My adult life has been spent working in the Lima community, in hopes of building a strong, diverse community, with equitable opportunities. Fortunately, I have served on many boards, including regional universities and those that are disability focused.
The past several years have focused on increasing diversity among law enforcement, enhancing minority-owned businesses and spotlighting Lima’s rich diversity. As the founder of Walter C. Potts Entrepreneurial Center and infusing over $200,000 into operations, I realized the efforts weren’t about me or others — this was all work toward a greater good. My current work will continue focusing on eliminating obstacles toward building economic equity for the underserved population.
This focus is to act as a catalyst for business startups needing intentional and strategic infrastructure support. We believe real growth in Lima will occur by narrowing the large economic disparity. Lima’s economic gap creates difficulties in acquiring the capital needed to address generational despair in areas such as education, healthcare and the criminal justice system.
Many small and minority-based businesses were devastated by the COVID shutdowns, from which most never recovered. Due to poor company structures, many businesses were underqualified to receive the governmental Paycheck Protection Program. Therefore, I began studying Makerspace, a concept used to build additional scale for entrepreneurs, small businesses and incubator businesses, while improving technology opportunities for Lima’s young population and its underserved community.
It is the goal to continuously work to support small and minority-owned businesses in development that show proven sustainable results. Understanding that the “table” may look different over time in Lima, this new “table” ensures opportunities will be made available to all and lead to a stronger Lima region.
Jerome J. O’Neal
Lima
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