Apply Now: Entrepreneurs Can Receive $10,000 Backing Small Businesses Grants
American Express and Main Street America are offering funding that can be used for several purposes, including accessibility upgrades, community events, marketing, and operational strategy.
An immense $5.75 million in grants is on hand for small businesses to help promote economic vitality.
The funding is part of the Backing Small Businesses grant program presented by American Express and Main Street America. The program is aimed to support economically vulnerable and under-resourced small businesses with community outreach. That includes Black-owned businesses. The number of grants and total funding is being increased this year.
Marking its third year currently, the program will allow 500 small businesses to apply for grants of $10,000 each now through April 7, 2024, at 11:59 P.M. CT here. See more details on the program and eligibility at the link.
Further, when the 500 recipients submit their final reports in September 2024, they can apply for $30,000 in enhancement grants. Their projects for the Enhancement Grants don’t have to be tied to their projects from the $10,000 initial grant. Only 25 businesses will be chosen to each get Enhancement Grants.
Only 25 recipients of the $10,000 grants will be eligible for enhancement grants.
Funds should be used for either or both to leverage current business operations and pay for community programming and events.
Business owners can use the grants in several ways. For instance, the grants can be used for accessibility upgrades, community events, inventory, marketing, and operational strategy. Check this out to see a list of eligible grant expenses. Insufficient or expired capital is one of the main operating obstacles for both budding and mature small business owners. Grants can benefit businesses in multiple ways with funding needs.
Based on a news release, American Express and Main Street America created the Backing Small Businesses grant program to assist small business owners in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and helping them grow. In the first year, some $1.65 million in grants went to 330 U.S. small business owners, and over $2.3 million in grants were presented to 350 businesses in the second year.
Women’s Final Four: Coach Sydney Carter Partners With Marriott For Game-Day Rituals
The 'Score Big with Marriott Bonvoy Game Day Rituals' campaign offers fans a chance to partake in the excitement firsthand.
For the first time in 17 years, Cleveland is hosting the Women’s Final Four, from April 4 to 7, and Ohio stands to gain from that excitement. The Women’s Final Four arrives amidst a surge in viewership and attendance for women’s college basketball. According to the NCAA, the women’s tournament set attendance records for the first two rounds in the last two years, while TV ratings for those rounds jumped more than 27%. Last year’s championship game between LSU and Iowa drew an average of nearly 10 million viewers, more than double the year before.
As the madness surmounts, 20,000 people from all over the country are expected to attend the tournament, which will bring in $25 million.
This year, the Women’s Final Four in Cleveland receives an added boost with a strategic partnership between Marriott Bonvoy and Sydney Carter, a renowned women’s college basketball coach and current Director of Player Development for the University of Texas Women’s Basketball team. Marriott Bonvoy, the distinguished travel program boasting a diverse portfolio of over 30 hotel brands, recognizes the profound impact of sports tourism and is committed to enhancing the fan experience. Their “Score Big with Marriott Bonvoy Game Day Rituals” campaign not only celebrates the enthusiasm of sports fandom but also offers fans a chance to partake in the excitement firsthand.
Before the two-day tournament, BLACK ENTERPRISE spoke with Sydney Carter about partnering with Marriott, reflecting on her journey from player to coach, and discussing the significance of game-day rituals.
The Women’s Final Four
The Women’s Final Four isn’t just about basketball; it’s a powerhouse event that transforms cities into economic hubs, and Cleveland is no exception. Beyond the financial boost, the Final Four has a deeper resonance — a celebration of athleticism, teamwork, and the culmination of years of dedication.
Reflecting on her journey from player to coach, Carter emphasized, “March Madness is one of those unique moments every year – no matter where you come from or who you are rooting for, people come together to celebrate the excitement of the tournament. As someone who has traveled extensively throughout my basketball career, I have seen how travel – like sports – can bring people together, transform people’s perspectives, and forge connections and community.”
Over the past decade, enthusiasm for women’s basketball has grown exponentially, and the storylines surrounding it are nonstop, drawing in huge audiences and new fans alike. The names Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, and USC’s Juju Watkins are widely recognized among sports fans and many who aren’t typically engaged in women’s basketball.
Game Day Rituals
Coach Carter, a stalwart figure in the basketball community, lends her expertise and passion to the “Score Big with Marriott Bonvoy Game Day Rituals” campaign, embodying the essence of game day rituals.
“As a former basketball player and coach, game day rituals have always been a part of my routine. Whether picking out a fire game day ‘fit’ or listening to a particular song, pregame traditions are something that players and sports fans can relate to,” Carter said.
