August 4th 2023.
Black women have been making waves as a fast-growing group of entrepreneurs, but unfortunately, they still face some of the same struggles that hinder major success. That’s why the Urban League of Louisiana recently announced the launch of the Retail Accelerator Program, a new initiative in collaboration with other National Urban League Entrepreneurship Centers nationwide.
The National Urban League is committed to supporting Black women in retail, and Urban League Louisiana President and CEO Judy Reese Morse praised such efforts. “We are proud to offer this unique program in support of Black women in retail across Louisiana,” Morse said. “And we applaud National Urban League and Walmart for being intentional in their efforts to support Black women founders.”
According to Biz New Orleans, the program will support 10 Black women-owned retail businesses in Louisiana, providing them with entrepreneurial training and support, a leadership development program, WBE and MBE certification assistance, bid prep training and assistance, mentor and protégé programs, financial empowerment, and access to capital services.
Klassi Duncan, vice president of ULLA’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, said participants will have the opportunity to learn about capacity building, distribution, go-to-market strategies, supply chain management, and accessing capital from retail experts. “One of the biggest challenges that small businesses face is getting access to the right resources to scale in meeting the needs of large big box retailers,” Duncan said. “This program directly addresses this challenge and much more.”
The Urban League’s program goals focus on amplifying the marketability of Black women-owned retail businesses, creating and retaining jobs, and providing direct assistance with business certifications, public and private contracting, and leadership development. The 2023 inaugural cohort includes 10 inspiring entrepreneurs, such as Sherilyn Hayward of Leroy’s LipSmack’n Lemonade, Tiffany Brown of Wicks Nola Candle Company, Natashia Paul of Chuupul Leather, and many more.
Walmart is sponsoring the Retail Accelerator Program through the Walmart.org Center for Racial Equity. This initiative is an incredible effort to promote Black women entrepreneurs and provide them with the resources and support they need to succeed in the retail world.
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