ITTA BENA, Miss.— Tim Lampkin is a bonafide entrepreneur who works tirelessly to positively impact his community.
His love for entrepreneurship, his gift for community-building and his passion for Mississippi (particularly the Delta) were recently highlighted when the Clarksdale native received the Mississippi Business Journal’s Top Entrepreneur Award.
Lampkin, who is a 2009 graduate of Mississippi Valley State University, was among 23 innovators from across the state honored for changing the world for the better and making their mark as business owners and thought leaders.
The honorees, who were nominated by colleagues or peers, were formally presented with the prestigious award during an awards ceremony hosted in Jackson.
Lampkin expressed his gratitude for the award and noted that his time at MVSU has been impactful in giving him the intellectual courage to do all that he is currently pursuing in his community.
“I’m truly grateful and honored to be named one of the 2019 Top Entrepreneurs by the Mississippi Business Journal,” Lampkin said. “My journey at MVSU prepared me to work with various organizations and start several businesses.”
Lampkin is the chief executive officer of the nonprofit social impact agency Higher Purpose Co. which has been making moves that he’s grateful to be a part of.
“We are intentionally focused on building community wealth with Black residents across Mississippi,” Lampkin explained.
“Our definition of community wealth is anchored by owning our financial, cultural, and political power. We truly believe in our collective vision to uplift our local economy and communities.” he added.
Lampkin said his team is currently working to pilot a business fellowship program in Coahoma County over the next few months with plans to eventually expand to other counties. They’re also finalizing the details of the Higher Purpose Funding Network which aims to connect minority entrepreneurs to affordable capital for their business.
In addition, the company’s paid internship program is looking to hire up to three more undergraduate or graduate students from Mississippi.
While the recognition received by Lampkin from the Business Journal is something he is proud of, he said he has no plans to rest on his laurels. He sees Mississippi as a place filled with great potential and believes he understands a way to help it continue to move in a good direction.
“Mississippi has the opportunity to become a beacon of hope and prosperity by empowering poor, low income, and working-class Black residents,” he said. “The racial wealth gap in our state and nation is continuing to grow. Higher Purpose Co is focused on providing solutions and serving as a community resource by coordinating entrepreneurship, affordable housing, and land ownership programs.”
To learn more about the work of Higher Purpose Co., visit www.higherpurposeco.org