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Support Under-Resourced Entrepreneurs

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does the scholarship cover?

The scholarship covers the full cost of tuition for the first year of the ROBI Land Plan. This includes access to the entire program platform, live coaching, Section 3 contracting, as well as a business license and domain. Students not covered by a scholarship will be responsible for paying for their own business licenses, state fees, and domain addresses.

What are the eligibility requirements for students?

We require students to be in good standing with their agency (if applicable) and to possess entrepreneurial traits as determined by our assessments. Students not covered by a scholarship are not required to take the assessment.

How is the commitment fee handled?

Students must first demonstrate their ability to pay the commitment fee. Upon enrollment, they will provide their credit card billing details, which will be charged monthly. As sponsored participants, if they miss a payment, they will have the option to pay what they can. However, the full balance must be settled before they can officially launch their business.

What is the selection process for scholarship recipients?

Sponsored students must be approved by their sponsoring agency, unless Can I Live HA has additional funds available to support an entrepreneur. For a smooth enrollment process, we recommend that if the student is in good standing with your agency and their online assessment demonstrates entrepreneurial traits, no further requirements will be needed.

What are the reporting requirements for sponsored students?

We do not require monthly reporting. However, we understand your agency's need for updates and offer a reporting mechanism if desired. Monthly or quarterly reporting is available for an additional $350/month case management fee. To avoid this charge, we recommend having the student check in with your agency monthly or quarterly if necessary. Once students launch their business, they will provide proof of success through their receipts. Additionally, all successful students who launch a business are eligible to participate in a bi-annual pitch competition where their hard work is showcased.

How does the agency submit payment for the scholarship?

Agencies can choose to be invoiced upfront for the full tuition cost of their registrants or use the link above to pay online. Tuition can be paid either upfront or monthly for each enrolled student. By sponsoring students, agencies commit to supporting them for the entire year. An account can be created for each agency, where billing details are entered, providing on-time billing and a comprehensive view of the businesses you are supporting within your agency.

Can agencies sponsor multiple students?

Yes, agencies can sponsor an unlimited number of students within a single calendar year.

What happens if a student drops out?

If a scholarship or sponsored student drops out after you've already paid upfront, you can replace them with another student within the same calendar year. The tuition credit for the replacement student will depend on when the original student dropped out:

If the student drops out within the first 3 months:

75% of their tuition will be credited towards another student.

If the student drops out after 6 months:

50% of their tuition will be credited.

If the student drops out with 9 months or less remaining in the year:

25% of their tuition will be credited.

We round up to the nearest quarter for these calculations.

How can agencies support Section 3 efforts for Resident Owned Businesses?

ROBI exists to help fulfill Section 3 Benchmarks. To support this goal, we encourage your agency (if required to meet Section 3 requirements) to collaborate with your procurement officer to ensure that opportunities are offered to our students. Alternatively, you can secure a Virtual Booth on the Section 3 Marketplace. Housing Authorities and their contractors pay an annual subscription fee of $3,000 to promote opportunities such as employment, training, contracting, and other economic initiatives. Additionally, we recommend utilizing any alternative procurement policies you may have to exclusively offer certain bids to Resident-Owned Businesses.

Are there any additional costs beyond the scholarship?

There are no additional upfront costs to sponsor a student beyond the initial $3,500 tuition fee. All other expenses will be the responsibility of the student.

Students are required to pay:

Student Commitment Fee: $49/month

(applies only during the first year)

Second-Year Fee: $99/month

(covers hosting and management of business operations)