Citi Startup Lab will be launching a new tech-focused initiative that will provide device repairs to communities in need, the organization announced July 3. The new initiative is part of the organization’s ReEntry Entrepreneurship Program.
With a $400,000 grant from the North Carolina Department of Information Technology, the Charlotte organization will partner with Omaha-based organization iFixAmerica to address Charlotte’s digital divide through a new initiative called ReConnex (ReentryConnections).
The Reconnex program is a device repair retail business managed and operated by what City Startup Labs describes as “justice-impacted people.”
“This initiative has been in the planning stages for some time and the aim is actually to train a small team to gain industry certification in digital device repair, as well as train them in entrepreneurship and how to run and operate a retail business,” City Startup Lab founder Henry Lok told QCity Metro.
This initiative is two-fold: Justice-affected participants will gain industry-recognized technical certifications, including the Wireless Industry Service Excellence Certification, and real-time experience running a business, while the retail concept will provide much-needed resources to communities that need them.
Locke said that once program participants are certified and trained, they will begin offering their skills at brick-and-mortar locations set up by City Startup Labs.
The retail operation will provide tech support and repairs for items like cell phones, laptops and printers in an area that Locke said has historically lacked similar resources.
He said the pilot brick-and-mortar store is expected to open in early 2025 in one of Charlotte’s six opportunity corridors, with the hope of serving all corridors thereafter.
“In areas like the corridor, [of Opportunity,] “Until now, residents have not had access to reliable, secure and affordable device repair services locally that don’t require residents to travel outside their community to receive this type of service,” he told QCity Metro.
With Citi Startup Labs celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, Locke said he’s especially excited about the bigger impact the initiative will have.
“Besides the fact that we intend to provide services to residents and businesses within the corridor, we envision this as a worker cooperative, meaning the people who manage and operate this business are also owners along with us.”
Locke noted that this initiative will have important outcomes for the community, from program participants to service area residents.
“This community service initiative will be a new milestone for us. We’re very excited about it.”
