It began with a $9,000 investment and a simple idea: help position Alabama as a national leader in entrepreneurship-based workforce development.

On May 29, the Troy University Small Business Development Center celebrated a milestone years in the making, hosting the first graduation ceremony for participants in the Alabama Department of Human Resources’ A-RESET Start Your Business program.

What started as a small pilot initiative has evolved into one of Alabama’s most innovative workforce development models, earning attention for its ability to connect entrepreneurship, job training and economic mobility.

The virtual ceremony honored graduates from every program cycle since the initiative launched in 2022. Participants, joined by Troy University leaders, Alabama Department of Human Resources administrators, caseworkers, community partners and family members, represented communities across the state.

Troy University Senior Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Sohail Agboatwala said the program reflects the University’s commitment to serving Alabama through innovation, access and practical solutions.

“Troy University is proud to be part of a program that is not just serving Alabama,” Agboatwala said. “It is setting an example for how workforce development can and should look across the country.”

For Juliana Bolivar, director of the Troy University SBDC and the program’s lead facilitator, the graduation represented more than the completion of a training program.

“This program serves participants from every corner of Alabama,” Bolivar said. “From the Tennessee Valley to the Gulf Coast, from the Black Belt to the Wiregrass, this virtual graduation brought together people who otherwise may never have met. It is a powerful reflection of what we have built.”

Developed through a partnership between Troy University and the Alabama Department of Human Resources, Start Your Business is part of DHR’s A-RESET initiative, a federally funded workforce development program that helps SNAP recipients gain skills, training and education leading to employment.

Participants receive business training, mentoring, practical assignments and individualized support as they explore self-employment opportunities and develop the skills needed to launch and sustain a business.

The program has helped place Alabama among a select group of states that recognize entrepreneurship as an approved employment and training pathway for SNAP recipients. Alabama is one of only 18 states with that designation.

Rita Hauser, representing the Alabama Department of Human Resources, also addressed graduates and recognized the partnership that helped transform the program from an idea into a growing model for workforce development.

Current participant April Rorie also shared her experience in the program and discussed plans to continue expanding her business and rosemary oil product line.

Mt. Moriah Farms owner Mia Scott provided the keynote address and was a member of the program’s first cohort. Her goat milk-based product lines were recognized as this Alabama’s Rural-Owned Small Business of the Year. She encouraged participants to recognize the significance of what they had accomplished.

“You didn’t just complete a program,” Scott told graduates. “You changed the trajectory of your life. And that is something no one can ever take from you.”

For Bolivar, the graduation was not the finish line.

It was proof of concept.

“This is not the ceiling,” she said. “This is the floor. We hope this model continues to grow and reach more people who are looking for a pathway to build a business, create income and strengthen their communities.”

The ceremony concluded with graduate recognition and closing remarks from facilitators Katherine Zobre and Yadira Colon-Lopez, who have supported participants throughout the program’s growth.

For the graduates, the certificate marked the completion of a program. But the moment represented something larger for Troy University, DHR and the state of Alabama.

“Entrepreneurship can be a practical pathway to work, income and opportunity,” Bolivar said. “And in Alabama, thanks to a partnership that started with $9,000 and an idea, that pathway is no longer just being discussed. It is being built.”