Our Impact
Community Access Project (CAP) 1908
Community Access Project (CAP) 1908
Community Access Project (CAP) 1908
CAP 1908 is an innovation and coworking space. With a strong identity and presence located in the South Town neighborhood of Springfield's east side, CAP 1908 positively impacts and expands opportunities of growth and development for small businesses and startups in its low income community. By leveraging existing community assets and cre
CAP 1908 is an innovation and coworking space. With a strong identity and presence located in the South Town neighborhood of Springfield's east side, CAP 1908 positively impacts and expands opportunities of growth and development for small businesses and startups in its low income community. By leveraging existing community assets and creating new opportunities to support entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship in the Springfield-area minority community, CAP 1908 aims to grow the economic and social impact of Springfield and Sangamon County’s minority population by increasing their access to resources and training to develop their readiness to successfully engage with the local entrepreneurial ecosystem and workforce.
The Innovation Center will operate as a business incubator, accelerator, and co-working center that will provide small business services to the minority population and neighborhoods in the City of Springfield, including an emphasis on minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned businesses, as well as, the recently incarcerated population, neglected groups of individuals that have historically faced disparities and challenges regarding access to capital and business resources.
Youth Empowerment
Community Access Project (CAP) 1908
Community Access Project (CAP) 1908
Annually, TSP sponsors a Summer Youth Initiative (SYI) which gives local youth, from 15 to 21 years of age, an opportunity to spend their time off from school in a productive manner by gaining job skills while earning a paycheck. Since its inception in 2004, nearly 600 minority youth have been employed as TSP has invested in excess
Annually, TSP sponsors a Summer Youth Initiative (SYI) which gives local youth, from 15 to 21 years of age, an opportunity to spend their time off from school in a productive manner by gaining job skills while earning a paycheck. Since its inception in 2004, nearly 600 minority youth have been employed as TSP has invested in excess of $400,000 in this initiative.
TSP has established partnerships with over 40 local businesses including government agencies, private firms, and not-for-profit organizations, which serve as jobsites where youth are assigned to work.
Over a six week period (4-hr work days/ 4 days per week), youth participants are engaged in "earn while you learn" activities to expand their job skills. Some positions represent administrative support, maintenance, camp counseling, and yard/landscaping projects.
The SYI assists participants in acquiring work experience and leadership development through high value, supervised job placements. In return, participants learn skills they can carry with them as they move into higher education or directly into the workforce.
Micro Lending
Community Access Project (CAP) 1908
Micro Lending
TSP launched a Micro Loan Program in 2008 and has made numerous loans to many small businesses since the program's inception.
The Micro Loan Program serves as a lending source to counteract the difficult economic conditions that pose operational and service challenges for small business owners. Funding is made available to borrowers t
TSP launched a Micro Loan Program in 2008 and has made numerous loans to many small businesses since the program's inception.
The Micro Loan Program serves as a lending source to counteract the difficult economic conditions that pose operational and service challenges for small business owners. Funding is made available to borrowers that do not qualify for traditional financing.
The Program offers loans which are paid back in monthly affordable installments. In addition, participating businesses receive memberships with the Springfield Black Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce.
Also, free business counseling and other related services are made available through various partnerships.