This week, the National Urban League and the PepsiCo Foundation announced the first grant recipients of their $10 million Black Restaurant Accelerator Program.
The initiative provides 500 Black restaurant owners in 12 cities with capital, technical assistance, and mentorship services over the next five years.
“Black businesses and consumers are among the key contributors to the economic strength of our nation, and they deserve equal recognition and support for the vital role they play in our communities,” said Marc H. Morial, President & CEO of the National Urban League in a press release. “We are proud to partner with The PepsiCo Foundation on a matter of crucial importance that helps business owners and addresses one of the critical economic disparities impacting Black communities.”
Black restaurateurs were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. A massive 41% of Black-owned businesses were forced to close over the lockdown — compared to just 17% of white-owned businesses.
“As the pandemic exposed existing disparities many minority business owners face, we saw a fundamental threat that could erase the decades of progress Black-owned restaurants have made. This investment will help Black restaurateurs not only recover from the pandemic but set them on a path to long-term economic resilience,” said C.D. Glin, Vice President, Global Head of Philanthropy at The PepsiCo Foundation.
“We are inspired by the progress we are making through our collaboration with the National Urban League to address a fundamental gap and create opportunities for Black-business owners to build generational wealth and continue to strengthen their communities.”
The first grantees include:
- Victoria’s Kitchen & Catering Soul Food Restaurant in Philadelphia, PA
- Takoma Station Tavern and Wingery in Washington, D.C.,
- Beaucoup Eats, Taste & See and Addis NOLA in New Orleans, LA,
- Odom’s Kitchen Catering in Baton Rouge, LA,
- Local Green Atlanta and Slutty Vegan in Atlanta, GA,
- Taste-T-Love Baby Food, Rich Taste Catering Service and De’Lish LLC in Dayton, OH,
- Southern Grace Cincy Catering LLC in Cincinnati, OH, and
- Chef’s of the Streets in Laurel, MD.
