The Los Angeles Small Business Development Center Launches Black Business Strategies Program

LOS ANGELES - Jan. 25, 2021 - PRLog -- As minority businesses continue to battle the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertain economic conditions it has presented to their financial outlook, African American-owned businesses remain the hardest hit ethnic group with nearly half of these businesses wiped out as a result of the pandemic.

To address these concerns, the Los Angeles Regional Small Business Development Center Network (LA SBDC) and community leader, Darick J. Simpson came together to launch Black Business Strategies (BBS), a 12-week business training and resource education program designed to help African American-owned ventures gain greater access to financial capital and business instruction to support sustainability.

The new BBS program launches on Thursday, February 18, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. and is open to African American-owned businesses in Los Angeles County.   The program is conducted by the California State University, Long Beach College of Business (CSULB) and the LA SBDC network, hosted by Long Beach City College. The deadline to apply for the BBS program is Tuesday, February 2, 2021. To apply, visit: www.smallbizla.org/black-business-strategies.

The inaugural cohort of the BBS program launched in August 2020 with seven African American-owned businesses. During this time, social unrest exploded across the nation and in communities throughout Los Angeles following the killing of George Floyd, in addition to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"During conversations I had with a coalition of community leaders, we wanted to find a way to begin the process of healing our community and address concerns raised following the killing of George Floyd," said Simpson. "Our brainstorm sessions resulted in a vision to empower Black entrepreneurs with information needed for success."

The program is a collaborative effort among community leaders and institutions of higher learning that are actively engaged in providing individuals with the necessary tools for success, especially those in underserved communities.

The BBS program curriculum is taught by LA SBDC business advisors and seasoned professionals providing black business owners with customized, one-on-one business consulting from private and public sector executives on subjects pertaining to growth opportunities and more.

"Black Business Strategies is a meaningful way for the College to connect with Black small businesses in Long Beach and beyond, while also providing real-world, hands-on experience for our marketing students," said Dean Michael Solt, California State University, Long Beach, College of Business.

This year's program will increase the number of businesses in the cohort to 12 and expand its reach to businesses across Los Angeles County.

For more information or to apply for the BBS program, please visit www.smallbizla.org/black-business-strategies.