New pilot project to help Black business owners in Manitoba

The province has launched a $200,000 pilot project to support Black entrepreneurs and business owners.

The Manitoba government celebrated Black History Month by announcing a new pilot project to help Black entrepreneurs in the province.

Jamie Moses, Minister of Business, Mining, Trade and Job Creation, announced $200,000 in funding for Black business owners to help them expand their businesses.

“This one-time funding is going to be done in partnership with community, alongside the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce,” Moses said Thursday at the Manitoba legislature. “We’re going to do it in a way that is responsive to the needs of Black entrepreneurs and Black business owners.”

The goal of the program is to help identify barriers for Black business owners in Manitoba and help them succeed. Moses noted that in Manitoba only 2.3 per cent of business owners are Black.

“This is what makes a difference, and this is the sort of thing as to why it’s so important that we have representation so we can move the needle and ensure that more people are included in every facet of our society,” Moses said.

Black History Month has officially been celebrated in Manitoba since 2022. Thursday’s celebration included dancers and drummers performing inside the Manitoba legislature.