Worcester, MA – January 25, 2021 – The Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation has presented a $20,000 grant to Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll) for their new site in Worcester. EforAll is an inclusive entrepreneurship non-profit that helps small businesses grow and develop through free programs. The Worcester cohort will include at least ten aspiring entrepreneurs from Worcester County and expects to launch roughly 30 new businesses within twelve months of the site opening.
“EforAll is uniquely positioned to help under-represented individuals start businesses and nonprofits that address a real need and create jobs in the Worcester area.” said Ike McBride, Executive Director of EforAll Greater Worcester. “We are thrilled to have the support of such an esteemed local organization as Rockland Trust who shares our dedication to the Worcester community.”
The Worcester site will offer EforAll's two signature programs. The Accelerator Program is a free, one-year program that offers a unique combination of immersive business training, mentorship and access to an extended professional network. EforAll Worcester will also offer Pitch Contests, which allow individuals who are either looking to start a business or grow an existing business a chance to win money to assist them in reaching their goals.
"The foundation is honored to support EforAll Worcester and their efforts in providing critical resources and programs to Worcester entrepreneurs," said Edward H. Seksay, President and Chair of the Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation. "The small businesses started or grown through EforAll's programs will enrich all of Worcester."
The small business sector is broadly based and is often the cornerstone of resilient local economies. EforAll's programs are designed to engage entrepreneurs who may have limited access to start-up capital or more traditional "incubator" programs. Their most recent impact data shows that the entrepreneurs are 74% female, 58% people of color, 46% immigrant, and 39% unemployed (when they started the program). The EforAll entrepreneurs have launched more than 500 businesses that have created 720 local jobs to date. They also generated over $25 million in revenue in 2019 and raised nearly $35 million in the capital.
“We are very pleased that EforAll has expanded to Worcester,” said Michael Crawford, Senior Vice President, and Worcester Market Executive at Rockland Trust. “Local entrepreneurs and businesses are a big part of what makes Worcester special and in partnering with organizations like EforAll we’re able to give business owners the resources they need to create jobs and make a difference within our community.”
Rockland Trust's affiliated charitable foundations focus on giving that supports affordable housing, community development, education, financial literacy, health and human services, and youth programs. In 2020, the Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation provided over $200,000 in grants to organizations across Worcester County.
About Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation, Inc.
The Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation focuses on five main areas, including education, financial literacy, health and human services, youth programs and community development. To date, the Foundation has distributed more than $7 million in grants to qualified non-profit organizations in the communities served by Rockland Trust. For information about the Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation, please visit www.RocklandTrust.com.
About INDB and Rockland Trust
Independent Bank Corp. (NASDAQ Global Select Market: INDB) is the holding company for Rockland Trust Company, a full-service commercial bank headquartered in Massachusetts. Rockland Trust was named to The Boston Globe's "Top Places to Work" 2020 list, an honor earned for the 12th consecutive year. In 2020, Rockland Trust was ranked the #1 Bank in Massachusetts according to Forbes World's Best Banks list. Rockland Trust has a longstanding commitment to equity and inclusion. This commitment is underscored by initiatives such as Diversity and Inclusion leadership training, a colleague Allyship mentoring program, numerous Employee Resource Groups focused on providing colleague support and education, reinforcing a culture of mutual respect and advancing professional development, and Rockland Trust’s sponsorship of diverse community organizations through charitable giving and employee-based volunteerism. Rockland Trust is deeply committed to the communities it serves, as reflected in the overall "Outstanding" rating received in its most recent Community Reinvestment Act performance evaluation. Rockland Trust offers a wide range of banking, investment, and insurance services. The Bank serves businesses and individuals through approximately 100 retail branches, commercial and residential lending centers, and investment management offices in eastern Massachusetts, including Greater Boston, the South Shore, Cape Cod and Islands, Worcester County, and Rhode Island. Rockland Trust also offers a full suite of mobile, online, and telephone banking services. Rockland Trust is an FDIC member and an Equal Housing Lender. To find out why Rockland Trust is the bank "Where Each Relationship Matters®," please visit RocklandTrust.com.
