Black-Canadian business owners and entrepreneurs make important contributions to the Canadian economy, yet they continue to face systemic racism and obstacles in starting and growing their businesses. This has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government of Canada is working to address long-standing barriers with its first-ever Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP)—an over $400 million investment to support the long-term success of Black entrepreneurs and business owners.

Last Friday, MP Julie Dzerowicz, the Member of Parliament for Davenport, on behalf of the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, announced that CaribbeanTales will receive $648,000 to deliver the National Ecosystem Fund in Toronto.

“For too long,” Dzerowicz stated, “ our diverse artistic community has been underfunded. We know women and racialized people have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Supporting entrepreneurs–especially racialized women entrepreneurs–is critically important as we come out of this pandemic. By increasing funding to diverse organizations doing great work at the local level, our federal Liberal government is helping to build a more equitable country. In Canada, we know that diversity is strength– and by helping diverse communities share their lived realities through their art and their stories, we are building stronger communities and a stronger country.”

With this funding, CaribbeanTales will expand its existing established Creators of Colour Incubator Program, to provide a national Black Incubator and Studio Access Program (CBISAP), primarily focused on supporting Black female media entrepreneurs. CBISAP will support creators, filmmakers, and producers to start their own media companies, develop studio skills, and produce pitch decks and proofs of concept for their projects. CBISAP will give Black producers the necessary tools to participate in the mainstream Canadian media industry and distribute their content nationally and internationally.

“CaribbeanTales CT will expand its existing national incubator program,” said Frances-Anne Solomon, Founder/Director, CaribbeanTales Media Group, “ to create the CT Black Incubator Studio Program CBISAP that will focus primarily on providing access to Black female creates and producers, helping them to start their own media companies complete pitch decks with proof of concepts so that they can take a meaningful role in the Canadian media industry and distribute their products nationally and internationally.”

The Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP) is a partnership between the Government of Canada, Black-led business organizations, post-secondary or other accredited educational institutions and financial institutions. 

Canada’s Regional Development Agencies deliver the BEP’s National Ecosystem Fund, and work with selected partner organizations to assist them in implementing their services.