When it comes to their favorite team, sports fans will go to great lengths to influence the outcome of a game. According to a survey conducted by Wakefield Research, 63% of sports fans who have game-day rituals think their team will lose if they don’t complete their rituals, and a stunning 74% said they would risk their job to watch their team play for a championship during work hours.
Carter, who played college basketball at Texas A&M and professionally in the WNBA, remembers when her game-day rituals started and mentions, “I’ve had several game-day rituals for as long as I can remember. As a player, I would drink a certain amount of water and eat a particular candy bar before every game – and I would always put my uniform on the right side first.
Partnering with JW (Marriott), known for creating mindful experiences, is a perfect fit for Carter, who still participates in game-day routines as a coach.
“Now, as a coach, I still put everything on the right side first, but my game-day rituals also include things like having a cup of coffee — or two — doing my makeup routine, and picking out an outfit that will help me feel prepared and confident to lead my team.”
Creating March Madness Memories
With the Women’s Final on the horizon, Cleveland is poised to showcase its prowess as a host city and the enduring spirit of women’s college basketball. With Carter and Marriott Bonvoy’s partnering, fans can expect an experience beyond the game. Carter and two lucky winners will experience courtside seats and a personal game-day rituals session with Carter herself. Celebrating passion, tradition, and the power of ritual in sports, the Women’s College Basketball Final will undoubtedly be an experience to remember.
“Game day rituals are so important,” stated Carter. “Not only do they provide a sense of familiarity, but by completing the same routine before a game, you’re immediately put in the right headspace and mindset of knowing what you need to do to show up feeling like your best self so you can accomplish your goals. The Score Big with Marriott Bonvoy Game Day Rituals campaign is a fun representation of the importance of these traditions for players and fans, and I am glad to be a part of it!”
Analysis: Black Homeowners Could Spend $100K On Extra Home Costs In Just Over Five Years
Lowering the price range for a home you plan to buy could potentially leave you with a larger budget to cover extra housing costs.
Homeownership is highly regarded as a vital wealth builder and a measure of success for Black Americans.
However, achieving that status can also come with roses and thorns for many of those individuals.
New data reveals that 85% of Black homeowners report that at least one of the expenses associated with owning a home, such as maintenance, renovations, or taxes, has exceeded their initial expectations.
Matt Brannon, author of “The True Cost of Homeownership 2024 Data,” emailed BLACK ENTERPRISE with the eye-popping revelation and data on Black Americans and homeownership. The data showed that the average cost of homeownership for all Americans rose by $499 from last year—$17,958 versus $17,459. That is up nearly 3%, and research shows it is just under last year’s overall inflation surge of 3.4%, partly fueled by housing costs.
Brannon’s report indicates homeowners, including Black Americans, could spend $100,000 in extra expenses in only five years and seven months beyond their mortgage obligation. The costs could range from over $5,300 for utilities to more than $1,500 for homeowners’ insurance.
Another troubling discovery:About 27% of Black homeowners have dipped into their retirement savings to afford the costs of owning a home, as opposed to 22% of all Americans.
Brannon stressed a person would mainly dip into their retirement savings to cover the costs of homeownership if they couldn’t get the money elsewhere. He says borrowing from retirement can significantly set a person back down the line because they need to catch up on the potential growth of that money through investments.
He pointed out that if you have a lower income and you’re stretched thin financially, you might make that sacrifice. “The latest data shows us that, while Black households have closed the gap a bit, on average they still earn about half the annual income of white households.”
He also addressed whether building equity is why Black homeowners should not be envious of renters who don’t have to pay for maintenance. Bannon stressed that building equity is a plus. Yet, he said the risk is that a person may focus on the pros when buying a home and overlook the cons, causing problems for themself down the line. “The benefits of homeownership can be very fruitful, but it’s not without its downsides, especially if it’s causing you to overextend your budget.”
Further, some 65% of Black homeowners have regrets about their house and 55% feel some level of home buyer’s remorse. Also, 34% of Black homeowners declare the cost of owning a home has negatively impacted their finances.
Those findings are contrary to experts contending that homeownership is among the ways Black Americans can build wealth and cut the racial gap between them and other racial groups.
Brannon agreed that the points on home ownership can seem at odds with each other. Still, he sees that as the difference between general financial rules of thumb and individuals’ unique financial circumstances. “It can set you up for a solid financial future or can be the thing that ruins your finances.”
So, what actions should Black Americans consider taking now to make home ownership costs less expensive?
Brannon said the first way to make homeownership more affordable is to lower the price range of the home you buy. If you can get approved for a mortgage on a $300,000 house, that doesn’t mean you should buy a $300,000 house. He added that getting a $250,000 home might be worthwhile and using the leftover to budget for regular and irregular housing costs.
