The Enterprise Center

What The Enterprise Center does

The Enterprise Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community development corporation founded in 1989 and headquartered at 4548 Market Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The organization serves economically disadvantaged and minority-owned businesses across the Philadelphia metropolitan area and southern New Jersey, providing an integrated suite of services including business consulting, procurement assistance, MBE/DBE certification support, and capital access. Its primary customer segments are minority-owned businesses, food and culinary entrepreneurs, construction/trade contractors seeking bonding and certification, and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs in West Philadelphia and Camden, NJ.

The organization's product portfolio spans multiple wholly-owned operating centers: The Enterprise Center Capital Corporation (TEC-CC) provides microloans and small business loans up to $500,000; the Dorrance H. Hamilton Center for Culinary Enterprises (CCE) operates a commercial kitchen incubator with direct institutional buyer access via an Aramark/Drexel University partnership; the PA and NJ MBDA Business Centers provide federally-designated MBE certification and market access; The Construction Center offers contractor certification and bonding education; and the Innovate Capital Growth Fund operates as an SBA-licensed SBIC providing growth equity. The MBE Equity Multiplier program provides structured coaching and pitch development. The Biz on Wheels mobile vehicle delivers curbside services across commercial corridors.

The Enterprise Center's business model is primarily grant- and donation-funded as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, supplemented by loan interest income from TEC-CC's lending portfolio and program services revenue from consulting and training. Distribution occurs through two physical offices (Philadelphia and Camden, NJ), mobile outreach, online application forms, and partner organization referrals. The organization is governed independently with no parent company and operates under President Della Clark, with funding sourced from financial institutions (Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase), federal agencies (SBA, USDOT), and corporate partners including Comcast, Independence Blue Cross, and Aramark.

Name

The Enterprise Center

Legal name

The Enterprise Center

Website

https://theenterprisecenter.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Enterprise Center is a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1989 that provides business consulting, capital access, MBE certification, and procurement assistance to minority-owned and economically disadvantaged small businesses in the Philadelphia and southern New Jersey region through multiple specialized centers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Small Business Development Services

NAICS

Corporate, Subsidiary, and Regional Managing Offices (551114), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)

SIC

Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)

akta.pro primary industry

Financial Inclusion & Consumer Empowerment (Banking Access, Credit Building) (BPAGALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK), Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Venture Creation Centers (EDAHAHAH), Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN), Leadership, Management & Teamwork for Business (EDAMAHAI)

Keywords

• Small business development
• Minority business assistance
• Micro and small business loans
• MBE certification services
• Procurement and contracting support

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants and Donations: The Enterprise Center operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization funded primarily through grants from financial institutions (such as Wells Fargo's $250,000 HOPE 2.0 grant), government programs, and donations to support small business development in economically disadvantaged communities.
2. Loan Interest Income: The Enterprise Center Capital Corporation (TEC-CC) provides small business loans up to $500,000, generating revenue through interest on these loans. Daniel Lee of Farina Pasta & Noodle received a $30,000 small business loan from TEC-CC.
3. Program Services Revenue: Revenue generated from providing business services including consulting, procurement assistance, certification services, and training programs to small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Enterprise Center provides business development services to minority-owned and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs in the Philadelphia and southern New Jersey region. Its core offerings include small business lending through The Enterprise Center Capital Corporation (TEC-CC) up to $500,000, one-on-one consulting with finance/accounting/legal experts, M/W/DSBE certification support, procurement assistance for accessing government and corporate contracts, and specialized incubation through the Dorrance H. Hamilton Center for Culinary Enterprises and The Construction Center.

Product overview

The Enterprise Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving as a community development corporation and business incubator for economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs, primarily in Philadelphia and southern New Jersey. The organization operates a multi-faceted platform comprising The Enterprise Center Capital Corporation (providing microloans and small business loans up to $500,000), business consulting services, procurement assistance, MBE certification support, and several specialized centers including the Dorrance H. Hamilton Center for Culinary Enterprises (commercial kitchen incubator), The Construction Center, and MBDA Business Centers. Programs like the MBE Equity Multiplier and Biz on Wheels mobile services extend the organization's reach. The portfolio is unified by a mission to advance economic opportunities for minority-owned businesses through integrated capital access, technical assistance, and market connectivity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Enterprise Center Capital Corporation (TEC-CC) Lending

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,300 growing economically disadvantaged businesses impacted across Philadelphia
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Aramark/Drexel UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCenter for Culinary Enterprises partnered with Aramark/Drexel University to hold product showcase tasting events for CCE members. Five vendors were selected to sell packaged consumer goods to Aramark/Drexel University retail locations, providing reliable weekly contracts for burgeoning food producers.
• Gilbane Rising Contractor ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGilbane partnered with The Enterprise Center and US Department of Transportation Mid-Atlantic Small Business Transportation Resource Center for the Bonding Education Program, an 8-week program helping contractors obtain bonding for construction projects.
• Walnut Hill Community AssociationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-standing partnership with Walnut Hill Community Association for community events including annual turkey giveaway, Juneteenth celebrations, and neighborhood revitalization efforts along 52nd Street corridor.
• Ben Franklin Technology PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a partner organization providing technology and business development resources to clients of The Enterprise Center.
• Philadelphia's public-private Economic Development Corporation (PIDC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with PIDC for economic development initiatives supporting small businesses in Philadelphia.
• Economic Innovation GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a partner organization working with The Enterprise Center on economic development initiatives.
• Comcast and Independence Blue CrossminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThrough MBDA Business Center networks, clients like Alpha Business Solutions have connected with large Philadelphia-based companies including Comcast and Independence Blue Cross for business opportunities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• TruFund Financial Services: National CDFI providing loans and advisory services to minority-owned and underserved small businesses across multiple states. Directly comparable to TEC's TEC-CC lending arm and MBE-focused mission.
• LiftFund: Nonprofit small business lender and CDFI providing microloans and small business loans to underserved entrepreneurs, with comparable dual focus on capital access and technical assistance.
• Accion: Global nonprofit small business lender providing capital and advisory services to underserved entrepreneurs, including minority business owners. Closely mirrors TEC's integrated capital-plus-consulting model.
• DreamSpring: National CDFI providing loans and business support to entrepreneurs from underserved communities, with similar target customer profile and dual loan-plus-coaching offering.
• Justine PETERSEN: St. Louis-based CDFI providing small business lending, housing counseling, and credit-building services to low-moderate income entrepreneurs. Shares TEC's nonprofit CDFI structure and integrated services model.
• Grameen America: Nonprofit microfinance organization providing small-dollar loans and peer-support programs to underserved entrepreneurs, primarily women and minority business owners in the U.S.
• National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC): National trade association providing training, certification, and bonding support to minority construction contractors, directly comparable to TEC's Construction Center and Bonding Education Program with Gilbane.

Broad incumbents

• National Urban League: National civil rights and economic empowerment organization with local affiliates providing small business development, workforce training, and entrepreneurship services to minority communities. Broader portfolio than TEC but overlapping on minority economic empowerment.

Regional players

• Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC): Philadelphia's public-private economic development corporation supporting small business growth, real estate development, and capital access in the same market as TEC. Listed as a TEC partner organization and operates overlapping programs.

Others

• National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC): National corporate membership organization that certifies minority-owned businesses and connects them with corporate buyers. Adjacent to TEC's MBE certification services and procurement assistance work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/philatec
• Facebookfacebook.com/teccdc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-enterprise-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Enterprise Center