GASTONIA, N.C. — Humming blades chopping against the grass is part of a process for Daavad Soto to transform a piece of land.
"It's just something I wanted to do by myself and I just learned," Soto, an entrepreneur, told WCNC Charlotte.
Soto said after more than two years of running his own company, Cornerstone Creation Lawns, something was missing, but he wasn’t quite sure what it was or how to find it.
" I want to get to a point where I can get my company going up, and find all the tools I am missing," Soto said.
Soto later joined the Launch Gaston program which offers education and resources to underrepresented entrepreneurs looking to start up or advance their business.
"We noticed that there was always a gap with underrepresented communities," Obie Batista, with Launch Gaston, said. "People were not starting their business because of lack of resources education, or funding,"
Batista said they aim to meet this need in the community through a 10-week course, bridging the gap created by educational barriers.
"We help them with ideas and determine what steps to take to legalize their business," Batista said.
So far, nearly 60 entrepreneurs have graduated through their program. The most recent graduation was in January, with Soto being one of 14 graduates.
"I didn’t even have the opportunity to talk to anyone because I was so shy, but they helped me to get my speech," Soto said.
Batista said as they prepare for their next class this May, they're looking forward to pushing out business stronger and more confident business owners.
"If you have a thought about starting a business or scale the one you have or maybe you want a side hustle don’t let the lack of resources stop you from trying," Batista said.
For more information about the program, click here.
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