Support a Worthy Cause
A letter from our Publisher, Anita C. Roberts
Greetings Austin Area major companies, large organization – big and small, and fellow Austinites. Pay it forward and help build our community through economic prosperity.
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As you know thousands of Central Texas businesses have been severely impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic. As you read this, business owners are choosing between paying bills and payroll or food and critical medicine — it’s absolutely gut-wrenching. The research is overwhelming, minority-owned businesses, especially African Americans, have suffered disproportionately in this crisis.
In times of crisis, we need to have each other’s backs. Together, we can ensure that equity is provided to all through the implementation of systematic programs that provide equitable and innovative community resources.
Made Media Group and the BLACK AUSTIN™ business network has been the leading brand in providing support and guidance to Black businesses in Central Texas, since 2008. We continue to uplift Black communities through economic prosperity, which is priority one.
Because of the support from our local community we raised more than $25,000 in the first 30 days. This allowed us to immediately disperse $1,000 grants to 25 local minority owned businesses. According to the SBA, more than 40% of Black business owners did not receive the PPP funding they requested. You can learn more about some of our grant recipients here.
Recognizing financial assistance alone won’t cure generations of systematic inequity; Black Business Journal, founder, complemented the Emergency Relief Fund with the B.O.B. Incubator™ to provide much needed mentors to Black business owners, hands on business training along with immediate financial support; to assist business owners shift from an in-person business model to a digital one, which is crucial to future success.
Through our nonprofit, Made Media Group, we launched an emergency response through the Central Texas Black Owned Business Relief Fund to provide immediate support directly to those who were hit the hardest. Since our launch two months ago, we have received more than 200 applications from Austin area minority business owners requesting assistance. These men and women are our neighbors and friends, and they continue to need our help.” Pitch in now!
Thank you for helping us enrich the lives of those in our community.
Anita C Roberts, Publisher, Austin Black Business Journal
