Building Black Entrepreneurs program open for 2023 registrations

 

The BBEP is administered by the Festival Management Committee

Suzette Beacher Essence of Flavours

The Festival Management Committee (FMC), producers of Toronto Caribbean Carnival, launched its community program “Building Black Entrepreneurs (BBEP)” earlier this year and is now open for registration for 2023.

The BBEP begins its second cohort in January 2023. The program is free for Black and Caribbean entrepreneurs and provides business management training including financial literacy, IT and digital adoption, business law, marketing, and procurement strategies along with business planning support.

As a successful recipient of the Government of Canada’s Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Fund, the FMC designed a hybrid – an online and in-person program to fill the gaps and address the unique needs of Black-owned businesses. The program instructors and advisors are drawn from Black and Caribbean academia and business professionals.

In partnership with George Brown College, the FMC launched the Building Black Entrepreneurship in January 2022. On November 19, 2022, the BBEP held a graduation ceremony for the participants who completed the program including a pitch presentation to potential investors. Graduates received a Certificate of Completion jointly awarded by the BBEP and George Brown College.

 

Michelle Lochan (second from left) with class of 2022

“Over 120 businesses have been supported by the BBEP in 2022” says Michelle Lochan, Managing Director. “The growth we have seen these businesses make in one year is astounding, including formally registering their businesses to developing relationships with funders and even securing investments” says Lochan. “Entrepreneurship is a strategy for personal and community wealth creation, and it begins with building the foundation of a sustainable business.”

The program runs from January to October and offers a specialized curriculum, educational events, business opportunities and business advising and support. Full program details are available at BBEP.ca. Registration is open and space is limited. For more information about the Building Black Entrepreneurs program visit https://bbep.ca.