America has always been a nation powered by small businesses—local merchants, family-run service businesses, independent companies, restaurants, dry cleaners, and home service businesses. Such companies once formed the backbone of middle-class opportunity, offering a path to economic independence and intergenerational mobility. Entrepreneurship drove our rise, especially among immigrant communities, where opening a storefront or service […]
NC inmates on the rebound learn how to start a business — and break the crime cycleDays out of prison, Brandon Lowery borrowed a lawn mower, borrowed a weed eater, borrowed a truck and started cutting grass for cash — the first dollars in his ex-offender’s business plan. He would cut a lawn for free then knock on the neighbor’s door to show off his good work. As customers piled up, […]
Brian Hamilton of Inmates to Entrepreneurs Visits Forsyth Correctional In the US, all criminal records are life sentencesLast week, members of Congress once again introduced a bipartisan resolution declaring April “Second Chance Month” in the U.S. A worthy cause, Second Chance Month is a time to recognize the challenges faced by people with criminal records and to advocate for meaningful reform. Although the idea of a “second chance” is celebrated, the reality is that […]
During Second Chance Month, Ranking Member Markey, Senator Booker Announce Legislation to Help Give Returning Citizens a New Start(Washington, April 25) – Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) today announced the introduction of the New Start Act of 2025, legislation that would establish a five-year pilot program within the Small Business Administration (SBA) to award grants of $100,000 to $500,000 to organizations annually to provide entrepreneurial development training to currently […]
You’re gonna need a bigger chainsaw to reduce government debtLast week, Elon Musk made a scene at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) by waving a chainsaw onstage, making reference to the need to cut federal expenses. “This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy,” he said. His point was simply that there are serious cuts that need to be made in federal spending. Who could […]
“Everyone deserves a second chance”: Nonprofit helps formerly incarcerated start their own business HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. (WTVD) — Roughly 18,000 people are released from North Carolina prison every year and come home to face more barriers from housing to unemployment. Inmates to Entrepreneurs, a non-profit founded in Holly Springs, is working to help formerly incarcerated individuals start their businesses. According to a report from the US Chamber […]
Second Chance Month is a failed promise for former inmates. Here’s how we can fix thatSince 2017, April is observed as Second Chance Month in the United States. This year is no different. President Biden released his proclamation on March 29 and announced, “During Second Chance Month, we recommit to building a criminal justice system that lives up to those ideals so that people returning to their communities from jail or […]
Inmates to Entrepreneurs Offers Resources to Help Returned Citizens Start BusinessesLawrence Carpenter says he grew up poor and dreaming of a better life. By age 12, he was following the only example he saw in his North Carolina neighborhood of how to achieve this dream: selling drugs. By age 17, he was incarcerated. After serving six years in prison, he was back on the streets […]
Inmates to Entrepreneurs Graduating Class Represents 19 States As the Nonprofit Expands Its ReachCriminal justice advocate and venture capitalist Daniel Dart will deliver the graduation’s keynote address. RALEIGH, NC, March 21, 2024 – Inmates to Entrepreneurs announced today that 63 formerly incarcerated individuals from 19 states (plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico) are expected to graduate from the organization’s latest course on Tuesday, March 26. “This program is […]