He also said that people can make homeownership more affordable by prioritizing increasing their credit score before applying to help get a lower interest rate. “A difference of one percent can add up to thousands of dollars in additional costs over the life of a loan for a 30-year mortgage.”
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul granted clemency to the former Bad Boy recording artist after he served 13 years of a 15 years to life sentence.
Last year, just before Christmas, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul granted clemency to Travell Coleman, who we know as former Bad Boy recording artist G. Dep, after he served 13 years of a 15 years to life sentence. He was released from prison on April 4.
The Harlem rapper was free to leave the Fishkill Correctional Facility in Upstate New York. His release from prison was captured and posted on social media as family and friends greeted him as he left the facility. As he carried a large bag with his belongings, he sported a bald head with a salt-and-pepper beard and embraced the people who came to meet him at the prison exit.
Another video shows the “Special Delivery” rapper having a meal with his family at a local IHOP. As he shows the camera the menu of his first free meal in over a decade, he says, “I’m free at last.”
G. Dep killed a 32-year-old man, John Henkel, in 1993 when he was trying to rob him; G. Dep was never caught and literally got away with murder. This took place before he signed to Bad Boy Records in 1998 and released his album, “Child of the Ghetto,” which featured his two most recognizable songs, “Let’s Go” and Special Delivery” in 2001.
His rap career eventually slowed down. In 2010, he said his conscience made him turn himself in to confess to committing the deadly crime. He took himself to the 25th Precinct in Harlem to give himself up to face the punishment for his crime.
Fast forward to 2024, an application for clemency was supported by the attorney who prosecuted him and the judge who presided over his case. The rapper was one of 16 people Hochul granted clemency to last year.
The alleged victim claims that the 26-year-old sexually assaulted her in late December 2022 on a yacht.
One of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sons, Christian “King” Combs, has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a new lawsuit. Diddy is also named in the suit.
According to NBC New York, the paperwork was filed on April 4 in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The alleged victim, Grace O’Marcaigh, claims that the 26-year-old “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop” recording artist sexually assaulted her in late December 2022. She alleged the incident happened while working on a boat charter that had been “sold as a wholesome family excursion” but turned into a “hedonistic environment.”
The lawsuit states that Christian is accused of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and infliction of emotional distress. His father is named in the suit for premises liability because he chartered the yacht and for aiding and abetting Christian in the alleged assault.
O’Marcaigh’s attorney is also the lawyer for Lil Rod, the music producer who is also accusing Diddy of sexual assault and other charges.
“Like father, like son,” Tyrone Blackburn stated after filing the lawsuit. “It gives us no joy or pleasure in filing this suit against Christian Combs who has clearly adopted his father’s pattern and practice of depravity.”
O’Marcaigh alleges in the lawsuit that she was told that Christian would be coming on the yacht to record with Lil Rod in a makeshift studio on Dec. 28, 2022. Amid the partying being done by the people, she witnessed drugs and a “constant rotation of suspected sex workers” among the guests and celebrities on board. She suspected that bottles of alcohol were laced with drugs as she saw women start to fall over themselves, panic, or pass out after having just one drink.
She said that Christian arrived “heavily intoxicated” and paid close attention to her. He pressured her to take shots of tequila that she thinks he may have brought with him. After she took one, he became aggressive and demanded she drink more. She said the situation “escalated,” and he groped her legs, breast, anus, and vagina.
Christian allegedly drugged and assaulted her, and she states that she has audio recordings proving that she denied his advances as he groped her. Lil Rod recorded the audio clips. She said in the recordings you can hear her declining the alcohol, telling him she had to leave, and admonishing Christian to stop touching her.
She said the alleged assault has deeply affected her mental health as well as her professional and personal lives. After complaining to the yacht captain, who reportedly didn’t believe her, the litigant claimed the captain retaliated against her until she was terminated in May 2023.
Her mental health deteriorated, and O’Marcaigh alleges that the emotional strain affected her and that she developed an eating disorder and epileptic seizures following the assault.
Los Angeles Home Bought By Serena And Venus Williams For Their Mother Is On The Market
The property is listed for $4,649,000
Tennis superstars Serena and Venus Williams bought their mother a home in 2005 in the Woodland Hills section of Los Angeles. Their mother, Oracene Price lived in the house until 2019 when it was reportedly sold for just under $2 million. That same property is back on the market, according to TMZ.
The property was listed for $4,649,000.
It is a 7-bedroom house that has a gated private drive and sits atop a hill on a 1.4-acre lot. Whoever purchases the property will be getting a tennis court and other amenities that include an inground pool, multiple fireplaces, and a gorgeous walk-in closet attached to the primary bedroom.
