The West Michigan branch of the Small Business Development Center hosted a webinar highlighting local resources for Black-owned businesses on Tuesday. Speakers at the event included members from local organizations focused on providing Black business owners with advice and resources they can use to grow and sustain their businesses.
The webinar covered many resources from organizations like Start Garden, S.C.O.R.E, Rende Progress Capital (RPC) and the U.S Small Business Association that all have programs specifically geared towards Black business owners. These resources aren’t just for people that are new to the business world, either. Experienced Black business owners can also take advantage of programs to help with finances, promoting their business and other needs.
Grand Rapids Business Journal
Courtesy Grand Rapids Public Library
The Grand Rapids Public Library is celebrating Black History Month by collaborating with local organizations, community members and businesses to present free online programs for kids and adults on its official Facebook page and YouTube channel from Feb. 2-28.
The educational and entertaining programs include:
African American Architects Part 1 with Grand Rapids
’ Isaac V. Norris, AIA, NOMA, LEED-AP
The virtual event, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, is a two-part lecture on the history of African American architects in the United States. African Americans have contributed to the American landscape of architecture despite many educational and inclusion disparities.
Grand Rapids Business Journal
Jamiel Robinson
CATEGORY: Economic Development
WINNERS: Guillermo Cisneros and Jamiel Robinson for The Right Place, Mike Ramirez and Holly Johnson for Lakeshore Advantage
ORGANIZATIONS: The Right Place and Lakeshore Advantage
The region’s two foremost economic development agencies, The Right Place and Lakeshore Advantage, leveraged community leaders’ input in 2020 to administer state and federal funding to hundreds of small businesses to help them survive the COVID-19 pandemic and economic fallout.
The Michigan Strategic Fund, through the federal CARES Act and Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), made available a total of $100 million in grant funds to eligible small businesses and nonprofits in Michigan through the Small Business Restart program, and The Right Place and Lakeshore Advantage were in charge of awarding a combined 1,488 grants totaling over $12.3 million across 13 counties in October 2020.
Grand Rapids Business Journal
Photo by iStock
Flagstar Bank announced it is awarding $5,000 grants to over 180 small businesses owned by people of color in Flagstar’s banking markets.
The grants are designed to assist businesses whose operating expenses have been impacted by COVID-19.
“Based on the overwhelming response we’ve received, I think we’ve struck at the heart of a huge need in our communities,” said Alessandro DiNello, president and CEO of Flagstar Bank. “The economic impact of the pandemic has hit small businesses hard and small businesses owned by people of color even harder. We are pleased and proud to provide critical funding at such a critical time in the life cycle of these businesses.”