People of color make up about 20% of Spokane County, Wash., but they own about 8% of the county's businesses, reports the Spokesman-Review.
That's why the Spokane Workforce Council is distributing $174,520 in grants to 23 black, Indigenous, and Latinx small businesses.
The money is intended to help those affected by drug-related charges, also known as the "war on drugs," per the state's Community Reinvestment Project.
"It was exciting to receive so many high-quality proposals, which is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit and resilience of our local small business community," saysBianka DeSure, program coordinator for the Council.
The grants are part of the State Department of Commerce's $188 million Community Reinvestment Project, which aims to help those affected by criminal legal services, reentry services, and economic development.
A customized collection of grant news from foundations and the federal government from around the Web.
The 2014 Social Enterprise Awards, now on is 2nd year, has revealed its finalists, which include “businesses that turn household waste into wages, employ the disadvantaged through the baking of artisan breads, or transform the purchasing power of toilet paper into life-saving sanitation.”