Get Certified. Get Ahead.
Premier Workforce Development Initiative
"We believe in meeting people where they are, building the skills where they work, and creating pathways to the economy where digital literacy creates opportunity."
—Richard Brown, Director of Tech Career Pathways & Apprenticeship, Knox St. Studios
About the Program
The Knox St Studios Certification Program represents a revolutionary approach to workforce development—where cutting-edge technology education meets practical business application in a comprehensive upskilling initiative. This intensive 8-10 week program was designed specifically for underrepresented entrepreneurs and small business owners ready to leverage digital tools to transform their operations.
Unlike traditional certification programs, Knox St Studios participants receive Google credentials (Digital Marketing, Cybersecurity, and AI Essentials) plus proprietary teaching methodologies that accelerate learning and ensure real-world implementation. The program culminates with direct financial support—each graduating participant receives a financial stipend upon completion to fuel their continued growth.
"We don't just teach digital tools," said Richard Brown, Director of Tech Career Pathways. "We teach entrepreneurs how to think differently about their businesses, how to systematically discover opportunities through our Digital Foraging Method, and how to build collective intelligence through our Stone Soup Collaborative approach. This isn't about technology—it's about transformation."
The program focuses on practical applications for real businesses facing real challenges: customer acquisition, content creation, workflow automation, and strategic decision-making. This isn't just workforce development—it's economic empowerment in action.
Our Partners
Knox St. Studios (Lead Partner)
Knox St. Studios served as the program leader, bringing years of experience in supporting entrepreneurs through comprehensive business development programs, digital workforce training, and access to capital. Our organization specializes in creating pathways to sustainable business growth while building stronger entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Durham County
Durham County's generous support made the Scale & Push program possible, reflecting the county's commitment to fostering entrepreneurial success and economic development. Their investment demonstrated how public-private partnerships can create tangible economic opportunities for local business owners.
North Carolina Department of Commerce
The North Carolina Department of Commerce's support extends the program's reach across the state, ensuring workforce development initiatives serve communities beyond Durham. Their partnership validates the scalability and impact of the Knox St Studios model.
Google
Google's partnership through the Google Career Certificates program provides world-class curriculum and industry-recognized credentials at no cost to participants. This collaboration between Knox St Studios and Google ensures participants receive both cutting-edge education and the certification credentials that employers and customers recognize and value.
Microsoft
Microsoft's involvement provides additional pathways for technology certification and digital skills development, expanding the opportunities available to program participants.
NC IDEA
NC IDEA's partnership was instrumental in making direct capital investment possible. As North Carolina's entrepreneurial ecosystem builder and grant maker, NC IDEA's support validated the program's approach and connected participants to the broader statewide network of resources and opportunities.
The Process
1. Discovery & Enrollment
Prospective participants attend community information sessions where they learn about program structure, time commitments, and potential business applications. Interest meetings generate significant community response—our programs consistently attract 50+ prospective participants, reflecting strong demand for practical digital education.
Program Timeline
Our Teaching Methodologies
The Digital
Foraging Method
Transform passive social media scrolling into strategic business intelligence. The CAPTURE framework (Collect, Annotate, Process, Transform, Utilize, Review, Evolve) teaches participants to systematically discover trends, opportunities, and insights that directly inform business decisions.
"Before this program, I scrolled Instagram mindlessly. Now I harvest business ideas every single day."
— Cohort 2 Participant​​
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Stone Soup Collaborative Intelligence
Individual knowledge multiplied through collective learning. Participants contribute their unique expertise and discoveries to a shared knowledge base, creating compounding value where each member's growth accelerates everyone else's potential. The cohort becomes an innovation accelerator.
"What took me days to figure out alone, the cohort solved in 20 minutes together."
— Cohort 3 Participant​​
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Multi-Modal
Mastery Method
Recognition that people learn differently drives our three-pathway approach: audio learning (voice tools, podcasts, transcription), visual learning (diagrams, screenshots, data visualization), and tactile learning (handwriting-to-digital, physical prototyping). Participants discover their optimal learning style while building comprehensive skills.
"I never knew I was an audio learner until this program. Now I build everything through voice first."
— Cohort 1 Participant​
Participant Success Stories
Toyia Williams | Triple T Suspension
Challenge
Managing operations for husband's motorcycle suspension tuning business with no technical background
Solution
Built automated email response system and customer service chatbot
Impact
Reduced response time from 24 hours to instant, freeing 10 hours per week for strategic growth
Program Outcomes & Impact
By the Numbers
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100+ participants served across multiple cohorts
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15-20 active participants per cohort
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$250 to $500 stipend per graduate
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70-85% completion rate across most cohorts
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40-50% efficiency gains reported by successful participants
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Zero cost to participants for world-class education
Transformation Metrics
Successful participants report:
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Cutting workloads in half through strategic implementation
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Generating new revenue streams from enhanced services
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Reducing operational costs through automation
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Improving customer satisfaction with faster, personalized responses
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Gaining confidence to compete in digital economy
Economic Empowerment
The program specifically targets underrepresented entrepreneurs who often lack access to expensive training and consulting. By removing financial barriers and providing comprehensive support, Knox St Studios creates pathways to economic opportunity that didn't exist before.
Ecosystem Building
Graduates don't just transform their own businesses—they become resources for their communities, sharing knowledge, collaborating on projects, and creating a multiplier effect throughout the entrepreneurial ecosystem.