Opinion: Dismantling Structural Racism in Community Development Finance

“Community Development Entities (CDEs) owned or led by Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) have consistently fared worse in the fierce competition for access to the credits.” Read more from Annie Donovan of LISC on how Congress should allow the CDFI Fund to create an on-ramp for BIPOC CDEs.

Source: ImpactAlpha

 

New Program by Facebook Opens for Startups That Address Internet Access

Facebook and MassChallenge are launching Facebook Accelerator: Connectivity for startups in the Americas that are focused on improving connectivity through technologies, solutions, and new models that address the availability and affordability of internet access. Up to 30 startups will be selected to participate in a virtual 12-week program in which they will receive 1:1 mentorship and more. Applications close September 11, 2020.

Source: Facebook

 

USBCDC Announces $1 Million in Grants to Blac-Led CDFI’s Across the Country

U.S. Bank Community Development Corporation (USBCDC)  announced $1.15 million in grants to more than a dozen Black-led Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) partners and—in partnership with the U.S. Bank Foundation—a grant to the African- American Alliance of CDFI CEOs. This is part of U.S. Bank’s overall $116 million commitment to addressing social and economic inequities.

Source: OA Online

 

Thumbtack Releases 9th Annual Small Business Friendliness Survey

The survey gives small business owners who use Thumbtack the opportunity to grade their state and local governments on how friendly they are to business, measuring factors like regulations, taxes, and training and education opportunities.

Source: Thumbtack via Medium

 

Inside Amazon’s $1 Million Diversity Grant for Entrepreneurs and Delivery Service Partner Program

Amazon announced a new diversity grant to help reduce the barriers to entry for Black, Latinx, and Native American entrepreneurs—a $1 million commitment toward funding startup costs, offering $10,000 for each qualified candidate to build their own businesses in the U.S. Amazon’s Delivery Service Partner Program has taken off in the past two years creating over 85,000 jobs and opportunities for traditionally disenfranchised groups.

Source: Amazon