In a collaboration between Harris-Stowe State University and the PNC Bank, E3 is a newly launched program focused on closing the funding gap for Black business founders in St. Louis.

PNC is providing the university with a 3-year $450,000 grant as part of a $88 billion community benefit and economic empowerment plan by the Bank to uplift Black and low-moderate income communities.

Explaining some of the projections that have informed the PNC initiative, Nathan Rubbelke on STL Inno reports:

“Locally, the two organizations cited the recently published STL 2030 Jobs Plan as proof of the need for the E3 initiative. The 2030 Jobs Plan estimated the St. Louis region would have more than 8,000 businesses and over 66,000 more jobs if Black residents founded businesses at the same clip as white residents.”

Some of the key resources available through the E3 program include entrepreneurship events, pitch competitions and trainings for budding entrepreneurs, business development training and financial literacy education for high school and college students.