MOUNT VERNON, WA — The Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship (CIE) is proud to announce that it has received a $12,000 grant from the Skagit Community Foundation to support SCF 2025: Pathways to Financial Stability through Entrepreneurship in Skagit County. This initiative will expand access to entrepreneurial training, personalized coaching, and business development resources for early-stage and aspiring entrepreneurs across Skagit County, with a strong emphasis on underserved and underrepresented communities.
Pathways to Financial Stability empowers individuals to launch and grow small businesses that create sustainable income, build intergenerational wealth, and strengthen local economies. The program offers an inclusive on-ramp into business ownership by combining foundational education with one-on-one support and community partnerships.
The Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship (CIE) is a nonprofit organization committed to building a more inclusive economy by lowering barriers to business ownership. CIE serves individuals who have traditionally been excluded from entrepreneurship – people of color, women, immigrants, and others – through culturally responsive outreach, community-based programming, and long-term coaching.
The Skagit Community Foundation (SCF), founded in 1997, is dedicated to enriching the quality of life in Skagit County by stewarding charitable assets and distributing grants to nonprofits that address local needs. SCF’s investment in inclusive economic development is helping to unlock the talent and creativity that already exists in Skagit’s diverse communities.
“we are thrilled and deeply grateful to receive this support from the Skagit Community Foundation,” said Victor Ponce, Program Manager for CIE’s North Cascades Region. “This grant will allow us to expand our reach and walk alongside more local entrepreneurs who are building brighter futures for their families and their communities. Skagit is full of hardworking, creative individuals – we’re proud to help turn their ideas into thriving small businesses.”
CIE is excited to continue growing its presence in Skagit County, where entrepreneurs are revitalizing neighborhoods, serving their communities, and celebrating the region’s rich cultural diversity. Through this partnership with SCF, CIE is proud to be part of the movement toward a more just, inclusive, and resilient local economy.
