City of Cape Coral’s Post

"While diversity and equity is critical, research shows that making the industry more diverse would also have an exponential benefit. The creation of more than 50,000 new Black and Hispanic-owned development companies would lead to nearly two million new jobs, and more than $100 billion in new business revenue." #realestatedevelopment #affordablehousing #communitydevelopment #diversity #equity #inclusion #LIHTC #NMTC #blackowned #latinoowned https://lnkd.in/eZTr6WWp.

In partnership with UIC College of Business Administration, the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce conducted a survey of 206 small businesses, “Chicagoland Small Business Outlook," (https://bit.ly/3zJzplQ) to uncover essential trends and demographics shaping our local economy. One of the standout themes from the research is the significance of diversity in business ownership. Of the 206 businesses surveyed, 56% are women-owned, 36% are minority-owned, and 16% are LGBTQ-owned. This diversity not only fosters innovation, but also drives economic growth. These numbers underscore the importance of inclusive policies that support a diverse range of entrepreneurs. By nurturing an environment that fosters growth for underrepresented groups, we can build a more resilient and competitive business community. READ THE FULL REPORT https://bit.ly/3TSpLUI

Victory for Hello Alice! In a groundbreaking win for minority-owned businesses, Hello Alice's recent success in a racial discrimination lawsuit has marked a significant shift in funding for women of color entrepreneurs. This victory is crucial as traditional funding sources have often overlooked our potential. Let's continue supporting and investing in minority-owned businesses to drive economic growth and inclusivity. You can find the link in the comments to read my blog. #Entrepreneurship #Funding #Diversity #Inclusion #HelloAlice

Sharing this article about a recent court ruling that declared a grant program for Black women business owners as discriminatory. This decision is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by underrepresented groups in the business world. Particularly when "Less than 1% of venture capital funding goes to businesses owned by Black and Hispanic women, according to the nonprofit advocacy group digitalundivided." This statistic underscores the systemic barriers that these entrepreneurs face. This ruling threatens to undermine DEI efforts that aim to level the playing field for minority entrepreneurs, including immigrant entrepreneurs. This is why it’s essential that we continue to support and advocate for initiatives that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in all sectors. I encourage folks to raise awareness about the ongoing struggles and the importance of equitable support for all entrepreneurs. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g6vcyg4u #DEI #Diversity #Equity #Inclusion #VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship #BlackOwnedBusinesses #LatinxOwnedBusinesses

Do you have a dream to start your own business? Make your dreams come true with Start Up! We are now recruiting the next cohort of participants for Mercy Connections' popular Start Up program, which begins *online* on Wednesday, August 28th and runs weekly through December 18th. Start Up is a semester-long online business planning course for women, transgender, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming adults. With a 30+ year history, many local business owners right here in Vermont have attended the course and gone on to operate successful businesses. Class size is intentionally small, which means that students receive personal attention and form lasting bonds with classmates. Interested? Read the full class description and apply in the links below. Questions? Feel free to drop us a DM! #smallbusiness #entrepreneurship #vermont #supportsmallbusiness

In a report published earlier this year by Professors David Robinson and Victor Bennett, researchers examined racial and gender disparities in creating businesses. According to Forbes, about 5% of Black Americans own businesses compared to 9% of whites, 7% of Asians, 6.5% of Hispanics and 2.7% of LGBTQI+ individuals. Robinson and Bennett focused on social and psychological factors associated with starting a business. According to the authors, no differences were found between Blacks and whites with respect to things such as formalizing business ideas and speaking to potential investors. The primary difference found related to sharing or talking about potential business ideas within personal networks. Recommendations included mentoring and community building. Robinson asserts, “…promoting more advice-seeking channels could be a pretty low-cost way of having an impact on entrepreneurial outcomes in traditionally underrepresented communities.” Virginia Minority Chambers Inc. (VAMC) offers partners both mentoring and community building. VAMC is dedicated to the empowerment and advancement of minority-owned businesses across Virginia. By collaborating with us, you join a committed network that uplifts diverse businesses, fostering innovation, economic growth, and a more inclusive society. Learn more about Virginia Minority Chambers: https://lnkd.in/ewnv6scu #VAMC #MinorityEntrepreneurs #CommunityBuilding #Partner4Sucess #Empowerment #Growth

