ISOA is a private, community based, non-profit 501 (c) (3), non- religious affiliated economic development organization. ISOA was founded in April, 1990 by Dr. Millicent Gray Lownes-Jackson, associate dean of Tennessee State  University's College of Business, tenured professor of Management, small business specialist, female entrepreneurship   specialist, parent and youth advocate. With nothing to personally gain but the suppression of an ever burning fire and desire to share her knowledge of business and economic development with others who perhaps were not as privileged as she to have   been exposed to leaders, training and education in these fields, the organization was established. Dr. Lownes-Jackson began to  realize her dream to help youth and women avoid societal dependency through business exposure through the purchase of a 6,000 square foot facility containing class, training and conference rooms, and offices for ISOA operations.

Accordingly, the mission of ISOA is to empower women, youth and the less advantaged with business and entrepreneurial  knowledge for successful economic posturing. During the first six years of operation, ISOA focused efforts on youth entrepreneurial and economic education and initiated women's economic development activities with the implementation of   Nashville's First Women's Economic Summit in 1994. An outgrowth of the Summit was the initiation of The Women's Institute of the South. ISOA also serves women through its support of The Women's Institute for Successful Entrepreneurship (WISE). ISOA operates through a collaborative group of over 75 professionals who volunteer to share a wealth of skills, talents and experiences.