community-driven economic empowerment
C-DEE
Applications for statewide C-DEE Accelerator open March 18
The C-DEE Accelerator is going statewide in 2024, offering capacity-building funding of up to $5,000 to entrepreneurs of color.
From March 18 to April 18, any entrepreneur of color with a company registered and in good standing with the State of New Hampshire may apply for the funding, which can be used for computer hardware and software, and for professional services including legal consultation, bookkeeping, and marketing, including website design.
All applicants will be offered free business coaching or consulting with the Center for Women & Enterprise and the N.H. Small Business Development Center.
The Accelerator, a partnership between the the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund, Business Alliance for People of Color-NH, and the Manchester Chapter of the NAACP, provides capacity-building funding for entrepreneurs of color to help their businesses become financially resilient and self-sufficient.
The Accelerator was launched as a pilot last spring limited to businesses in Greater Manchester (see sidebar).
According to the Pew Research Center, 14% of the United States population identified as Black in 2021, but owned only 3% of all businesses. Also, most Black-owned firms tended to be smaller than the average; two-thirds had fewer than 10 employees.
Two reasons for the disparity are that many of those businesses find it difficult to get growth funding from traditional sources and to connect with professional resources.
Entrepreneurs of color statewide are encouraged to apply by the April 18 deadline. Business owners who would like to learn more about the program can also email CDEE@communityloanfund.org.
The C-DEE Accelerator partners will also host a Community Gathering April 13 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Community Loan Fund, 7 Wall St., Concord, N.H. Entrepreneurs of color are invited to network, tell their stories, learn about the Accelerator partners, and strengthen their community. Pre-registration is required. Click here to pre-register.
C-DEE is supported by funders including Bank of America, Santander, and NBT Bank.
2023 round awarded $50,000
Twenty Greater Manchester entrepreneurs of color received up to $5,000 in funding and specialized business coaching from the 2023 C-DEE Accelerator.
The program received 26 applications, from which 20 were selected to receive a total of $52,586 and be paired with a free business coach with the Center for Women & Enterprise or Small Business Development Centers.
Awardees included a restaurant, grocery store, journalist, bookkeeper, photographer, retail shop, mental health therapist, and dance studio.
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Director of Community Relations and
C-DEE Program Manager Latonya Wallace
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