PrairiesCan support under the Black Entrepreneurship Program will provide services and training to help Manitoba entrepreneurs start and grow businesses
Building a strong Canadian economy means ensuring everyone has the opportunity to succeed. Black entrepreneurs on the Prairies and across Canada face systemic barriers to financing, mentorship, and networking, which can limit opportunities to start and grow businesses.
Today, the Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism), on behalf of the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), announced over $3.2 million in funding for three Manitoba organizations through the Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP). This strategic investment will help Black entrepreneurs in Manitoba strengthen their skills, develop sound business plans, access financing and prepare for growth.
The federal government is investing $1.5 million in Black-Manitobans Chamber of Commerce to strengthen the growth and sustainability of Black-owned businesses in Manitoba. Through this investment, the organization will launch Ubuntu Forward, a Black-led business growth program that will provide cohort-based training, one-on-one advice, and connections to business leaders, lenders, investors and service providers.
We are investing $1.25 million in Amicale de la Francophonie Multiculturelle du Manitoba to support business growth programming for Black Francophone entrepreneurs in Manitoba. Through this investment, the organization will deliver annual cohorts offering training in management, finance, marketing and digital transformation, along with personalized advisory support, mentoring and networking opportunities.
We are investing $500,000 in Rahma Community and Youth Centre Inc. to help Black and racialized youth build entrepreneurial skills and grow their businesses. Through this investment, the organization will create and deliver an entrepreneurship and business growth program for youth aged 15 to 24 in Winnipeg, offering pathways in food trucks and mobile catering, e-commerce, and digital services. Participants will receive hands-on training, coaching, mentorship, financial literacy support, and opportunities to connect with lenders and suppliers.
Investing in Black-led organizations that support entrepreneurs strengthens local economies, expands opportunities for Black owned businesses, and builds a more inclusive, resilient and strong Canadian economy.
