Small Businesses Can Apply for Grants of $5,000

The Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Flagstar Bank to keep their promise and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion to the members and communities they serve by giving $1 million in grants to help small businesses owned by Black, Indigenous and people of color whose operating expenses are impacted by COVID-19.

Qualifying small minority businesses can submit applications through November 20 for grants of $5,000. Flagstar has partnered with BIPOC nonprofits in its key banking markets to vet and administer the grants. Qualifications include (1) diverse ownership (2) revenues of no more than $1 million (3) located within Flagstar Bank’s footprint of San Bernardino County area including Barstow, Victorville, Adelanto, Hesperia and Apple Valley. Additional qualifications, grant uses, and other information are available in the application.

The hope is to combat the narrative that there is no assistance for minority-owned businesses. The Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce is committed to serve the entrepreneurs that are facing hardships during this pandemic. Businesses owned by people of color have been especially hard hit by COVID-19, with nearly half of black owned businesses shuttered by the pandemic.

“We have a commitment to our communities and to keeping our promises to them,” said Alessandro DiNello, CEO of Flagstar Bank. “Reversing decades of systemic inequities is a marathon, and we are in it to the finish. These grants are an important milestone along the way to making our communities and our company better and more equitable for all.”

The Chamber has served businesses throughout the Southern California region since 1993, helping them to prosper through mutual cooperation and support. They have a tradition of focusing on the needs and success of minority and women -owned businesses through a wide variety of services and programs and have dedicated over 25 years to maintaining that tradition. For chamber membership contact them at 888-466-7408 or by email at info@blackchamberofcommerce.org