OFFICE OF COUNCILWOMAN TIFFINNI A. YOUNG - DISTRICT 7 1500 Marilla St., Room 5FN, , 75201 ______For Immediate Release Chimeka S. Foster, Interim Council Assistant January 23, 2017 214-670-4689 [email protected]

Mayor Mike Rawlings, Councilwoman Tiffinni A. Young host press conference announcing entrepreneur resources in Southern Dallas

DALLAS, Texas – Mayor Mike Rawlings will join Councilwoman Tiffinni A. Young to reveal plans for an innovative hub for entrepreneurs in South Dallas/. The Fair Park Entrepreneur Center (The District) is an initiative developed by The Zip Code Connection and other partners to encourage individuals to start small businesses.

The District will be housed in a 5,000 sq. ft. space at the corner of Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Malcolm X. When doors open this spring, local entrepreneurs will have access to education, training, mentorship, capital, co-working space, programs, events and more.

“When people have an opportunity to invest in themselves and their ideas, they can dream BIG dreams,” said Councilwoman Tiffinni A. Young. “I know this project will be an economic generator for the area and surrounding communities.”

Mayor Rawlings added, “The District is a project that is significant to our GrowSouth efforts in the South Dallas/Fair Park area. I am excited about the long-term impact, as well as the value this initiative will have throughout Dallas and beyond.”

The Dallas Entrepreneurship Center (DEC) is expanding a culture of entrepreneurship in South Dallas. The Fair Park location will be the organizations sixth location in Texas. Additional centers in the southern sector include a Red Bird Mall campus and two satellite locations at Paul Quinn College and UNT Dallas.

WHAT: Announcement of Fair Park Entrepreneur Center, a vibrant collaborative environment for local entrepreneurs to receive tools and resources to take their businesses to the next level.

WHEN: Tuesday, January 24th at 2:00 P.M.

WHERE: 2800 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard (Corner of MLK and Malcolm X)

MEDIA Mayor Mike Rawlings OPPORTUNITIES: Councilwoman Tiffinni A. Young, District 7 Bishop Michael McKee, North TX Conference, United Methodist Church Trey Bowles, The Dallas Entrepreneur Center Lynn Parsons, Director of the Zip Code Connection

Dallas City Councilwoman Tiffinni A. Young represents District 7, which covers South Dallas and areas such as Joppa, Pleasant Grove, far , Buckner Terrace, Parkdale, and Dolphin Heights. She is in her first term on the City Council where she is serving as vice chair of the Quality of Life & Environment committee and the Ad Hoc Legislative Committee for Judicial Nomination. She is a member of the Public Safety, Housing, and Legislative Ad Hoc committees. Young is also a former member of the Dallas Park Board and the Dallas Youth Commission.