The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, has announced the opening of applications for the Black Entrepreneurship Program’s National Ecosystem Fund and the Black Entrepreneurship Program’s Knowledge Hub.

The National Ecosystem Fund will provide funding to Black-led not-for-profit business organizations to strengthen their capacity to provide support, financial planning services and business training for Black entrepreneurs and business owners. Black-led not-for-profit business organizations that serve Black entrepreneurs and Black-owned businesses are encouraged to apply through the National Ecosystem Fund web page by December 21, 2020:

https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/150.nsf/eng/h_00000.html

The Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub will gather data on Black entrepreneurship in Canada and help identify critical gaps, barriers to success, and opportunities for growth. It will be jointly run by Black-led business organizations, in partnership with educational institutions. Black-led not-for-profit business organizations and educational institutions are encouraged to come together, develop an application, and apply through the Knowledge Hub web page by January 18, 2021:

https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/150.nsf/eng/h_00000.html

For more information on eligibility for the National Ecosystem Fund and the Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, please consult the application guides on the National Ecosystem Fund and Knowledge Hub website, and Canadians may provide feedback on the Black Entrepreneurship Program or ask questions by contacting [email protected].