ROCHESTER, N.Y. — New York State announced new funding to support black entrepreneurs and business owners in Rochester.
State Senator Jeremy Cooney on Monday presented a state grant of $50,000 to the Urban League of Rochester.
The funding will go towards the Urban League’s Entrepreneurship Assistance Center and the Women’s Business Center. The center works to help women entrepreneurs, especially women who are economically disadvantaged and members of underrepresented groups.
“It is this investment than enables the Urban Rochester to add the back end support to support the entrepreneurs with a long-term plan to grow their business, to start their business, but also to support their first years of their journey when they need us most,” said Dr. Seanelle Hawkins, CEO of Urban League of Rochester.
Dr. Hawkins said the money will help them continue to provide financial literacy and growth strategies to entrepreneurs, along with strategies to enter new markets, like cannabis.