Atlanta center offers $1 million in support as laid-off workers turn to entrepreneurship

Eryn Rogers, WSB-TV

Thu, May 15, 2025, 8:07 PM 2 min read

A caller study from Gusto reveals a 67% spike successful radical launching their ain businesses aft being laid off, and successful effect to this increasing trend, Pinnacle Bank has opened a caller Economic Empowerment Center successful Atlanta to assistance aspiring entrepreneurs get their start.

Located disconnected Northyards Boulevard successful downtown Atlanta, the halfway officially opened Thursday evening during a expansive opening lawsuit that drew metropolis leaders, assemblage members, and concern leaders.

Pinnacle Bank has committed $1 cardinal to enactment 5 section businesses done the center, with a absorption connected minority- and women-owned ventures.

Among those inspired to physique thing caller aft a layoff is Myron Walker, founder of LinkCarCare.

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After a vocation successful tech came to an unexpected end, Walker pivoted into mobile car detailing, gathering contracts with companies similar Amazon and section flat complexes.

“Tech has its ups and downs, and I really experienced layoffs,” Walker said. “One of the biggest things with america — we started gathering contracts with immoderate of the section Amazons, schools, and apartments.”

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows concern applications crossed the state roseate astir 6.5% successful March, with forecasts predicting a beardown emergence successful concern formations successful the South implicit the adjacent year.

To assistance conscionable that demand, Pinnacle’s caller halfway aims to supply entrepreneurs with fiscal literacy grooming and mentorship opportunities.

“We walk a batch of clip grooming fiscal literacy and however to commencement businesses and propulsion yourself up from the concern you mightiness beryllium successful arsenic an unemployed oregon recently unemployed person, and does starting a concern marque consciousness for you,” said Rob Garcia, Pinnacle’s determination chairman.

The inaugural besides includes partnerships with section nonprofits, similar Gener8tor, to supply wraparound enactment services.

Charles Inokon, CEO of Breva, antecedently participated successful the Gener8tor programme successful Milwaukee. He was 1 of the 5 businesses chosen for the $1 cardinal concern there. He present credits the acquisition with helping him standard his business, which has present expanded to Atlanta.