New pilot project will support Black entrepreneurs and business owners in Manitoba
The Manitoba Government has partnered with the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce to develop a pilot program supporting Black business owners and entrepreneurs with $200,000 in new funding.
“We still have work to do to ensure everyone has a seat at the table and an opportunity to succeed,” said Jamie Moses, the province’s minister of business, mining, trade and job creation.
“This funding will help to address the underrepresentation of Black entrepreneurs and business owners in our economy, as well as deliver on our mandate to support and help grow small businesses in our province.”
Only 2.3 per cent of Manitoba business owners are Black, which is slightly above the Canadian average of 2.1 per cent, according to Statistics Canada data.
Black women made up just 29.6 per cent of all Black business owners in 2018.
“As a Black female entrepreneur in Manitoba, I am very aware of the challenges faced by anyone aspiring to launch their own business amidst numerous obstacles,” said Alexis Ojo, CEO of Dark Shugar Corp.
“I truly hope that this new fund empowers others to chase their dreams and build a brighter future for themselves and their families.”More than 10 million people in Canada are employed by small businesses, representing 63.8 per cent of the country’s total labour force.
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