By Kathy Gaillard
Since its founding in 2018, Sherman Phoenix has become a place of pride, promise, and fulfilled dreams. Thanks to community, faith, and business leaders coming together and listening to residents in the aftermath of a civil uprising, Sherman Phoenix is serving the community and helping more than 29 small businesses succeed.
In 2022 Dr. Stacia Thompson was named Executive Director of Sherman Phoenix Foundation and she could not be prouder or more committed to the growth of this entrepreneurial hub and marketplace. In addition to running the Foundation, Thompson oversees the daily operations of the facility, coordinates workshops, and events.
“Sherman Phoenix is a national model. We support our tenants by providing wraparound services to help them succeed. We share funding opportunities with them, produce a newsletter to engage them and advertise their events and wares, and support them however we can,” said Thompson.
Currently, Sherman Phoenix has three levels—street, mezzanine, and a gallery downstairs. All three levels include businesses and community spaces. And, as of December 2022 there are no vacancies, pointing to the success of this collective.
Unique to Sherman Phoenix is its Phoenix Rising Entrepreneur Program which provides information and resources on technical assistance, mentoring, skills training, professional development, and grant funding.
“Vacancies and links to tenant applications are available through our website. Valentine, our building management company, vets applicants to ensure that they are not in competition with existing tenants. Applicants are also required to have business plans, but if they do not, they are referred to organizations that can help them. We will soon be onboarding staff who will provide some in-house assistance to tenants and applicants,” said Thompson.
Plans are to hire a full-time director of operations and engagement, and a director of programs and outreach. In addition, to amplify the work they are already doing, Thompson said that Sherman Phoenix is considering build out expansion plans.
“We recently celebrated our four-year anniversary. Sherman Phoenix is a space where entrepreneurial dreams can come to fruition. It is part of the city’s entrepreneurial eco system. People come here looking to us to help them grow their businesses so hiring more employees will help us meet those needs,” said Thompson.
Thompson’s advice to would-be entrepreneurs is that no idea should ever go without exploring it.
“Make sure you connect with someone like Sherman Phoenix’s Rising Entrepreneur Program to ensure you receive the proper support and information. Sometimes people have valid ideas, but they either fail or don’t proceed because they didn’t ask the right questions or know about the resources available to them. We want to be a resource of information and create a networking space where individuals interested in becoming entrepreneurs can get good, solid information. We want to make sure there is equity and equality so that people can become business owners in Milwaukee,” said Thompson.
Sherman Phoenix has risen from the ashes to emerge as a valid, viable, and much needed diamond in our community.
Visit Sherman Phoenix at 3536 W. Fond du Lac Avenue. For more information about Sherman Phoenix (262) 228-6021 or to apply for vendor space, visit the website at www.shermanphoenix.com.