Summer camp is more than just fun and games for the young entrepreneurs attending the first annual Youth Business Camp. Hosted by the Better Black Business Project (B3P), a professional network for Black entrepreneurs,the three-day camp is designed to inspire and equip 14- to 19-year-olds with real-world business and financial literacy skills. Creating opportunities for Black business owners in Minnesota In Minnesota, African Americans make up 14% of the population but only 2% of businesses. B3 aims to close that gap. LeBrent Speed founded B3P to change that. “I grew
A group of West Michigan Black-led economic development organizations has received a $300,000 state grant to continue serving Black businesses in the area. The West Michigan Black Economic and Business Development Group was established during the COVID-19 pandemic and comprises Grand Rapids Area Black Businesses, Battle Creek-based Sisters in Business, Black Wall Street Kalamazoo, and Black Wall Street Muskegon. The Michigan Economic Development Corp. manages the Trusted Connector Grant program, which gives 23 organizations across the country a total of $6.8 million. A $300,000 grant The $300,000 grant will maintain
TikTok has announced 2025 SOAR Together, a Black-owned business accelerator program in collaboration with Black Girl Ventures. The program aims to help Black businesses grow on TikTok Shop. What is the 2025 SOAR Together program? The 2025 Soar Together program is a six-week program in which 20 businesses will be chosen to receive educational courses, business coaching, and mentorship from guest speakers. After the program has finished, those businesses will attend a special in-person graduation ceremony. TikTok’s partnership with Black Girl Ventures builds on its $1 million investment in the
A new development project will bring over 100 affordable homes and a Black business hub to North Portland. The Williams & Russell project, managed by Williams & Russell CDC, will create 85 affordable apartments and 20 townhomes for sale on a block that has been vacant for nearly five decades. Significant Funding and Community Impact The project has already secured $10.3 million in funding, including $1.6 million recently announced by Oregon senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley. An additional $23 million is pending from the Portland Housing Bureau and Prosper
Cincinnati woman Azizah Nubia created Cincy Black Travel Guide to connect visitors with cultural events and Black businesses in the area. After attending Black Tech Week during its run in the Tri-State area, Nubia noticed other people of color weren’t familiar with Cincinnati’s Black community’s annual events and activities. This sparked her idea to create a platform in July 2023, to make it easier for travellers to find and enjoy what Black people had to offer in the city. Cincy’s Black Travel Guide Cincy’s Black Travel Guide is a digital tool accessed via the website or
This article was first published by Cheryl Lyn here. Many African American small business owners face challenges with funding due to post-pandemic hardship, inflation, and fierce competition. Yet black-owned businesses have been integral to the U.S. economy in the past and present. To help you out, we’ve rounded up a list of 20 places where you can seek grants and funding for your business in 2023. Backstage Capital What’s cool about Backstage Capital is that they intentionally back underrepresented founders, particularly those of color, female genders, and LGBTQ orientations. Founded in 2015, this private firm