It has long seemed obvious to some that economic inequalities are an essential fact of life. Unfortunately, that paradigm is due to both cause and consequence of a distorted allocation of political power, and we need to pay attention to politics as much as economics in order to explain it, and clear a path forward as small business owners. For example, think of any advance in social, political, or economic equality that we today generally accept as obviously right and just; women voting, the formal illegality of race based discrimination, etc; these were all ridiculously radical notions once. Do not be discouraged by your situation! The Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce is a 501(c)(6) organization that was created to support and uplift it’s small business members, as well as support the empowerment, development, and growth of Black and Minority (Women, Veteran, BIPOC, Seniors, Children, LGBTQIA+ , Disabled) owned businesses in #kerncounty #california . In conclusion, remember that what’s radical today is commonplace tomorrow, and we only get to tomorrow thanks to the hard work of radical people like you today. Call us at 661-554-4491, to discover how the Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce can support your business today. 🙏🏿👋🏿

How can we empower women of color through entrepreneurship? Black and Hispanic women in the U.S. express strong entrepreneurial ambitions, with 27% of Black women planning to start a business within a year, compared to 5% of White women and 14% of Hispanic women. However, financial and nonfinancial barriers hinder women's entrepreneurship, with 33% of women under 60 needing more resources than 13% of men. Improving access to resources is vital, as women-owned businesses only represent 22% of employer businesses in the U.S. Female business owners report higher satisfaction with their standard of living, highlighting the importance of women's economic empowerment through entrepreneurship, especially for those with lower income levels. Expanding entrepreneurship opportunities can enhance economic equity, particularly benefiting Black and Hispanic women and contributing to narrowing the national wealth gap. Let's work to break down these barriers and create a more equitable society. #womeninbusiness #entrepreneurship #economicempowerment #diversityandinclusion

✨ This is what it looks like when bold women are empowered. ✨ History isn’t made by women who play it safe. We’re here to be unrelenting, unstoppable, and unafraid. I’ve had the privilege of meeting some incredible women in commercial real estate—like my hero Carrie Bobb in 2021. Who then in turn insotruded me to another hero Beth Azor, The Canvassing Queen . Beth shared her mission - who are on a mission to increase the percentage of women owning commercial real estate above today's project of 3%. I jumped right into her mission. That’s a mission I believe in deeply. As someone who’s been in this industry for decades, I know firsthand how powerful it is when women own and lead. When Mark Vornberg invited me into partnership at the WORKBENCH project, I didn’t set out to make a statement on female empowerment. But last December I looked around the table, I realized that Jennifer Brener Seay, Shawna Sieck, and I—are three of the six equity partners. We 3 founded our own companies - made the money to invest in workbench with the companies and putting our headquarters there when complete. Digging deeper, I found that our architectural partners Dick Clark + Associates - Also Equity Partner and Developer, is a woman led firm by Kim Power, AIA, PLUS our biggest partner Swinerton - is Female led in Central Texas by Alison Satt. Astonishing! I know the statistics - this is RARE. We are Women Of Workbench. This week, KXAN noticed. They reached out for an interview, and it’s incredible to think about the trailblazing happening here in East Austin. We’re building more than a space; we’re building a brain trust under one roof. When we move in come January 2026, we’re not just setting up shop; we’re creating a one-stop hub for developers. The speed and synergy of our projects will be unmatched. 💡 Thinking as you read this, “I wish I could be a part of it”? Good news: we’ll have a bit of space for lease. We’re handpicking firms and people who share our passion for progress and "Let's Build" motivation. If you missed the News Report, check it out below. Be sure to stop by one of my East Austin Coffees if you want to know more about the project, the partners, and the progress. Art + Artisans Consulting + Legacy Lighting Inc. + Beck-Reit Commercial Real Estate, LLC #CommercialRealEstate #EastAustin #Trailblazers

🌟🚀 Attention Entrepreneurs! 🌟🚀 Kat Gabrielle shared this golden opportunity you don't want to miss! We're talking over $160K in funding specifically for Black, LGBTQ+, and Women-Owned Businesses. 💰🌈👩🏽💼 Whether you're scaling up, just starting out, or looking to boost your skills, these grants and programs are designed to propel you to the next level. Dive in and seize these chances to elevate your business game! 🚀💼 #FundingSuccess #EntrepreneurGoals 🌟💸💡