched
$850K+
Capital & Microloans Secured
135+
Local Jobs Created or Retained
100%
Free Confidential Coaching
What The Launchpad Delivers
Whether you want to open a boutique in downtown Iuka, a contracting service in Booneville, an agribusiness near Belmont, or an e-commerce brand from home.
Startup Ideation & Feasibility
Refine your concept, evaluate market demand in rural Mississippi, conduct competitor assessments, and establish viable business models.
Licensing & LLC Formation
Navigate Mississippi Secretary of State filings, county permits, EIN registration, sales tax compliance, and local zoning requirements.
Micro-Grant & Seed Capital Readiness
Prepare pro-forma financials, cash-flow projections, and loan application packages for CDFIs, local banks, and state rural development funds.
Digital Marketing & E-Commerce
Build a modern online presence, Google Business Profile, point-of-sale systems, and social marketing to attract regional customers.
Executive Mentorship Network
Connect one-on-one with seasoned Mississippi entrepreneurs and retired executives who understand our region's specific strengths and opportunities.
Annual Pitch & Seed Competition
Showcase your enterprise to community investors with non-dilutive seed prizes ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 for local founders.
The 8-Week Rural Founder Accelerator
Offered biannually in spring and autumn with hybrid evening sessions at Northeast Mississippi Community College extension rooms and online.
Weeks 1-2: Customer Discovery & Value
Mapping regional customer demand in our two-county area.
Weeks 3-4: Unit Economics & Cashflow
Pricing, supply-chain costs, and break-even projections.
Weeks 5-6: Legal, Accounting & Web Tools
Setting up QuickBooks, Square, insurance, and compliance.
Weeks 7-8: Pitch Night & Micro-Grant Awards
Presenting to local community lenders and receiving seed funds.
Ready To Start Or Grow?
Join over 40 Mississippi entrepreneurs who have turned a side-skill or trade into a sustainable enterprise right here at home.
Next Cohort Application Deadline:
Enrollment currently open for Tishomingo & Prentiss residents