Figure 8 Realty listed the property as having seven bedrooms, and five and a half bathrooms spanning 5,612 square feet. An oversized three-car garage is included with the contemporary-style mansion. The home has been recently renovated as it boasts 18-foot vaulted ceilings with “seemingly endless mountain views.” Four bedrooms are located upstairs where there is a large Primary Suite Wing with walk-in closets, “an expansive balcony, elegant fireplace, and a skylight-lit luxury en-suite bath.”
Serena recently talked to Byrdie and gushed about how she is enjoying motherhood after retiring from playing professional tennis.
“Motherhood has allowed me to look at beauty through the eyes of my daughter, Olympia,” Williams said. “We’re always experimenting with makeup together, and I think about how these moments will be part of both of our beauty journeys.”
She told the media outlet she also enjoys volunteering at her daughter’s school and jumps at any opportunity to do so. Often channeling her competitive spirit, not on the tennis court, but when it comes to doing school volunteer work.
“I’m really competitive about it, too. I sign my name up whenever I can, whenever there’s a spot open,” Williams said.
Mother Faces Custody Battle After Police Shot Her Son Aderrien Murry In Chest Last Year
Nakala Murry has been accused of child neglect after her son was shot by Mississippi officer Greg Capers, in May 2023.
Nakala Murry, the mother of 11-year-old Aderrien Murry, who was shot by Indianola Police Officer Greg Capers last year, now faces the prospect of losing custody of her children amid fresh allegations.
Court documents filed by Sunflower County Prosecuting Attorney Gwendolyn Jimison cite the shooting incident while accusing Nakala of neglecting her three children. According to the Mississippi Free Press, the petition alleges that an unnamed witness observed Nakala’s ex-boyfriend, John Nolden, frequently assaulting her in front of the children. It states, “…the shooting of Aderrien was a result of the mother and boyfriend domestic violence that has been happening for years.”
However, Nakala’s attorney, Carlos Moore, argues the custody termination effort is unjustified, stating, “The problem is the ex-boyfriend’s not the one who shot the boy; it’s the cop.” Moore emphasized, “Nobody had been shot before the cop came” and noted Caper’s apology last year, which stated he “did not mean to shoot the child.”
The incident unfolded on May 20, 2023, after Aderrien was struck in the chest by Capers, who had responded to a domestic call made by the child involving his mother and Nolden. As previously covered by BLACK ENTERPRISE, reports indicated Capers arrived with “his gun drawn at the front door and asked those inside the home to come outside.” As the child walked around a corner, the officer fired the shot.
While the Indianola Board suspended Capers without pay in June 2023, he remains employed after a grand jury declined to indict him in December 2023, the Mississippi Free Press stated. Nakala must appear in Sunflower County Youth Court on April 17 to defend her parental rights over her three children. Nolden, the father of one of Aderrien’s siblings, will also face custody proceedings.
BE noted that a lawsuit filed last year on behalf of Aderrien and his mother alleged Capers was “reckless” and “injuries…could have been avoided if defendants…acquired adequate training.”
Miraculously, the boy survived after being rushed to a hospital where doctors located the bullet that collapsed his lung and damaged his liver.
King Family Revisits Memphis On The 56th Anniversary Of Dr. MLK Jr’s Assassination
Your legacy is in good hands, Dr. King!
Family members of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. made a rare appearance at the site where King was assassinated 56 years ago.
Martin Luther King III, his wife, Andrea Waters King, and daughter, Yolanda, visited the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, where King was shot and killed on April 4, 1968, while supporting the sanitation workers’ strike.
Amid the rise in political violence and hate crimes, the family’s visit marked an opportunity to celebrate the memory of Dr. King while history is under attack. “Many memories are swirling around in my head. After 56 years, this day comes every year and I have to think about how the life of myself and my siblings and my mom changed in just a few minutes,” King said with his wife by his side during a press conference.
“Because we lost, my mother lost a husband, my siblings and I lost a father, and the nation lost in one sense gleaned and gained a message of movement that has transformed our nation and our world and continues to reverberate.”
He touched on how Dr. King did more than dream but put those dreams to work. MLK III also highlighted how his father and his team, consisting of several fellow civil rights leaders like the late Sen. John Lewis, worked tirelessly to see a change in this country. He asked why the nation has not been able to move forward since. “His team moved our nation in a very forward direction, which leads us to 56 years later, wondering why have we not moved further?”
“My husband’s father wasn’t there when we got married or for the birth of our daughter,” Waters King said, according to WREG Memphis. “I think about the fact that he is not here with us and what could’ve been, and that part is very, very difficult.”
