Meet the recipients of the Black-owned business grant

Each August marks National Black Business Month in the U.S. celebrating black entrepreneurial success. As September comes, we are continuing to highlight the impact of Black-owned businesses across the nation and the Pacific Northwest. Black-owned businesses are essential to all communities as they make large splashes in the economy and shape the vision of what it means the be an entrepreneur.

In fact, Black-owned businesses are fueled by the power of women and youth:

• There are at least 2.6 million Black-owned businesses in the U.S.
• 54% of all Black-owned businesses are run by women
• Black entrepreneurs under 35 are the most populous, making up 21% of all business owners in their age group

Celebrating Black-owned business – Portland-based grants

In July, leading up to National Black Business Month, Mercy Corps Northwest’s Black-Owned Business Grant program received over 400 applications from business owners in the Portland Metro Area for a chance to receive up to $5,000 to use on rent, payroll or other operational expenses. As of today, 20 of those businesses have received grants to keep their businesses afloat. 

In order to qualify, businesses needed to be 50% or more Black-owned, located in the Portland metro area, and the owner(s) must have a current annual household income at or under 80% of Oregon’s Area Median Income. Awards were prioritized on a needs-basis that accounted for criteria including income, household demographics, and COVID-related impacts.

A list of grant recipients

The demand for the grant far outweighed our ability to meet the need of local business owners. We hope to open another grant cycle in the future. Right now we are sharing that a $62 million fund for COVID-19 relief in Oregon’s Black community. The Oregon Cares Fund provides cash grants to Black individuals, Black-owned businesses, and Black-led nonprofit organizations who have experienced financial adversity due to COVID-19. We hope to keep sharing all we know, and how we can support our local community. For now, we take a moment to congratulate the business owners who received a grant, listed below.

Find a full list of recipients of the Black-Owned Business Grant below:

• Black Star NW
• Briggsproessentials “Theresa Briggs”
• Chapters Alumni LLC
• Cityride service LLC
• Elite Body Studio LLC
• Hair Haven
• Hot Eatz Cold Treatz
• HotSpot CoWorking Space LLC
• Ice Cream Feens PDX
• Jackson Shine Co, LLC
• Just Hair Beauty Supply & Hair Store Llc
• Just V Natural LLC
• Mary Kiona’s Adult Care Home
• Mirage salon
• Mystique’s Fancy Faces
• Queen Of Maid LLC
• Rides For Babies
• SISTER’S SOUL FOOD LLC
• Suited for you
• The China Doll Collection

Total: $100,000

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