NEW YORK, NY— June 1, 2026: Grow America’s Entrepreneur Academy and Credit Union 1 (CU1) today announced a national partnership designed to help small businesses become capital-ready. By combining intensive business training with hands-on credit-building tools and funding preparation, the collaboration aims to bridge the gap between early-stage entrepreneurship and mainstream financial access.
Each year, Grow America’s Entrepreneur Academy trains hundreds of small business owners through pre-loan assessments, one-on-one consulting, virtual financial education, and comprehensive loan application support. The Academy helps entrepreneurs organize their financials, master credit management, and compile the exact documentation required by lenders.
Through this new partnership, Credit Union 1 will provide the tangible banking infrastructure to complement this training. For a low-barrier $5 account opening fee, entrepreneurs nationwide gain access to affordable business banking solutions, dedicated financial wellness tools, and active credit monitoring. This allows business owners to immediately put their training into practice, building and strengthening the real-world financial profiles required to secure future capital.
“Access to capital starts long before an application is submitted, it begins with fundamental financial training,” said Joseph Gray, Senior Director of Grow America and responsible for the Entrepreneur Academy. “This partnership helps entrepreneurs understand exactly where they stand financially, giving them the clear steps and confidence needed to seize funding opportunities as they arise.”
While Credit Union 1’s financial wellness tools and accounts are available to entrepreneurs nationwide, businesses located in Ohio, New Jersey, Washington, Florida, and New York may also be eligible for localized, immediate technical assistance and hands-on support through the Entrepreneur Academy.
“At Credit Union 1, we believe financial wellness is the foundational bedrock for long-term entrepreneurial success,” said Sherod Halliburton, Vice President at Credit Union 1. “When entrepreneurs are equipped with both the right guidance and the right financial tools, they make stronger decisions and build more sustainable businesses. This partnership allows us to support founders at every stage of their journey, from day-one financial development to long-term economic growth.”
Together, Grow America’s Entrepreneur Academy and Credit Union 1 are working to ensure more small business owners are educated about capital readiness, equipped with the tools to achieve it, and empowered to successfully scale their enterprises.
About Grow America’s Entrepreneur Academy
Grow America, formerly NDC, is one of the country’s oldest and most innovative nonprofit community and economic development organizations, whose mission is to invest capital to craft equitable, vibrant futures and to improve lives by providing access to expanded economic opportunity. Founded in 1969, the organization focuses on four program areas: investments in community development, innovative lending and entrepreneurial support, advisory support for community and economic development, and professional education and training. Learn more at growamerica.org
Grow America’s resources include the Entrepreneur Academy, which is dedicated to helping businesses start, stabilize, and/or grow through training, technical assistance, and access to capital. Visit https://growamerica.org/lending-and-entrepreneurial-support/entrepreneur-academy/
About Credit Union 1
Credit Union 1 is a member-focused financial institution committed to improving financial wellness through accessible banking, credit education, and financial tools that help individuals and businesses build stronger financial futures. Visit https://www.creditunion1.org/