CDF's Renasant Center for IDEAs and Mabus Partner

TUPELO, Miss. (August 6, 2024) -- The Community Development Foundation (CDF) and Mabus Agency have announced a new partnership designed to help entrepreneurs, startups, and established businesses overcome one of the most common barriers to growth: access to experienced marketing strategy. This will add to the program of work offered at the Renasant Center for IDEAs.

Beginning this summer, the organizations will offer free one-hour Marketing Strategy Sessions led by Mabus Agency founder Josh Mabus and members of the agency's senior team. This opportunity is open to anyone in the community, not just CDF members or clients. Applicants will complete a brief application describing their business and the challenges they hope to solve. Because availability is limited, participants will be selected based on where the sessions can provide the greatest impact.

The partnership represents a full-circle moment for Mabus Agency, which began its entrepreneurial journey as a tenant of CDF's Renasant Center for IDEAs business incubator. Since then, the agency has grown into one of the nation's leading marketing firms serving community banks, working with financial institutions across the United States while earning national recognition for its branding, advertising, website development, video production, and strategic marketing work.

"We've been incredibly fortunate," said Josh Mabus, founder and president of Mabus Agency. "CDF played a meaningful role during the early days of our business, and we've always believed success creates a responsibility to help the next generation of entrepreneurs. There are talented people in our community with great ideas who simply can't justify spending thousands of dollars on marketing strategy. If we can help someone avoid a costly mistake, clarify their direction, or give them confidence to move forward, that's time well spent."

While many businesses seek help only after launching, the sessions are intentionally designed to help organizations at multiple stages of growth. Entrepreneurs considering a new venture can receive guidance on market validation before investing significant time or money. Existing businesses can use the sessions to evaluate their marketing strategy, strengthen their brand, or gain an objective outside perspective on their next move.

"Our mission has always been to create an environment where businesses can start, grow, and succeed," said Judd Wilson, Senior Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce for the Community Development Foundation. "Removing barriers is part of that mission. Cost is often one of the biggest obstacles preventing entrepreneurs from seeking quality advice. This partnership gives people access to proven marketing expertise they may not otherwise have, and that's good for individual businesses and for our entire business community."

Each selected participant will receive a one-hour strategy session focused on one of three areas: 

• Marketing Strategy 

• Brand Review 

• Market Validation 

The sessions are intended for strategic guidance rather than marketing execution and will focus on helping participants make informed business and marketing decisions.

Applications are now open. Businesses do not need to be CDF members or participants in the Renasant Center for IDEAs to apply. Selected applicants will be contacted directly to schedule their session. To learn more about the sessions, review the topics covered, and submit an application, visit mabusagency.com/cdf