MLK III noted the similarities between fighting for democracy today and the sanitation workers fighting to be treated fairly in 1968. In honor of the work being done, the King family announced that 16 grassroots programs and initiatives across the country will receive grant funding from the Drum Major Institute, a foundation founded by the family based on Dr. King’s ideologies to preserve democracy.
Providing funding for initiatives will help bring dreams to life. “Individuals have made progress, but masses have still not moved much,” he said. “Realizing the dream is very real and must happen.”
Filed on Mar. 29 in federal court in upstate New York, the suit argued Woodbourne Correctional Facility violated the inmates’ constitutional rights to practice their faith after deciding to classify the eclipse as a holiday. Holidays at prisons mean inmates will be required to stay in their cells from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. – the usual time when inmates would be scheduled for outdoor activity – unless an emergency arises.
The suit highlighted the religious significance of a solar eclipse in comparison to similar instances in the Bible during Jesus’s crucifixion and Islamic texts describing the death of the Prophet Muhammad’s son.
Zielinski and the other plaintiffs, with varying religious backgrounds, reached a “favorable settlement of the matter” with the corrections department on Apr. 4.
The corrections department alleged it had already begun reviewing religious requests to view the eclipse, including those of the six inmates named in the suit, before legal documents were filed. “We continued our analysis and review during the pendency of the lawsuit,” the department said.
“The Department has agreed to permit the six individuals to view the eclipse.”
“We are pleased that, in response to our lawsuit alleging religious discrimination, New York State has entered into a binding settlement agreement that will allow our six clients to view the solar eclipse in accordance with their sincerely held religious beliefs,” the group said, according to NBC News.
Ruby Garcia’s Family Upset Over Trump’s Claims He Talked To Them
Mavi, who has taken on the role of the family spokesperson, also disagreed with the use of her sister's death as a moment of political convenience.
The family of Ruby Garcia, a woman who was killed by an undocumented immigrant and found on the side of a Grand Rapids, Michigan, highway, is incensed after the anticipated Republican nominee, Donald Trump, has allegedly been lying about talking to them at his rallies.
As Intelligencer reported, Mavi Garcia, Ruby’s sister, told Target 8, “He did not speak with any of us, so it was kind of shocking seeing that he had said that he had spoke with us, and misinforming people on live TV.”
Mavi, who has taken on the role of the family spokesperson, also disagreed with the use of her sister’s death as a moment of political convenience. She continued, “It’s always been about illegal immigrants,” Mavi said. “Nobody really speaks about when Americans do heinous crimes, and it’s kind of shocking why he would just bring up illegals. What about Americans who do heinous crimes like that?”
Michigan Democrats agree with Mavi Garcia’s take, as Sen. Debbie Stabenow said during a virtual press conference, “Ruby Garcia’s death was a horrible tragedy,” Stabenow said. “But, unfortunately, Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans are hell-bent on exploiting Ruby’s death for their own politics. Frankly, I think it’s shameful.”
Garcia has also disputed characterizations of the relationship her sister had with her killer, Brandon Ortiz-Vite. Authorities say that the two were boyfriend and girlfriend, while Garcia says that their relationship never made it that far, but she still wishes Ortiz-Vite had stayed in Mexico.
Trump did, however, meet with the family of Laken Riley, whose family has similarly claimed that they do not want their daughter’s death politicized. Riley’s death has nevertheless been utilized by conservatives as a symbol of the need for immigration reform.
In an interview in March, Riley’s father told NBC News, “I’d rather her not be such a political, how you say — it started a storm in our country, and it’s incited a lot of people.” Riley continued, “There’s people on both sides that have lashed out at our families.
“It was really surreal. I just didn’t want to believe it — it’s still hard to believe,” Jason Riley said of what happened, choking back tears. “I wake up every day thinking that I can call her, and I can’t.”
Similar to the Garcia family, Riley decried the use of his daughter’s name as a political symbol. “I think it’s being used politically to get those votes,” Jason Riley said. “It makes me angry. I feel like, you know, they’re just using my daughter’s name for that. And she was much better than that, and she should be raised up for the person that she is. She was an angel.”
Riley is a Trump supporter, and he appreciates that her death has illuminated the need to help women who are victims of human trafficking, but still argued for Laken’s death to “not be so political.”
Sen. Raphael Warnock, meanwhile, accused the Republican Party of doing exactly what Riley doesn’t want. Warnock called the House bill “smoke and mirrors” and wants them to stop “demagoguing this tragic death by this young woman” and encouraging them to “get serious.”
