A $25,000 Springboard grant will allow the School of Management’s Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL) to pilot a group coaching program for local small-business owners in its M&T Bank Emerging Entrepreneurs program.

The CEL was one of 10 first-round winners selected from among more than 130 applications. The winners were announced at an event held in June at NextCorps in Rochester, where each group was honored and awarded prizes ranging from $7,500 to $25,000.

Springboard is a regional, rapid prize competition launched this year that supports those working in the Greater Buffalo, Greater Rochester and Southern Tier communities who are actively contributing to and expanding the region’s entrepreneurial landscape. Springboard awarded $222,500 in prizes in the first round and will award a total of $600,000 this year.

“In our new Emerging Entrepreneurs Coaching Launchpad, we will facilitate a series of group coaching sessions that offer a comprehensive learning experience to entrepreneurs who are at the beginning of their business journey,” says Susan Steffan, CEL executive director. “We are grateful to Springboard for the opportunity to develop this program and train coaches in this new team approach.”