Black entrepreneurs face persistent systemic barriers to starting, maintaining, and growing businesses. Education, training, and workforce development organizations (including higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, and local government agencies) can be a source of support. This brief investigates how organizations within this space support Black business owners and help remove structural barriers.
Authors
Ofronama Biu, Shayne Spaulding, Hailey D'Elia, Tianna Newton
- Pages
- 24
- Published in
- United States of America
Table of Contents
- Black Entrepreneurship and Education, Training, and Workforce Development 1
- OR 1
- The Role of Black Entrepreneurship 3
- Challenges Facing Black Entrepreneurs 4
- Limited Funding Can Reflect Bias and Discrimination in Funding Processes 4
- Revenue Sources for Black Businesses 6
- Economic Conditions Impact Black Entrepreneurs’ Lives 7
- Workforce Development Supports Offered to Entrepreneurs 8
- Educational Programs and Training 8
- Workshops or noncredit courses 8
- For-credit credentialed programs 8
- Coaching and Technical Assistance 10
- Funding for Entrepreneurs 10
- Culturally Relevant Programs 11
- Education, Training, and Workforce Development Organizations’ Barriers to Supporting Black Entrepreneurs 13
- Political Climate and Backlash 13
- Insufficient Funding for HBCUs and Other Organizations 13
- Lack of Data 14
- Insights from Interviews and Focus Groups: Improving Systems of Support for Black Entrepreneurs 16
- Conclusion and Recommendations 17
- For Education, Training, and Workforce Development Organizations 18
- For Corporate Philanthropy and Foundations 18
- Appendix A. List of Interviewees 19
- Notes 20
- References 21
- About the Authors 23
- Acknowledgments 24
