Partners for Growth Awards grants to entrepreneurs.

Partners for Growth, an alliance between the American Institute of CPAs and AT&T Capital Corp. to promote small business and social responsibility, has awarded a total of $100,000 to entrepreneurs in Baltimore and Detroit whose fledgling businesses will improve the quality of life in their commumities.

Partners, begun in 1994 as a pilot program (see JofA Feb.95, page 16), helps small, socially conscious business owners start or expand operations by providing grants (from AT&T) and up to one year of free business advice (from local management consultant members of the AICPA).

A task force made up of representatives from AT&T Capital and the Institute's management consulting services division selects the winners from scores of applications it receives from companies in ethnically diverse cities that have shown a commitment to community renewal. In Baltimore, the AT&T Capital-AICPA task force included co-chair R. Christopher Rosenthal, William Dryden, Helen Holton, Philip Lange, Ed Raskin and Kenneth Seal. Members of the Detroit task force included co-chair Judith Trepeck, Eugene Brazeal, Vicki Elmer, Barry Lefkowitz, Richard Segal and Bob Sher.

Providing services to young and old

In Detroit, owners of three businesses received grants:

* Annetta R. Hewitt will use her $25,000 grant to help fund construction of HOOPS!, 24-7, Inc., a basketball facility that will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and offer innercity youngsters a clean, safe, affordable place to play.

* Lynn M. Smith and Michael A. Griggs will open the Black World Bookstore and Cultural Center and Kafe Kemet with the help of their $15,000 grant. The center will offer products, books and videotapes as well as art exhibits and guest lecturers.

* With his $10,000 grant, Derek S. Gideons will expand his Envirolytic Group, a company that offers environmental consulting and testing services. The company employs and trains young people to pursue careers in science.

In Baltimore, four business owners received grants:

* George Hall, president of Tico Enterprises, which manufactures wood products sold in specialty stores, will expand the company with his $20,000 grant. Tico employs young men and women with a history of drug problems and offers them the opportunity to become part-owners of the company and work in a variety of managerial capacities.

* Wilbert Epps, head of Wilbert's Construction Company, will use his $20,000 award to expand his business, which buys and renovates vacant private residences and sells them at an affordable price to low-income families or to the city. The company employs young people from the inner city and trains them to do home repair and renovation.

* Pamela Mitchell received a $5,000 grant to launch Moving On, a business that helps senior citizens handle the details of relocating to retirement communities or health care facilities. She will use her award to purchase needed office equipment and to advertise.

* Norman Kashmer will use his $5,000 grant to operate adult day care centers in local houses of worship. His business, Companions Healthcare Company, provides health, social and other support activities. Kashmer expects the centers to create approximately 40 new jobs in the community.