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When raising capital, minority business owners must shift their mindset to focus on the numbers with a concrete, evidence-based rationale for why their companies are good investments.  Less than one percent (1%) of American venture capital-backed founders are Black, and the percentage of minorities and women in decision-making roles in venture-backed companies is not much higher.  To read more, click here to go the Black Enterprise webpage!

OneUnited Bank, the nation's largest Black-owned bank, joins with Lendistry to provide small business loans to OneUnited Bank customers.  OneUnited Bank is continuing its mission to close the racial wealth gap by providing a resource for term loans and non-revolving lines of credit to small businesses nationwide.  To read more on this article, click here to go to the Black Enterprise webpage!

  The Local Initiatives Support Coalition (LISC) has invested $122 million to support the growth of Black-owned banks and businesses.  On March 17th, LISC announced this investment that was closed through LISC's Black Economic Development Fund (BEDF).  Funding for this investment came from major companies such as Netflix and Costco.  To read more on this story, click here to go to the Black Enterprise website!

The FedEx E-Commerce Learning Lab is a multi-faceted four-month program designed to help minority small business owners - primarily women of color - who are looking to develop or expand their e-commerce operations.  To read more on the FedEx E-Commerce Learning Lab or to apply, click here to go to the FedEx E-Commerce Learning Lab webpage!  Applications will be accepted until Friday, April 1, 2022.

Richland Library is now accepting applications for their FastTrac Growth Venture for Female Entrepreneurs program!  If you are a female entrepreneur trying to expand your small business or just need some assistance in taking your business to another level, this is the class for you! For more information on the FastTrac Growth Venture for Female Entrepreneurs, click here to go the Richland Library website!  The deadline to submit applications is Friday, March 25th!

Chase For Business and Advancing Black Pathways have come together to offer Advancing Black Entrepreneurs - a collection of practical resources tailored to help Black business owners grow and scale their business.  This program will offer educational programs and on-demand resources that deliver guidance on a number of topics.  For more information on Advancing Black Entrepreneurs, click here to go to the JP Morgan Chase web site!

The purpose of this document is to establish citizen (public) participation policies and procedures for information dissemination and public comment solicitation for development and review of programs and projects carried out by the City of Columbia. The City is committed to having an effective public involvement process that is proactive and provides complete information, timely public notice, full public access to key decisions and an opportunity for early and continuing involvement. Relevant Public Participation Law…

The Office of Business Opportunities is pleased to announce the City of Columbia's Minority Business Opportunities Directory for small, minority, and women-owned businesses! This directory consists of purchasing points of contact and listings of goods/services purchased by City departments and our community partners. The directory also includes a listing of technical assistance providers for existing and new small businesses that are in need of assistance in strengthening, growing, or pivoting their businesses!