Starbucks perks up Houston minority communities as part of $100 million investment
CultureMap
Share: The Bayou City will be a major beneficiary of a new initiative from Starbucks. The Seattle-based, global coffee giant announced that it has selected Houston as one of 12 U.S. cities that will receive funds from the Starbucks Community Resilience Fund.
Seeded with a $100 million investment, the fund will be used to support small businesses and community development projects in BIPOC (Black, indigenous, and people of color) neighborhoods. In addition to Houston, the program will launch in Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and Washington D.C.
Starbucks recently announced the Starbucks Community Resilience Fund. According to the company, the fund s main focus is to advance racial equity and environmental resilience by supporting small business growth and community development projects in BIPOC neighborhoods.
By 2025 Starbucks is going to invest $100 million in racial equity projects in 12 metropolitan regions including Philly. According to Philly Voice, Starbucks’ reputation has been poor in Philadelphia ever since an incident in 2018 where two black men were wrongfully arrested at the store. The incident resulted in a $200,000 settlement and Starbucks’ employees undergoing racial bias training.
According to Philly Voice, Starbucks will be teaming up with a bunch of leaders in the community as well as development financial institutions to fund these projects. A main focus will be the tackle on climate change.