The Coleman Foundation Supports Entrepreneurs of Color Fund

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On October 1, 2019, The Coleman Foundation joined Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and a group of six Chicago banks and three fellow grantmaking organizations to announce its recent support for the Entrepreneurs of Color Fund. The new investments bring the total funding committed to the Entrepreneurs of Color Fund to over $9 million to support minority entrepreneurs on Chicago’s South and West sides.

 

Jimmie and Tiffany Williams, Entrepreneurs of Color Fund loan recipients and co-owner of Urban Roots, Inc.

The initiative was launched in July 2018 with initial financial support from JPMorgan Chase and Fifth Third Bank. The Coleman Foundation becomes a supporter of Fund activities along with five additional institutions: First Midwest Bank, U.S. Bank, McCormick Foundation, The Chicago Community Trust and Providence Bank & Trust.

In its first year of operations in Chicago, the initiative has made over 130 loans totaling more than $1.7 million and resulting in nearly 400 new or preserved jobs. Fifty-three percent of the loans support minority women-owned businesses.

The new investments will enable the Entrepreneurs of Color Fund to build on insights gained during its first year to provide more minority entrepreneurs in Chicago with critical access to capital, coaching and other resources needed to support their small businesses.

“Chicago’s neglected neighborhoods need more jobs. Small business owners can create those jobs if they receive the loans and coaching they need to build their businesses,” said Brad McConnell, CEO of Accion Chicago. “That’s what Accion does, and that’s what this partnership is about.”

“Supporting the coaching and education services provided by Accion Chicago to aspiring and emerging entrepreneurs is a prime example of our Entrepreneurship-In-Neighborhoods funding efforts,” remarked Clark McCain, Sr. Program Officer of the Coleman Foundation. “The opportunity to do so in partnership with leading Chicago banking and philanthropic organizations makes joining this cause very attractive.”

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The Coleman Foundation, Inc.
651 West Washington Boulevard, Suite 306
Chicago, IL 60661
Phone (312) 902-7120
Fax (312) 902-7124
info@colemanfoundation.org

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