Festival Management Committee launches The Building Black Entrepreneurs Program to Support Black Business

BY PAUL JUNOR

On Tuesday, December 21^st, 2021, news was reported by the Festival Management Committee (FMC) that it was launching “The Building Black Entrepreneur” (BBE) program. The FMC is the body that runs one of the largest cultural festivals in North America known as the Toronto Caribbean Carnival.

The BBE program will be “A critical initiative to build the capacity and support for Black entrepreneurs within the Caribbean community and address the systemic barriers they face.” The news release from the FMC states that it “Is committed to the developments of the Caribbean community. Every year it interacts with hundreds of small businesses and entrepreneurs who work with the Toronto Caribbean Carnival and are eager to access networks, resources, and information to grow their businesses.”

The BBE program will focus on “Providing skills, networking and mentoring for Black entrepreneurs,” which will be facilitated by the FMC in partnership with one of Canada’s most recognized tertiary educational institutions.

The following courses will be taught over a 4-week period:

1. Financial Literacy: Maintaining Proper Accounting Records
   This course will introduce finances for new and established Black entrepreneurs.

2. Business Planning: Business Advice
   This course covers the process of writing a business plan, working with experienced instructors, and learning all the essential elements of writing an effective plan for any enterprise in the arts, culture, tourism, or festival sectors.

3. The Law of Carnival: Legal Consideration
   This course will cover the various forms of business ownership including, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation and the advantages and disadvantages.

4. The Art of Technology: Business Process
   This course will teach the most cost-effective use of technology in managing your business in the arts, culture, tourism and festival sectors.

5. Build Your Network: Facilitation of Networking
   This course enables participants to learn from professionals how to “work a room”, pitch your business idea, and attract mentors and supporters who can contribute to the success of your new or established business.

6. Make Your M@rk: Marketing
   This course will introduce participants to the basics of marketing.

7. Know Your Resources: Procurement
   This course will introduce tools to manage inventory effectively and the reorder cycle to support business profitability.

8. Hire[ing] Right: Human Resources
   This course will teach participants how to identify and have great talent for your business as well as plan for secession.

Registration is free at bbep.ca.

Each course is 1.5 hr. and starts on January 17^th, 2022