Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs Inc. (ACE) presented JPMorgan Chase with the J. Alton Wingate Economic Partnership Award (a.k.a. the Wingate Workhorse Award) at its annual awards celebration on Oct. 3. The event celebrates both small-business owners who have excelled in entrepreneurial leadership and its exemplary partners.

“We have one annual award for a partner that enables our work,” said Grace Fricks, president and CEO of ACE, to the 185 awards celebration attendees. “The Wingate Workhorse Award is named after the late Alton Wingate, a community banking entrepreneur who made the first private investment in ACE. Alton believed in opportunities for underserved small businesses, and in the importance of local communities.”

The Wingate Workhorse Award honors an organization that has furthered ACE’s mission in a substantial way through contributions or investments. JPMorgan Chase  has supported ACE to invest in Georgia’s small businesses and neighborhoods. Rey Curva, business banking market manager at JPMorgan Chase, accepted the award on behalf of the company.

“It is critical that small-business owners have access to the same tools and resources that are making high-growth companies successful,” said Curva. “We are proud to work with ACE and other local organizations to help Atlanta business owners achieve their goals, and we’re honored to accept this award.”

Fricks offered more insight about the award recipient. “JPMorgan Chase supports underserved people and places by incentivizing collaboration with its funds and its human resources,” added Fricks. “The company knows that high-performing, mission-based financial institutions can execute unified strategies for affordable housing, needed community facilities and small-business growth.”

Since 2016, JPMorgan Chase has offered substantial support, totaling more than $5 million to two collaboratives that have included ACE. The first comprises mission-based financial institutions that participate in the Equity ATL collaborative, which is part of the JPMorgan Chase national PRO Neighborhoods initiative. The second collaborative is Ascend Atlanta, which focuses on growing sustainable and healthy businesses by providing money, management and access to markets for entrepreneurs of color and women in metro Atlanta.