EL PASO, Texas — The city of El Paso has been selected as a site of a new effort to better connect local governments with innovative entrepreneurs. The initiative is launching in just three cities across the country.
The program is set to kick off on Oct. 20 and will bring together the mayor and other city stakeholders. But as El Paso prepares, local entrepreneurs and business leaders say breaking down barriers is only part of the challenge.
“I think rising tides lift all ships,” said Xtreme Core Fitness owner Crystal Cholewa. “So, if we would all help each other, that’s what this place is all about. It’s about community and helping each other.”
Cholewa is looking forward to a new program she believes will help others like her.
“With businesses, with programs like that, that’ll come help us, and with people like me that are willing to donate their time to help mentor other businesses,” said Cholewa.
El Paso was just named as one of the founding cities of the Kapor Center’s P.R.I.M.E. (Public Results through Impact and Mission-Driven Entrepreneurship) Alliance. The new initiative aims to help businesses that are focused on education, healthcare, housing and economic opportunities.
“We believe gap closing companies, plus local and state governments, lead to huge opportunities, huge benefits for the people who most need them,” said Chike Aguh, the head of innovation and strategy at the Kapor Center.
Aguh leads the P.R.I.M.E. Alliance. He says opportunities to improve communities are everywhere, and yet it’s not easy to make the most of them. El Paso Mayor Renard U. Johnson is excited about the partnership with the Kapor Center.
“We have a number of entrepreneurs here in the city of El Paso,” said Mayor Johnson. “So, we have a lot of good ideas there, and you know, in our city. But it’s the government, or it’s the city government, that slows them down.”
Aguh referenced the historic partnership, highlighting a gap-closing startup focused on expanding access to high-quality childcare in Maryland. He says proven work will help the government and entrepreneurs be successful together.
“I think because of having a better government, and most importantly, life on the front line for people who need it will get better,” said Aguh.
El Paso Community College Small Business Development Center Director Audrey Marrufo says that even with a resource like the Kapor Center and barriers being broken, she believes these entrepreneurs should proceed with caution.
“But what happens when you grow too fast?” said Marrufo. “Or you know maybe you’re just you know not ready you know to take that next step? That foundation is going to crash.”
She says that anyone who wants to launch a business needs dedication, perseverance and commitment, something that Cholewa had to demonstrate when she launched Xtreme Core Fitness in 2015.
“I have a degree in biochemistry,” said Cholewa. “I’m a science teacher. Zero business experience. Zero. I thought I’ll learn. I’ll figure it out. People said, ‘Crystal, gyms open and close all the time. You might want to, you know, maybe not do it.’ And I thought maybe I do want to do it.”
Cholewa’s belief in herself has allowed the gym to remain open for 11 years.