Survivors to Entrepreneurs - Virginia (S2E-VA)

Survivor Ventures (SV) will strengthen and expand economic empowerment services for trafficking survivors through the established Survivors to Entrepreneurs (S2E) program in the Metropolitan Statistical Area of Hampton Roads and the Greater Virginia Peninsula. S2E is a 24-month program, accepting 35 new survivors each year, that occurs in two phases: S2E1 involves wage subsidies, job coaching, entrepreneur mentorship, and specialized skills training to include vetted business plan development and the opportunity to incorporate one’s own business; and S2E2 builds upon the skills and experience derived in year one with a clear pipeline to connect participants with additional existing small business resources to fund and grow their business. This program will serve a minimum of 105 trafficking survivors to expand services to the Greater Peninsula and will lower barriers to create trauma-informed, culturally competent, survivor-centered and informed, gainful employment and pathways to self-employment for survivors.