Reimagine Main Street

FAQs

What is Backing Black Business: Small Business Grants?

The COVID-19 pandemic hit Black women business owners across the country hard. Now as signs of recovery emerge, Black women are starting new businesses at record rates even as established business owners expect a long road to recovery. We recognize the power of Black women entrepreneurs.

Backing Black Business will provide selected businesses cash grants, advertising support, and other valuable resources:

$5,000 cash awards to provide a momentum boost to 50 Black women who launched their businesses during the pandemic
$10,000 cash awards to 150 Black women business owners who existing businesses prior to the start of the pandemic
$25,000-$50,000 cash awards to 7 women whose businesses demonstrate momentum and strong potential where our backing could help take her vision to the next level
Introductions to coaches, networks, potential partners, and peers

Backing Black Business is a project of Reimagine Main Street and its network partners with support from Meta.

Who is eligible?

This program is designed to provide a boost to businesses owned and operated by Black, African, and African-American women in the United States before July 1, 2021. Businesses operating in all 50 U.S. States are eligible for small business cash grants, marketing support, and other resources as long as they meet other eligibility criteria.

To be eligible for the program, the following statements must all be true:

Your business operates in the United States
You launched your business PRIOR TO July 1, 2021
Your business is legal and for-profit
Your business generated at least $10,000 in revenue since January 2021
You are able and willing document your revenue
You were at least 18 years old on June 30, 2020
You identify as a Black, African-American, or African woman

What are you offering?

Backing Black Business will provide selected businesses cash grants, advertising support, and other valuable resources:

$5,000 cash awards to provide a momentum boost to 50 Black women who launched their businesses during the pandemic
$10,000 cash awards to 150 Black women business owners who existing businesses prior to the start of the pandemic
$25,000-$50,000 cash awards to 7 women whose businesses demonstrate momentum and strong potential where our backing could help take her vision to the next level
Introductions to coaches, networks, potential partners, and peers

How can a business apply?

The application has closed. Please check back in February of 2022 for more information.

How many cash grants are available?

Backing Black Business will provide cash grants to more than 200 eligible Black, African-American or African small business owners:

$5,000 cash awards to provide a momentum boost to 50 Black women who launched their businesses during the pandemic
$10,000 cash awards to 150 Black women business owners who existing businesses prior to the start of the pandemic
$25,000-$50,000 cash awards to 7 women whose businesses demonstrate momentum and strong potential where our backing could help take her vision to the next level

What are important deadlines?

The application will open on December 8, 2021. We will accept applications until December 15, 2021.

Cash grants will be awarded early in 2022 following reviews by a panel of judges.

Do I need to be a current Meta user to win?

No! Any applicant who meets the eligibility criteria can apply for the cash grants and other valuable resources.

I started my business after July 1, 2021. Am I eligible?

At this time, this grant is only for businesses that were launched by June 30, 2021.

I am a non-profit organization. Are we eligible to apply?

Only for-profit businesses are eligible to apply to this program. If you are unsure about your eligibility status, please feel free to start an application and answer the eligibility questions to determine your status.

I noticed there are two application links and I applied on one already. Do I need to apply again?

You only need to apply using one of the two application links. Applications from either channel are reviewed by the same process. The newer link was created as an additional application to accommodate the incredible number of interested applicants.

I submitted my application but did not receive a confirmation. How can I verify that my application was received?

Applicants will receive an email from the Backing Black Business team upon submitting their application advising that a complete application was received. If you do not see an email, check your spam filter.

How many pages of my financial information are required?

You should provide financial information to support the annual revenue number that you tell us your business has generated. For example, if you are providing bank statements to document revenue for your business, please consolidate the statements for the period in question (e.g.Jan-Sept 2021)into one pdf.

Can I also provide information about financing or a loan I received? What if I received a grant as revenue for my business, does that count?

We need to see revenue generated from sales to customers. Unfortunately, loans or other forms of financing are not considered for this grant.

I was unable to upload my video. How can I submit it and ensure my application is complete?

Applicants who would like to submit a video for their essay questions should indicate their intent by responding “Yes, I would like to share a video”
The last question in the application includes a link to upload your video(s).
From your local drive (your computer/device), please name each video file using the question number and the name of your business. For example, “Q26_ABC Catering”
If you are uploading multiple video files, place each file in a folder on your local drive. Please name the folder using your business name and your last name. For example, “ABC Catering_Jackson.” Once you have named each file and the folder, please upload that folder using the link in the application.
Be sure to return to the application and click “done” after you upload your files
If you responded that you intended to upload a video but were not able to upload the file, you will receive an email from the Backing Black Business team with a link to upload your video files using the instructions above.

I received an error message which stated a system update occurred. What should I do?

If you receive an error message that there is a system update, try back after a few minutes. If you continue to receive error messages, please reach out to backing-back-business@reimaginemainstreet.org with the subject line System Update and the name of your business. We are working diligently with our system engineers to resolve all issues.

I received an error message which stated that I needed to input a 10-digit phone number, but the answer does not require a 10-digit phone number. What should I do?

If you received an error message in your first form that you have to enter a “10-digit number” in a question where a number is not needed, try back after a few minutes. If you continue to receive error messages, please reach out to backing-back-business@reimaginemainstreet.org with the subject line “10-Digit Phone Number” and your first and last name. We are working diligently with our system engineers to resolve all issues.

What is the selection process?

After applications are screened for completeness and eligibility, they will be reviewed by a panel of judges.

Where can I find the program rules and other “fine print”?

The program rules are here. In addition, you can review our privacy policy to understand how we are committed to protecting your information.

Who is Reimagine Main Street?

Reimagine Main Street, an initiative of the Public Private Strategies Institute, was launched in the wake of the shelter in place orders first announced in March 2020. Our goal is to ensure an equitable COVID recovery for small businesses and their workers on MLK Boulevards, Cesar Chavez Ways, Chinatowns, and Main Streets across the United States.

We support a network of small business advocates, service providers and lenders with data-driven insights into the needs and expectations of small business owners. When our research points to a clear need or opportunity, we work with our network partners to respond. That’s why with support from Meta we’ve launched Backing Black Business.

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