CLEVELAND, September 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — The Urban League of Greater Cleveland The Entrepreneurship Center has enrolled 14 Black women-owned businesses to receive general and industry-specific coaching, mentoring and training through the Black Women in Retail Acceleration Program in collaboration with the National Urban League and sponsored by Walmart through the Walmart.org Center for Racial. Equity.
The program culminates with pitching opportunities in September and October for qualified companies; Participants will also receive direct certification assistance, direct access to retail relationships, and leadership skills development training.
“Our participants learn how to position their products to land on the shelves of big box retailers,” said Michael Obi, Chairman and CEO of UBIZ Venture Capital. “They will also have the opportunity to explore manufacturing options to increase their production capacity.”
Cleveland is one of five Urban League affiliates participating in the national program in collaboration with the Urban Leagues of New Orleans, Cincinnati/Southwest Ohio, AtlantaAnd Saint Louis.
“I am so pleased that our Urban League is one of the affiliates selected to participate in the Walmart Retail Program,” said ULGC President and CEO. Marsha A. Mockabee. “This extensive program is a game changer for these Black and African American women who will have the opportunity to obtain their products at major retail establishments.”
Currently, Black women are the fastest growing entrepreneurial demographic in the United States, but even with their growing presence in the business world, these women face disproportionate financial hardship. Given the lack of access to capital, Black women are more likely than other demographic groups to self-finance their businesses.
In collaboration with all affiliated groups, the program offered a series of virtual and in-person leadership training sessions, which will help Black women-owned retail businesses strategize, evaluate and, if necessary, to pivot their business model and processes to make informed decisions. and better communicate with staff, delegate and motivate.
The goal of the program is to provide participants with access to strategically placed retail relationships to strengthen their capabilities to become service providers; develop manufacturing relationships to increase shelf presence, thereby increasing revenue; and potentially receive working capital to support business growth.
The program continues to provide opportunities for participants with events such as the integration of Meijer’s Richmond Heights Super Center partnership held on September 21 with a roadmap to a virtual briefing for retail suppliers.
The Entrepreneurship Center is also hosting a pitch competition on Black women in retail for participants of the October 26 which includes a $2,500 price. The Black Women in Retail 2023 program will culminate with a career expo and graduation ceremony on November 4. “Black women in business continues to be a movement and we are excited to be a part of growing sisterhood through the retail economy to increase the wealth and presence of black entrepreneurship in the community”, Alisa Bray, Director of Operations, Portfolio Management and Portfolio Management of UBIZ. Programs.
Contact: Michael Obi, (email protected); 440-212-2567 or Alice Bray, (email protected)
SOURCE Urban League Greater Cleveland
