Drake State Community and Technical College has completed its RenueRedi Entrepreneurship Program, a 21-week initiative designed to provide aspiring and established entrepreneurs with business development, innovation, and entrepreneurial training.

The program included hands-on instruction, mentorship, and business planning. Participants worked with Drake State and CNI Solutions on strategies related to business growth, sustainability and long-term planning.

The program hosted 38 participants over 3 cohorts.

“We are incredibly proud of the entrepreneurs who completed the RenueRedi program,” said Dr. Patricia Sims, President of Drake State Community and Technical College. “These business owners demonstrated dedication, resilience, and a commitment to growth throughout the program. Supporting innovation and entrepreneurship is a key part of Drake State’s mission, and we are excited to see how these graduates continue to make an impact in our community and beyond.”

CNI Solutions, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, partnered with Drake State to deliver the program. The organization’s mission is to foster sustainable economic development by equipping individuals and communities with the tools they need to succeed through targeted entrepreneurship training and financial literacy education.

“The most impactful aspect of the RenueRedi Institute program was its ability to provide aspiring entrepreneurs with meaningful, hands-on training that helped them start, refocus, and strengthen their businesses,” said Charles Frye, President of CNI Solutions. “Beyond the curriculum, participants gained access to a powerful network of experienced small business owners who offered mentorship, guidance, and real-world support. Those connections gave the entrepreneurs the confidence, resources, and relationships needed to transform their ideas into viable businesses and position themselves for long-term success.”

The RenueRedi Entrepreneurship Program was established following Drake State’s receipt of an Innovate Alabama Network Grant in 2023. The grant enabled the college to launch RenueRedi, an innovation hub created to empower and support entrepreneurs, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, in pursuing business opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.

“This initiative reflects our commitment to fostering innovation, diversity, and economic development in Huntsville and throughout North Alabama,” Dr. Sims said. “By providing entrepreneurs with access to education, mentorship, and resources, we are helping create pathways to economic mobility and building a stronger, more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

Located in a designated Opportunity Zone, Drake State is uniquely positioned to connect entrepreneurs with resources that support business formation, expansion, and innovation. Through RenueRedi, participants received guidance in areas such as business planning, financial management, marketing, customer development, contracting opportunities, and growth strategies.

The program reflects Drake State’s role as a higher education partner within the Innovate Alabama Network, the state’s first public-private partnership focused on advancing entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation while helping small businesses and creators establish and grow successful enterprises throughout Alabama.

“Drake State is proud to support the next generation of innovators and business leaders,” said Dr. Lesley Shotts, Dean of Institutional Effectiveness at Drake State Community and Technical College. “We congratulate our RenueRedi graduates and look forward to seeing all they accomplish as they continue to grow their businesses and contribute to the economic vitality of our region.”